Photo: Renault
Dear James May, rejoice! Though this isn’t the Dacia Sandero econobox you were looking for, the good news is that the 2016 Renault Sandero Stepway Rip Curl is the ritziest Sandero ever made. It’s modern and cool, exactly the opposite of Captain Slow.
Based on the Dacia Sandero from the Old Continent, the Renault Sandero from South America is different from its European twin sister only by badge. The Stepway that comes after the Sandero nameplate is nothing more than a jacked-up visual package. What about the Rip Curl after Stepway? That tells you that this is a special edition model with visuals inspired by a surfing sportswear company from Australia.
Exclusively available in select South American markets (such as Brazil), the Rip Curl is a limited edition with a starting price of 55,850 reais. That’s €13,110 or $14,245 according to today’s exchange rates. So what do you get for two grand less than what a 2016 Dacia Sandero Stepway costs in its home market of Romania, the country with "the best road in the world?"
For starters, it’s based on the range-topping Privilege trim level, so customers aren’t missing anything regarding creature comforts. Other than that, the Rip Curl adds Rip Curl decals on the front doors and steering wheel, grey-painted mirror caps, red-painted air vent bezels, nicer seats, and that’s about it. Air conditioning, Media Nav infotainment, and satellite navigation are on the menu as well.
In terms of motivation, the front-wheel-drive Renault Sandero Stepway Rip Curl is available with two 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine options. The first is an 8-valve job with 85 horsepower. The second comes with double the valves and 105 horsepower. The five-speed manual that comes as standard can be exchanged for the Easy-R automated manual transmission for a teeny-weeny bit more Brazilian reais.
And no, unfortunately, the surfboard in the featured image isn’t included in the advertised price.
Exclusively available in select South American markets (such as Brazil), the Rip Curl is a limited edition with a starting price of 55,850 reais. That’s €13,110 or $14,245 according to today’s exchange rates. So what do you get for two grand less than what a 2016 Dacia Sandero Stepway costs in its home market of Romania, the country with "the best road in the world?"
For starters, it’s based on the range-topping Privilege trim level, so customers aren’t missing anything regarding creature comforts. Other than that, the Rip Curl adds Rip Curl decals on the front doors and steering wheel, grey-painted mirror caps, red-painted air vent bezels, nicer seats, and that’s about it. Air conditioning, Media Nav infotainment, and satellite navigation are on the menu as well.
In terms of motivation, the front-wheel-drive Renault Sandero Stepway Rip Curl is available with two 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine options. The first is an 8-valve job with 85 horsepower. The second comes with double the valves and 105 horsepower. The five-speed manual that comes as standard can be exchanged for the Easy-R automated manual transmission for a teeny-weeny bit more Brazilian reais.
And no, unfortunately, the surfboard in the featured image isn’t included in the advertised price.
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