Dacia Sandero Stepway vs Fiat Panda Trekking

If you want the tough off-roader style for less, look no further than the Dacia Sandero Stepway. It gets a tall ride height and rugged design, yet compact dimensions and two-wheel drive make it cheap to run. As with all Dacias, the price is hugely attractive – basic models are just £7,995, while our range-topping Laureate dCi diesel is still only £10,795.

• Dacia Sandero Stepway review

• Fiat Panda Trekking review

However, it’s not the only small car with big ideas, as Fiat has just launched a tough-looking Trekking version of the Panda. At a glance, it resembles the 4x4, but underneath the macho make-up are front-wheel-drive mechanicals. In petrol TwinAir guise it can’t quite match the Dacia for fuel economy, but low CO2 emissions and stop-start make it cost-effective to run. And although it costs more, at £12,495, the Trekking promises a more upmarket image, while uprated traction control gives off-road ability to match its looks. So which one of our rugged rivals is king of the urban jungle?

Even though their engines are very different, there is little to separate the diesel Dacia and petrol Panda in terms of straight-line performance. The Stepway was just half a second quicker from 0-60mph than the Panda, posting a time of 11.3 seconds, and the cars were closely matched in our in-gear tests. However, despite putting in a similar display to its rival at the test track, the characterful-sounding Fiat feels more eager on the open road than the Dacia.

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1st place - Dacia Sandero Stepway

There's more to the Dacia than its bargain price tag. It’s roomy, well equipped and cheap to run, while chunky off-road additions give the Stepway kerb appeal. It’s not perfect – the driving experience is dated and cabin quality isn’t up to scratch – but at this price you can forgive the odd flaw.

2nd place - Fiat Panda Trekking

When it comes to driving fun, the Panda is hard to beat, plus it looks and feels like a more upmarket product than the Dacia. Yet it can’t match its rival for standard kit and space, while the TwinAir engine is thirsty. Factor in the hefty £1,700 price premium, and the Fiat narrowly misses out.

Performance

Even though their engines are very different, there is little to separate the diesel Dacia and petrol Panda in terms of straight-line performance. The Stepway was just half a second quicker from 0-60mph than the Panda, posting a time of 11.3 seconds, and the cars were closely matched in our in-gear tests. However, despite putting in a similar display to its rival at the test track, the characterful-sounding Fiat feels more eager on the open road than the Dacia.

Aftersales

The Stepway holds all the trump cards for aftersales service. Not only is it backed by a generous five-year warranty, it’s also available with a pre-paid servicing pack – unlike the Panda. Dacia’s £489 plan covers maintenance for three years and 36,000 miles.

Fuel economy

On paper, our contenders deliver similar claims for fuel economy and CO2 emissions. Yet in the real world it’s the diesel Dacia that takes the honours. In our hands, the Stepway returned a respectable 45.7mpg. As with other TwinAir Fiats we’ve tested, the Trekking was surprisingly thirsty – it only managed a disappointing 40.5mpg. Panda buyers wanting to save more at the pumps should opt for the 1.3-litre Multijet diesel, which claims 67.3mpg.