Sandero steps up

Let us be brutally honest here: the world of budget cars is not the most exciting realm in which to throw one's money about, now is it?

Though all those glitzy roadsters and luxurious executives may blow your mind, there is very little to write home about when entrenched behind the wheel of an entry-level model.

So then why did it take so long for my eyebrows to droop back down the length of my forehead after driving the new Renault Sandero Stepway?

A vehicle that, don't forget, inhabits more or less the same rung of the ladder as the terminally dull Logan sedan.

Well because unlike the aforementioned booted bore that many love to hate, the Sandero Stepway is actually chock-full of visual character.

For despite being nothing more than a normal Sandero on a pair of stilts, the Stepway packs the same sort of aesthetic punch as the more expensive Volkswagen Cross Polo in that its outer bits have been clad in robust and hard-wearing black plastic.

Indeed, much like a giant strip of licorice, it lifts the otherwise sombre design of the standard Sandero hatch to a whole new level.

Finished off with further cosmetic enhancements such as aluminium-look roof rails and some fore and aft skid-plates, the funky Stepway is probably one of the more exciting looking vehicles you can put inside your garage for less than R150000.

Seriously, neither Ford's new Figo or Volkswagen's Polo Vivo can really come close in matching the sum of its ocular kudos. Out on the open road the Sandero Stepway is similarly pleasing as it lopes across hill and dale in a fashion that feels far more premium than its price tag suggests.

Perhaps it's all that extra ride height (20mm to be exact) but it really does float over some of the roughest bumps without ever feeling flustered.

Comfortable and forgiving on ruddy surfaces, this Renault handles the curves rather well too.

Unfortunately things aren't anywhere near as sparkly in the engine department as the old-school 8v lump is, predictably, no ball of fire.

It feels underpowered and needs constant thrashing and stirring of that five-speed gearbox to keep up an acceptable pace.

Of course Renault could have bolted in their superior 16v engine but that would have affected the long list of features which include power steering, a trip computer, air conditioning, central locking and electric front windows. You also get a gangster Sony X-Plod four-speaker sound system.

Finished off with ABS, EBD, dual front airbags and the biggest boot in its class (320 litres), the new Renault Sandero Stepway ticks a whole lot of boxes for the money.

Spacious and easily able to stand out from the crowd, this fresh-thinking Renault goes to prove that budget motoring really can have a little bit of a pulse. Sure, it might not be perfect but for those looking to shy away from the mainstream on a shoestring, there's no better car for the money.

Strong brand

Price: R198 500

Power/torque: 77kW/155Nm

Fuel economy: 6.6 litres per 100km

C02 emissions: 157g/km

Practical but still Korean

Price: R159 900

Power/torque: 91kW/156Nm

Fuel economy: 7.7 litres per 100km

C02 emissions: 140g/km