Dacia has rolled out an cheaper model. It’s based on the
Sandero Stepway, which is sort of a crossover version of one of the cheapest
hatchbacks on the market. Now available in Urban spec with an even smaller
engine, it starts at just € 10,500.
That’s less than US$ 12,500 at current exchange rates,
and includes VAT. Account for tax and the relative adjusted position means
Dacia’s actually charging more like € 8,700 for this one or just over US$ 10k, whose European
counterparts are slightly more expensive than this Dacia even in France. And
not for nothing, but these are all models made under the same automotive
alliance.
The Sandero is one of the most basic modes of
transportation on the market. This one offers all of 75 hp and 97 Nm of torque from a four-cylinder engine displacing less
than a full liter.
But this is, ostensibly, a crossover. It
rides 41 mm higher over the road than the standard Sandero and has
other rugged features like roof bars, a chrome grille, 16-inch wheels and a
skid plate under the front bumper. And it has air conditioning – we’re not
living in the Stone Age here.
What’s even more impressive is that this isn’t even
the cheapest model Dacia offers. You can get a base Logan (and we do mean
“base”) for as little as € 7,790 (tax-in), or a stripped Sandero hatch for just
two hundred euros more. But the Stepway’s crossover-ish looks are better than
both, so if you must have a new car, it’s probably the best choice.
