DACIA SANDERO STEPWAY
Rugged, value-brand supermini proves its do-it-all credentials
MILEAGE 7688
WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT
To see if Europe’s best-selling retail car lives up to our bullish road test claims
The Sandero Stepway has been acquiring mileage hand over fist, for a couple of excellent reasons. First is our extra dependence nowadays on reporting- by-driving jobs around the country, rather than day trips via Heathrow to Germany or France (an excellent development, in my opinion).
Second is the Stepway’s do-everything nature: it’s small enough to fit into tight traffic gaps and parking spaces suitable only for superminis, yet it’s roomy enough in the rear (partly because it’s taller) to accommodate full-size adults, with enough boot space for their stuff.
Even if you have access to other cars, you tend to grab the Dacia because it’s convenient. Its cheerful and willing nature means it’s always ready. The result is that I’ve amassed close to 7000 miles since it arrived in early May, and that progression doesn’t look like stopping.