We recently had another chance to drive the derivative on the motorway and in-city, which showed why this Renault has met with such success. In South Africa alone the Stepway reached over 3 000 sales annually - regularly one of the top 10 sellers in the market.
Apart from its adaptability across a wide range of driving conditions, it is also a practical and attractive cross-over vehicle offering easy driving over longer distances.
The vehicles looks modern and refined with a neat front grille and ground clearance of 193mm, which means the driver has the advantage of a higher driving positioning and better sight all round.
Finishing off the modern look, the Stepway has 16" wheels, front and rear silver skid plates, fog lamps with chrome surroundings, wheel arch trims and roof rails with a silver finish.
INTERIOR
Inside the cabin, the quality of the materials and good planning makes it a pleasure to settle in for the drive, with instruments on the dashboard grouped together with chrome detailing. The instruments are practical and clean, which makes for easy reading.
The leather-clad steering wheel and gear lever adds to inside refinement.
The interior has generous space at front and back makes and the luggage compartment has a best-in-class boot capacity of 292-litres. This can be adapted thanks to a 60/40 split rear bench.
The version we drove was the new Azurite Blue, which also underscored the fresh personality.
ECONOMY
Renault has built on its F1 turbo technology for economy and performance. That is where the Stepway really surprised in terms of economical yet punchy driving. At the same time one can feel easy about driving as the vehicle has low CO² emissions at a weighted average of 110,1g/km.
The new generation three cylinder Turbo 66kW power plant fitted in the Stepway is the same as in the Clio, and highly efficient thanks to its 100% aluminium block, low inertia turbo and variable valve timing (VVT).
It also benefits from solutions transferred from Formula 1 such as Diamond-like Carbon coatings (hi-tech surface treatment for engine components ensuring friction reduction) and High Tumble Strategy (optimisation of engine internal aerodynamics allowing better combustion).
With the turbo 66kW engine under its bonnet, the all-new Sandero Stepway has a published top speed of 175km/h accelerating from 0 to 100km/h in only 11,1sec. The engine has a pleasant sound and was also highly responsive in all conditions we drove, including city traffic in Cape Town. The torque reaches 135Nm at a low 2 000rpm.
It performed impressively and we were pleasantly surprised by attaining the published fuel consumption of 5,4-litres per 100km during the drive - impressive considering the comfort and size of the Stepway.
TECHNOLOGY
The Sandero Stepway has a long list of comfort and technology features which we will only list briefly: Bluetooth connectivity and music streaming from external devices, radio MP3 compatible CD player (with USB port) with fingertip controls located behind the steering wheel, electric windows front and back, electrically adjustable side mirrors and rear parking sensor assist.
We drove only in the Eco Mode to see how the Renault's 66kW turbo petrol engine would perform, which is how we got the excellent fuel consumption.
During the drive the engine coped very well with overtaking and only on steep stretches of road we had to gear down. Driving in this way to achieve greater economy soon became a habit and planning ahead was part of the pleasure of the journey.
SAFETY
On the road, safety and security obviously matter and the Stepway has a standard safety package including Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), which automatically applies maximum brake pressure when emergency braking conditions are detected. These shorten braking distance by up to nine metres or 25%.
The Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) + traction control (ASR) ensures vehicle stability and assists the driver to avoid possible loss of control due to speed or slippery road conditions. It detects and reduces loss of traction, reduces engine power and brakes on independent wheels in the event of loss of control.
Hill Start Assist (HSA) is automatically activated as soon as an incline of at least 10% is detected. The system is engaged by stepping firmly on the brake and prevents any backward movement for long enough to pull off without needing to use the handbrake. When stepping off the brake, the car will hold for approximately three seconds to allow pull off with no roll-back.
Passive safety features protect the driver and passengers, whether seated front or back. In addition to front seat belts with load limiters and ISOFIX fasteners for child and baby seats, it has front side airbags and 3-point safety belts for rear passengers.
The body structure has crumple zones and the shape, thickness and rigidity of the front bumper and bonnet area are designed for improved impact absorption.
DETAILS
The New Sandero Stepway derivative comes standard with Renault's five year or 150 000km warranty plus a two year or 30 000km service plan. Service intervals are at 15 000km.
With Renault SA stocking more than 17 000 spare parts in its Rosslyn, Pretoria-based warehouse, parts availability presents no problem. The recommended retail price including warranty and service plan is R159 900.
The test car was provided by Seaman's Renault George. For more details, contact them on
044 873 2039 or visit the showroom in C J
Langenhoven Road, George to have a look for yourself.
The Stepway is a practical and attractive crossover vehicle offering easy driving over longer distances.
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