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Judging by Renault’s latest design of the Kwid Ultra, we are surely in for a real treat when the new Sandero Stepway makes landfall somewhere in 2021. The French manufacturer has never shied away from interesting designs and relatively good value for money for its showroom cars.
Oh dear. For reasons which don’t matter anymore, I’ve test-driven this exact model before and after this review. Don’t despair though, dear reader, for I aim to bring you a fresh look at this bargain basement hatchback crossover thingy.
Renault is a strange old brand. It started just a few months shy of the year 1900 and has always danced to its own tune. They’re reasonably big on motorsport but never bothered much with luxury cars. At some point they aced all EuroNCAP crash tests but still focused on affordable transport for the masses; like this Sandero Stepway.
Hoe méér ons Namibiers verstedelik, hoe groter word die behoefte om plekke te besoek waar daar stilte en rus is. Dit is dan ook so dat sulke rusplekke vir die gees juis die afgeleë plekke is wat nie met gewone motors bereik kan word nie; ‘n volwaardige 4×4 is hiervoor noodsaaklik.
Die Etios was nog altyd ‘n baie belangrike model in die stal van Toyota Suid Afrika en dié model is redelik gewild in ‘n baie kompiterende segment. Dit bied bekostigbare vervoer in ‘n tyd wat motors baie duur geword het. Toyota se Etios word in Indië vervaardig vir die Indiese mark, asook vir Suidelike Afrika, Brasilië en Indonesië.
(is jy bang vir die middelmannetjie?) So you live on a plaas but don’t have / want a 4×4. Here’s a list of affordable cars with high ground clearance that are not 4×4, SUV’s, AWD, Crossovers, Bakkies, LCV’s, etc.
Toe die eerste Sandero ‘n paar jaar gelede op die mark gekom het dit gou heelwat aanhangers tot gevolg gehad – die prys was reg, voldoende krag (tog effe flou) en spasie, maar nie so lig op brandstof soos sommige van sy mededingers nie. Nou het Renault die Sandero heeltemal verfris met ‘n nuwe voorkoms en ‘n nuwe enjin – ‘n klein 900cc turbo.
Like most people, I remember my first car well. And like most guys, I happily recall how it was fitted with more loudspeakers than is generally recommended. Renault must’ve identified this niche with their entry-level Sandero and teamed up with Sony to create a mobile disco in the shape of a car.
Like many South Africans, I don’t always agree with new car pricing strategies and as a result, all cars I’ve ever bought were pre-owned. Thus it’s a refreshing change to test one of S.A.’s cheapest (and locally built) vehicles in the Dacia-flavoured shape of Renault’s Sandero.
Something tells me the year is drawing to a close. The temperature has breached tolerable levels, the beach I frequent for irregular walks looks like the mall usually does on a Saturday and the jingle-laden mall itself looks like it’s about to burst at the seams.