A Reliable City Ride for the Money

I've had my Renault Sandero Stepway 2012 for a few years now, and I've gotta say, it's been a reliable little workhorse. I'm just an average city user, looking for a car that's affordable to maintain, comfortable, and gets the job done.

So, let's talk about this little Zaychik (that's Russian for 'little hare'). I'm part of the target audience that contributes to its reputation as a car for beginners and women. The other part of its justified image is that of a car for grandma to take to the dacha.

Technical specs: - 2012 model, 84 horsepower (there's also a 103 horsepower version).

- 65,000 km on the odometer.

- 1.6-liter gasoline engine.

- 15-inch wheels.

It's enough for city driving, but on the highway with overtaking, it's a bit of a struggle. With passengers and cargo, it's downright tough, but it still gets you where you need to go.

The car in winterMy impressions:

I'm not gonna sugarcoat it – this car isn't built for speed. It's happy cruising between 80 and 110 km/h. Anything faster, and it starts complaining, shaking, and asking you to stop being so cruel. And to be honest, it's not very stable on the road. I did manage to get it up to 160 km/h on the M11, but that's not exactly the Zaychik's speed limit. Don't do that, it's scary and not good for the car – judging by the sounds it made.One of the perks of the car's lower power is the ridiculously low transport tax. I got a bill for 1008 rubles this year. The fuel efficiency is decent, especially if you drive like grandma, using the recommended 95 gasoline (please, just use regular). But, according to my intuition, it'll also run on 92.Another nice bonus is that cops hardly ever bother you when you're driving this car. In my entire driving life, I've been pulled over maybe three or four times. Two of those times were for being a bit too cheeky right in front of the traffic cops, and the other two were at night when there wasn't much traffic to speak of. If you're a woman or grandma driving a Renault Sandero, you can pretty much sail right past and let the 'real' drivers pass you by)Why you need this car:

The Zaychik is designed to get you and your friends and family safely and relatively comfortably from point A to point B.

Comfort:

As for comfort in the cabin, it all depends on the trim level. If you've seen the Logan from the same generation, the Sandero is basically the same. You get your standard bad plastic, uncomfortable seats, and no frills, but I've got:

Heater for driver and passenger seats (works like a charm)Heater and blowerCD playerAll sorts of air ventsWindshield defroster2 USB portsWell, everything you need to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. You'll have to install rearview camera and parking sensors yourself if the previous owner didn't do it. Maybe they're standard in the latest model – I haven't checked.

More on the plus sides of the interior.

Firstly, the standard sound system could be a lot worse. Listening to music on it while driving is actually enjoyable

Secondly, despite its compact size, I can fit a surprising amount of stuff inside. It's not a pickup truck, but I've managed to cram in a whole bunch of stuff, almost like a Hermione Granger-style handbag.

It's not suitable for a family car for four kids and three adults, but as a car for a young couple or a family of three, it's perfect. I use it myself and sometimes take my friends and family members for a ride.

One annoying minus is the poor factory soundproofing. I mean, I didn't have it, but I know it's a major issue. It's exhausting, to be honest. Want to fix it yourself – go ahead.

Service and maintenance

The Lada service center is a breeze to deal with. They know the Sendaro inside and out and maintenance is a snap. In my opinion, it's like a Zhiguli on steroids – affordable spare parts and bodywork. It's a great car for a beginner or someone with limited budget who doesn't know much about mechanics. The first car will inevitably need some TLC, but it's not the end of the world. I've already dented the rear bumper and windshield, but it's not a reason to sell your kidney and apartment. The repairs are relatively affordable.

The car is very forgiving, perfect for learning how to drive. People recommend avoiding automatic transmission because it's slow, stupid, and unreliable, but I have a manual. It's the simplest and most basic transmission you can imagine.

As for rough roads, the Sendaro handles them like a pro. I've driven it on some pretty rough terrain, including some off-road driving in the fields. The high clearance and lightweight design make it easy to navigate small roads and snowdrifts. I even managed to drive through some pretty deep snowdrifts last winter without getting stuck, despite the fact that we had to clear a path through the snow. I'm starting to think my driving skills have improved over the past three years.

The suspension is my favorite feature – it's incredibly robust and can handle a lot of punishment. It's just as simple as the rest of the car, but it's held up well between maintenance checks and hasn't shown any signs of wear and tear.

Winter driving

I've never had an issue with the Sendaro starting in the cold. I was amazed when it started up on its own in -40°C in Podmoskovye without any external help. It took a while, but it eventually roared to life.

Conclusion

Yeah, the Zaytsev isn't exactly a speed demon. And yeah, it's a bit clunky and not exactly the coolest car out there. The interior's not great, either - it's all creaky and stuff. And let's be real, the build quality's not exactly top-notch (but at least nothing falls apart on you). And sure, sometimes you might catch yourself dreaming of something more exciting and stylish. But from a practical standpoint, for city and suburban driving, and considering the value for money, I think this thing's pretty unique. Taking into account my own experience and what the average Russian family can afford, I'd say the Zaytsev's the way to go. Or the Logan, I guess - but the Logan just looks worse, and it's smaller, too. The new Sandero 2nd gen is pricey, of course (just like everything else), but there are plenty of used ones on the market.

If you keep up with maintenance and actually take care of it, nothing bad happens to the car. At least, nothing that can't be fixed for a reasonable price. In five years, the Zaytsev's given me zero major problems, and most of the issues were just due to my own inexperience (since it was my first car). So, I'm at a loss for what I'd need to do to kill the thing - aside from being completely reckless or vandaling it, that is.

I don't see any reason to replace it. And if you're about to get your license and don't want to break the bank on your first car, and you don't want to be too attached to it in case it gets scratched or dented - take a look at the Sandero.

As for the Zaytsev, it's basically part of the family at this point, and it's been through a lot with me - so I trust it.