[Spyder]

I have a Sandero Stepway BI Fuel Comfort
It did inform me LPG low 30miles away it said low LPG on the info.

JUST RAN OUT OF lpg at 290 miles on Stepway thats good on 33 litres.

When I ran mine out, it took 44 litres to refill it not 33.
When I refilled at the "LPG low" warning it took just 32 or 33.
Checked the manual, the LPG tank capacity is "approx 40 litres" useable.

 

[Spyder]

Interesting that the new model has an electronic handbrake. Scrapping my wife’s ancient Laguna meant she had to drive our Passat. That had an electronic handbrake, which she hated - it was either on or off, and the button was on the dashboard - so as it was 12 years old we decided to switch to a smaller car, the Stepway II with a normal handbrake. No more juggling at hill starts.
I’d be interested to read what owners of the new model think, and how it works in practice.

This car has hill hold on the foot brake.
You can do hill starts without the handbrake.

 

[JLB]

Yes, our Stepway II has that two-second hold feature, I was more interested in the usefulness or otherwise of the new electronic handbrake, and if it was similar to that on the Passat.
When we bought the Passat years ago, I thought at the time it was another one of those unnecessary gimmicks you can't manage without.

 

[Daedalus]

I had a Passat SW company car. I found it no problem it auto applied and released when you moved off. Much the same as HSA. You just ignored the On/Off button on the dash.

HSA is an upto 2 second hold and releases as soon as you move off, just like electronic handbrakes but uses the ABS.

 

[Spyder]

I really disliked the electric handbrake on a recent Qashqai rental car. Definitely another nanny state item I'm happy to do without, along with lane keeping and active cruise control.

 

[JLB]

@Daedalus: The handbrake on our Passat (2007) was governed solely by the button - it didn't work until you pressed it, and would not release until you pressed it again, so it was either on or off.

I remember the ads for an Audi, I think it was, where the car was parked on a slope, and the car stayed where it was but the driver's case rolled down the hill, which leaves me wondering why, if yours worked as you described, there was any need for a button?

We had our Passat until we bought the Dacia in 2020, and it definitely had no form of hill-hold.

Sorry, getting a bit off-topic.

 

[Daedalus]

It was back ~2010. I can't remember all the ins and outs but it definitely auto released when you moved off. Maybe yours was faulty!

Does this mean the new cars have rear discs as I always though electronic handbrakes clamped the pads to the disc?

 

[JLB]

@Daedalus: You are correct, and although I didn't expressly disagree with you, I nevertheless owe you an apology.

Having sold the car a couple of years ago, and having a clear out, I was in the process of throwing my English driver's manual away (the original was in French, of course, which went with the car, and I got an English one from ebay). Re-reading it, it definitely states, as you say, that it is auto release. It can't have been a fault because the car was regularly serviced by VW and I'm sure they would have noticed it.

I don't ever recall it auto releasing, whether by accident or design, but if it did we sold the car unnecessarily! The only upside to this is that we've now got a Stepway, and we're both happy with it. Shan't say anything to my wife though. . . .

 

[JLB]

@Daedalus: just to draw a line under this, and to make my excuses!
In January 2020, a couple of weeks after we swapped the Passat for the Sandero, I underwent a scheduled major operation (not life-theatening), which put me out of things and meant my wife running-in the Dacia. Shortly after that it was Covid (France shut down about a week before the UK), so for me the Passat became a distant memory - until now. Last night it suddenly dawned on me that, of course, it was auto-release. The problem was having to put the clutch right to the floor, as opposed to just putting it down far enough to comfortably engage first, as on the Laguna. I recall saying to my wife to treat it like a foot-operated switch and imagine it clicking off, something she was never really happy wiith (she used to drive 20k miles a year when we lived in the UK, so is competent at the wheel). I have to say it caught me out occasionally after driving the Laguna. I wonder now whether I could have got VW to adjust the point of contact with the clutch pedal, but it's a bit late now.
Best wishes.

 

[Colonelbrandon]

Here I am again, one month on and a bit more used to the 21 Stepway Prestige. Sorry it’s a bit long but you don’t have to read it all.

Things I don’t like;
The damn armrest between the driver and passenger seats, it seems the most useless bit of ‘fluff’ they could have added. It gets in the way every time I want to attach or detach my seatbelt. It is also so small inside as yet I have found no use for it as storage.

Reaching down to pull up the handbrake then having to double check I’ve got the little leaver for the electronic handbrake. Then having to count 1, 2, 3, for the brake to come on. Try that at a set of traffic lights on a slope with some nice driver 6“ from your rear bumper.

Not having an actual OFF position for the lights only AUTO, Side and Headlights. The driver coming towards me the other day must have wondered what the heck I was up to as I drove under some dark trees and the headlights flashed on and off all on their own.

The spring loaded doors. The number of times I’ve smacked my knuckles when opening the driver’s door in a tight space and had it smack back because of the spring.

The gearbox, I’m having trouble when reversing and changing from reverse to 1st, It seems the detent doesn’t always drop down so I push forwards into 1st and find I’m still in reverse. I now have the habit of selecting 2nd then 1st to make sure I’m in the right gear. Just a minor niggle but it should get better as it wears in.

And things I like;
The engine, in Eco mode it has the same pulling power as my old Sandero. Take the Eco off and you get a noticeable punch in the acceleration.

Fuel economy. I live in laid back, we don’t have motorways (we really don’t) slightly rural Dorset. So most of my journeys are on A, B, C or unclassified roads. So far according to the digital display I’m getting 50 MPG, 11 more than my old car.

The display; this took me by surprise the whole display is backlit at all times, even when the lights are off. That was my biggest bugbear with the old car, in gloomy conditions or under bright sun I could not see the speedo. I also love the digital display of the speed in MPH and things like water temp, trip distance etc.

Android Auto, it works fine with my mobile phone. Google maps mean I don’t have to spend a fortune keeping the maps up to date. Voice commands so far work fine, even when I really put it to the test and issued a long command. I’ve not tried the hands free phone yet, still taking small steps at my age

The rear door having an electronic lock, so much easier when you arrive with a load of shopping and just open it with a press of the button.

The reversing camera, lets me see if some little person is hiding behind the car when pulling out in the supermarket car park. Also all the warning alarms, I did think about turning them off but now I’ve toned them down a bit (volume and tone) I decided to leave them on.

Lastly I like the way Dacia has integrated the Nav system with the car so I can adjust a lot of the cars settings with just a few taps of the screen. Well done for that Dacia.

 

[Spyder]

Good review. I have a Comfort which only lacks the Prestige armrest(the regular armrest does what it should without blocking belts, gearshift or parking brake)the robot handbrake and blindspot warning. The techy features I've already tried in a leased Nissan, and disliked them, along with lane assist and adaptive cruise, I switched them all off if I could.

I really like the reversing camera and sensors though. The visibility out of the rear window is very poor and our car lives in a cramped underground carpark.
Finally MPG. We're getting just 30/31 on LPG, mostly due to the 1500 foot climb each way every time we go out. Tried ECO mode and got it up to 32 but at the cost of a near undriveable car, so ECO stays off.

I like it. It's a roomy, well equipped car with little or no competition on price. We bought it outright from stock with no delivery delay at all, and plan on keeping it many years.

 

[JLB]

Not thinking of buying a new car, but how do Dacia's cars (and prices) compare with the small Chinese MG in the UK? Did anyone consider buying one?

 

[Spyder]

Viewed the MG3 a few times ( pre ugly facelift ) on display in our local shopping centre and I was always struck by the rough and ready finish, and a design that looked like it was from the 1980s. The old tech 1.5 petrol seemed less than competitive too. It's only virtues seemed to be cheapness, and it's zombie branding.
Dacia match the cheapness with Sandero, but it's a best selling modern product based on latest Renault platforms that sells on its own merits. In comparison SIAC wouldn't sell a single car to British consumers without that nostalgic MG badge.

 

[Biggles 266]

Here I am again, one month on and a bit more used to the 21 Stepway Prestige. Sorry it’s a bit long but you don’t have to read it all.

Things I don’t like;
The damn armrest between the driver and passenger seats, it seems the most useless bit of ‘fluff’ they could have added. It gets in the way every time I want to attach or detach my seatbelt. It is also so small inside as yet I have found no use for it as storage.

Reaching down to pull up the handbrake then having to double check I’ve got the little leaver for the electronic handbrake. Then having to count 1, 2, 3, for the brake to come on. Try that at a set of traffic lights on a slope with some nice driver 6“ from your rear bumper.

Not having an actual OFF position for the lights only AUTO, Side and Headlights. The driver coming towards me the other day must have wondered what the heck I was up to as I drove under some dark trees and the headlights flashed on and off all on their own.

The spring loaded doors. The number of times I’ve smacked my knuckles when opening the driver’s door in a tight space and had it smack back because of the spring.

The gearbox, I’m having trouble when reversing and changing from reverse to 1st, It seems the detent doesn’t always drop down so I push forwards into 1st and find I’m still in reverse. I now have the habit of selecting 2nd then 1st to make sure I’m in the right gear. Just a minor niggle but it should get better as it wears in.

And things I like;
The engine, in Eco mode it has the same pulling power as my old Sandero. Take the Eco off and you get a noticeable punch in the acceleration.

Fuel economy. I live in laid back, we don’t have motorways (we really don’t) slightly rural Dorset. So most of my journeys are on A, B, C or unclassified roads. So far according to the digital display I’m getting 50 MPG, 11 more than my old car.

The display; this took me by surprise the whole display is backlit at all times, even when the lights are off. That was my biggest bugbear with the old car, in gloomy conditions or under bright sun I could not see the speedo. I also love the digital display of the speed in MPH and things like water temp, trip distance etc.

Android Auto, it works fine with my mobile phone. Google maps mean I don’t have to spend a fortune keeping the maps up to date. Voice commands so far work fine, even when I really put it to the test and issued a long command. I’ve not tried the hands free phone yet, still taking small steps at my age

The rear door having an electronic lock, so much easier when you arrive with a load of shopping and just open it with a press of the button.

The reversing camera, lets me see if some little person is hiding behind the car when pulling out in the supermarket car park. Also all the warning alarms, I did think about turning them off but now I’ve toned them down a bit (volume and tone) I decided to leave them on.

Lastly I like the way Dacia has integrated the Nav system with the car so I can adjust a lot of the cars settings with just a few taps of the screen. Well done for that Dacia.

I have a prestige like yours, and agree with almost everything you say - but I think you may have something wrong with your gear selector, as I have no problems with reverse selection. it feels much more positive than my old Duster.

 

[Biggles 266]

Sorry - meant to add; Sally has covered 2130 miles in five weeks, and according to the onboard computer she averages 51.3 mpg.

 

[Pat Murphy]

I bought a 2016 1.5 dci manual last March for my wife and trusted the seller, unfortunately.I really like the car but the non working aircon and the unreliable clutch engagement are issues that are proving hard to address as wiring diagrams do not exist and Dacia are of no use at all. But I do like the car and will continue my search for solutions.

I had same problem with aircon, turns out mechanic had jammed the pollen filter on against the air system, removed pollen filter problem solved.

 

[diddy12]

I am getting 41mpg out of my Stepway Journey CVT but so far it's only covered 600 miles.
Not sure what the mpg will settle down to once the engine has a few thousand miles on it.
also not quick but I can live with its laid back lazy driving.

 

[Norman Dog]

Sandero Stepway 0.9 TCE

Good Points: Large boot, good driving position, cheap to fix, good mpg.
Bad Points: Doesn't handle well, slow, very basic interior, build quality isn't the greatest.

 

[Tamhemp1]

Second stepway for me, first was in 2013 a 1.5 diesel , traded it in for 0.9 petrol version in 2017 , loved both cars , getting wiper problems now with the car after 6 trouble free years , hopefully get sorted soon .

 

[Coypars]

First journey of distance since I got the car new in October,Fife to Whitley Bay.Used Media Nav for directions was good with beeps to announce speed cameras on A1 route.My old car Mazda 6 just announced speed camera ahead,found the seats comfortable on the three hour drive.
Coped with 70mph speed limits easily,with beeps when you exceeded limit,overtaking was no problem and averaged 49 mpg on the round trip.
Done 2600 miles with car now and very pleased with how it drives,have used Tesco premium E45 petrol from new.