2012 Dacia Sandero Stepway 1.5L dCI 5MT FWD (90 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The Romanian automaker Dacia introduced the second generation of the Sandero Stepway in 2012 at the Paris Motor Show, along with its stablemates, the Sandero and the Logan.

With an increased demand for crossovers and SUVs, Dacia didn’t want to waste the opportunity to provide such vehicles since it already had the platform available. Thus, the Sandero was chosen as the best option for the automaker, which was able to sell the car in big numbers thanks to the affordable price, rich equipment for its segment, and design.

The Sandero Stepway’s design boasted a different front bumper than its regular sibling, featuring an unpainted, scratch-resistant lower side. Since Dacia raised the ground clearance by 40 mm (1.6″) compared to its brother, it had to add some plastic cladding around the wheel arches and door panels. Thus, it emphasized the vehicle’s off-road look. On top of that, Dacia offered the Sandero Stepway with standard light-gray roof rails.

Inside, Dacia offered unique fabrics and trims for the Sandero Stepway. At the front, the rounded-shaped dashboard featured hard-plastic areas on most sides, but that didn’t bother customers. Fronting the driver was an instrument cluster filled with three large dials surrounded by chromed trims, where the speedometer took center stage. On the center stack, depending on the options, customers could get either a regular sound system with Bluetooth connectivity or Renault’s MediaNav infotainment unit. Like in the regular Sandero and Logan, passengers in the back didn’t have too much legroom. Still, it was enough for daily use and short journeys.

Under the hood, Dacia installed a choice of turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines that sent their power to the front wheels only via a five-speed manual.