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DACIA Sandero Stepway Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 4
First production year: 2009
Engines: Liquefied petroleum gas (lpg), Gasoline, Diesel
Body style: SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle)
DACIA Sandero Stepway photo gallery

The Sandero was the best selling model of the Romanian car-maker Dacia, with over 2.1 million units sold in just three years, and the Stepway version was responsible for 65% of those sells.

Dacia unveiled the second generation of the Sandero Stepway in 2020. The hatch-back version of the Logan was a European hit due to its small-class exterior size, compact-size interior room and budget price. That recipe was important and just a few customers cared that the car was fitted with old Renault parts. The car worked and the reliability index was high.

Dacia designed the Sandero Stepway as a true, budget alternative for other small crossovers. Even if it shared some parts with the regular Sandero, that trim-level showed a few styling differences. The front side featured a gray plastic shield under the bumper. From the sides, the black moldings around the wheel-arches enhanced the crossover look. The roof-rails featured a clever system that allowed them to be installed both longitudinally and transversely. A gray plastic shield enhanced the look for the rear bumper.

Inside, the Sandero Stepway featured orange lines on the vents. The lettering “Stepway” was embroiled on the front seatbacks. For the instrument cluster, the designers didn't struggle too much and took the same panel designed for the Duster, the 4x4 SUV from Dacia. For the rear passengers, a split-fold bench made its appearance for the first time in the Sandero Stepway range.

At the time of its launch, the Sandero Stepway was available with a choice of three engines. The base version featured a 1-liter, three-cylinder unit. A turbocharged 1-liter unit powered the mid-level, and the top version was the 1.0-liter bi-fuel (gasoline-LPG) engine that developed 100 hp.

full description and technical specifications
liquefied petroleum gas (lpg) engines:

DACIA Sandero Stepway 1.0L TCe 100 ECO-G 6MT

DACIA Sandero Stepway photo gallery

The second generation of the Dacia Sandero was introduced in 2012, and, in 2016, the entire lineup went through an ample facelift.

With a crossover market growing day by day, Dacia offered a lifted version for its small-segment hatchback, the Sandero. Due to its low weight and efficient engines, it was a good offer for those who searched for a low-budget car that could go over unpaved roads and still get good fuel-efficiency.

Like most of the facelifts, the Sandero Stepway received a new front fascia. The LED daytime running lights were included on the options list. The front bumper was inspired by the Duster, the light SUV built by Dacia. The designers installed a silver plastic shield under the front bumper and a pair of fog-lights on the sides. A three-squared lighting signature was introduced in the taillights. On top of the vehicle, a pair of roof-rails carried-over from the station wagon version (named MCV) was fitted as standard.

Inside, the Sandero Stepway featured a dedicated upholstery, with the “Stepway” name embroiled on the front backrests. An important step forward was for the infotainment unit, named MediaNav, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay compatible. There was limited room for two adults for the rear seats, but it was enough for the city or short trips.

Under the hood, Dacia prepared a choice of three gasoline and diesel engines with power ranged between 90 hp and 95 hp. All versions were paired as standard with a 5-speed manual transmission, while a robotized, single-clutch gearbox was on the options list.

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DACIA Sandero Stepway 2 photo gallery

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.

full description and technical specifications
DACIA Sandero Stepway photo gallery

While the world struggled to survive the financial crisis, the Romanian automaker Dacia performed well thanks to its low-price vehicles and dependability.

Dacia was bought by the French automaker Renault in 1999 and slowly began to introduce new models on the market. Since it was a budget brand, its products were affordable for many customers, and the production cost was also small. That's why this brand added money into Renault's accounts when the world financial crisis started in 2008 instead of draining them. The French automaker noted that and pushed harder for the Romanian brand to add a new version of the small-sized hatchback Sandero, the Stepway version.

Even if customers were more focused on buying economical vehicles, the addition of a crossover version of the Sandero was welcomed on the market. With its black, unpainted moldings on the bodywork, it looked ready for conquering the next picnic camp. In addition, the silver lower shield offered an improved off-road look for the otherwise mundane city vehicle. Also, the chrome door handles and the roof rails added more flair to the car.

Inside, it was the same Sandero as the rest of the range, with hard plastic on the dashboard and door panels. Yet, the upholstery was upgraded and received "Stepway" logos embroidered onto the seats' seatbacks. Again, like the rest of the Dacia range, it offered adequate room for four passengers and decent trunk space. In addition, the split-folding (60/40) rear bench increased the luggage area from 320 liters (11.3 cu-ft) to 1,200 liters (42.3 cu-ft).

Under the hood, the carmaker installed a choice of four engines, gasoline, and turbo-diesel, paired with a five-speed manual.

REVIEW: DACIA Sandero Stepway   full description and technical specifications