Dacia Sandero Stepway debuts at Paris with SUV-inspired styling
Dacia has unveiled the new Sandero Stepway at the Paris Motor Show, offering raised ground clearance, SUV cues and a choice of petrol or diesel engines.
Dacia has taken the wraps off the new Sandero Stepway at the Paris Motor Show, introducing a hatchback with SUV-inspired looks and raised suspension. The Stepway sits up to 40mm higher than the standard Sandero in Western Europe, targeting buyers who want crossover styling without the price or complexity of a full SUV.
The Stepway’s exterior features a redesigned front end, front and rear skid plates, pronounced wheel arches and two-tone roof bars. Dacia fits 16-inch Flexwheels and offers an exclusive Azurite blue paint finish. These details are intended to give the Sandero Stepway a more rugged, off-road appearance, though it remains a front-wheel-drive hatch at heart.
Inside, Dacia has given the Stepway embroidered upholstery with grey overstitching. Buyers can choose between an entry-level trim, which provides the Stepway’s visual upgrades at a lower price, and a fully-equipped version. The latter adds features such as the MEDIA NAV multimedia system, air conditioning, cruise control with speed limiter, and a reversing sensor.
Engine choices and efficiency
Dacia will offer the Sandero Stepway with the most powerful engines from the Logan/Sandero family. The TCe 90 is a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit, while the dCi 90 is a four-cylinder diesel. Both are paired with manual gearboxes. The TCe 90 returns a combined fuel consumption of 5.4 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 125 g/km. The dCi 90 diesel, carrying Dacia’s eco² badge, achieves 4.0 l/100 km and 105 g/km CO2 on the combined cycle.
| Ground clearance (Western Europe) | 40mm higher than Sandero |
|---|---|
| Ground clearance (Romania) | 26mm higher than Sandero |
| Petrol engine | TCe 90, 3-cylinder turbo |
| Diesel engine | dCi 90, 4-cylinder |
| Combined fuel consumption (petrol) | 5.4 l/100 km |
| Combined fuel consumption (diesel) | 4.0 l/100 km |
| CO2 emissions (petrol) | 125 g/km |
| CO2 emissions (diesel) | 105 g/km |
Market positioning and pricing
Dacia positions the Sandero Stepway as an accessible alternative to more expensive crossovers. The previous Stepway made up half of all Sandero sales, and the new model is expected to continue that trend. Pricing starts from €10,800 in Romania and €10,590 in France, with orders opening on 1 October 2012.
The Sandero Stepway’s combination of raised ride height, SUV styling and competitive pricing targets buyers looking for a practical hatchback with a tougher image. It joins a Paris Motor Show line-up that also includes new models from Renault, Kia and Chevrolet, as manufacturers respond to demand for crossovers and compact SUVs.
For more on new launches from Paris, seeDacia Logan 2 debuts at Paris with new look and engines.
