Comparison of Renault Sandero Stepway vs Lada Xray

Although AvtoVAZ also has a version of the Xray Cross in its arsenal, it is more logical to compare the Sandero Stepway produced by Renault with the usual version of a high hatchback. Despite the lack of crossover external parts, there is no huge difference in technical terms between the Xray and Xray Cross.

Stepway and Xray are representatives of the compact hatchback segment with claims to crossover capabilities. In fact, these are quite tall hatchbacks that allow you to confidently overcome Russian roads. Both machines are adequately adapted to local operating conditions. But who managed to create the best car is an open question for many.

General technical information

If you don’t know whether to choose the Russian Lada Xray or the French Renault Sandero Stepway, it’s worth comparing the two cars, studying their features, and focusing on their strengths and weaknesses.

Production of a tall hatchback or even a pseudo-crossover (SUV) from the domestic company AvtoVAZ started in December 2015. The pre-production version was demonstrated at the end of summer 2014. Although the history of the model began with the first display of the conceptual version back in August 2012.

Essentially this is a hatchback, but it has impressive ground clearance and shapes that allow the car to be associated with an SUV. Therefore, it is not surprising that in 2022 they began selling a cross version of Xray Cross, adding appropriate solutions to the appearance.

The car is based on the front-wheel drive B0 platform, which AvtoVAZ took from the Renault-Nissan alliance. The front suspension is independent with MacPherson struts. At the rear there is a semi-independent structure and a torsion beam. The steering mechanism is rack and pinion with electric power steering. The front brakes are ventilated discs and the rear classic drums.

Lada Xray

Renault Sandero Stepway is already in its 2nd generation. Its presentation took place in August 2014 in Moscow. But sales started only in November of the same year. This is an off-road hatchback. It's hard to call it a crossover. Something between a SUV and just a tall hatchback.

The French pseudo-crossover is built on the basis of a regular hatchback. Independent front suspension with MacPherson struts. The rear has a semi-independent torsion beam. There are anti-roll bars all around. Stepway features a stiffer and reinforced suspension compared to the previous generation. This made it possible to adapt the car to Russian conditions. Front brakes are ventilated discs, rear drums. The rack-and-pinion steering mechanism is combined with a hydraulic booster. The basic version includes ABS and EBD.

Additionally, it is worth noting that the Sandero Stepway has an anti-gravel factory coating on the underbody, the use of mastic to close all joints and seams, enclosing the fuel line in plastic casings and steel crankcase protection. Even the Russian Xray model does not have this.

Ours won

The amazing is nearby. It’s unlikely that anyone else hoped that in the coming crisis years, when our domestic automakers would finally be able to create not only something roughly on par with foreign models in terms of characteristics and appearance, but also surpass them in many respects. Particularly pleasing is the fact that almost 70% of the parts from which the new “almost crossover” Lada XRay is assembled are completely domestic developments. And although the car platform is still taken from the same Renault Sandero, our “X-ray” still turned out to be at least a little prettier, more convenient and more powerful, which cannot but rejoice.

Exterior and external dimensions

From a design point of view, the new generation of Stepway has become more attractive and interesting. This is no longer the boring hatchback it used to be. Off-road body kits, which add aggression and masculinity, highlight the image favorably. The overall impression is pleasant.

Externally, the Lada Xray definitely does not lose. A nice, modern and quite fashionable car that can attract the attention of consumers of any age and gender. AvtoVAZ designers really managed to create a memorable image.

It is difficult to determine a favorite based on external data. But the fact is that both tall hatchbacks look decent. And especially taking into account the attitude towards the budget category of cars.

Renault Sandero Stepway

The Xray dimensions are as follows:

• length 4164 mm;
• width 1764 mm;
• height 1570 mm;
• wheelbase 2592 mm;
• ground clearance from 170 to 195 mm.

Sandero Stepway offers the following figures:

• length 4080 mm;
• width 1757 mm;
• height 1618 mm;
• wheelbase 2589 mm;
• ground clearance (clearance) 195 mm.

For now, one can observe parity between the two tall hatchbacks, designed in SUV style.

Dimensions

Let's go through the dimensional parameters. Here, in all respects, the new product from AvtoVAZ wins. She's bigger in almost everything. A comparison of dimensional parameters is given in the table:

Related link:
Owner reviews - pros and cons of the Lada X-Ray crossover

The differences in dimensions are not particularly significant, so you don’t have to pay much attention to them. The only important parameter can be considered ground clearance, and in the X-Ray it is greater, and significantly, which is a significant plus in the conditions of our roads.

Interior and luggage compartment

The interior of the Sandero Stepway is made in exact accordance with the interior decoration of the Renault Sandero. The only difference is additional sound insulation. The materials used are practical, good quality plastic, not very hard. The salon is budget, but well thought out, with good ergonomics.

Salon Lada Xray

There is plenty of space in the front, but there is a slight lack of legroom for tall passengers in the rear. Since this is a subcompact class, this is to be expected.

The luggage compartment offers 320 liters. If you fold the back row, you get 1200 liters.

The interior of Xray is quite modern and noble. The dashboard is informative, albeit without design frills. The top configurations create a pleasant impression. But in the basic versions everything is much simpler.

The Xray's interior is made using a large amount of hard plastic. The seats use pleasant fabric. There is a lack of lateral support in the front seats. The rear bench has a good profile, but about the same amount of space as a Sandero. It will be comfortable for 2 passengers. Perhaps a little more. It’s better to check your comfort level in person.

Salon Renault Sandero

When traveling, the luggage compartment holds 376 liters. When the rear row is folded, a flat platform with a volume of about 1382 liters is formed. The Lada's superiority in size compared to the Sandero Stepway is evident.

Exterior

Returning to the overview of the trunk, you can notice the different locations of the unlocking buttons. In X Ray it is in a place familiar to many owners of foreign cars - under the “saber”, and in Renault it is on the front side of the fifth door. The trunk lid in the open position is higher on the Sandero.

Other differences that the authors of the video managed to find:

• XRAY has a gas cap without a lock;
• In XRAY, instead of parking sensors, AVTOVAZ installed a rear view camera.

In addition, AutoMPS tested two hatchbacks on off-road terrain, where both cars performed at an equal level:

According to Pyotr Menshikh and Igor Silin, AVTOVAZ has produced a good, harmonious car that is suitable for the city or country house. Unlike Renault, Lada will have a more powerful engine under the hood. But, in their opinion, the interior is assembled better than Renault. If the price of "Khrey" is not too high, then it will be a serious competitor to a foreign car.

Let us remind you that we studied the new Lada model in more detail on the AvtoVesti channel.

Keywords: lada xray trunk | dashboard lada xray | on-board computer lada xray | cassette player lada xray

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Motors, gearboxes and their capabilities

Choosing between the French Renault Sandero Stepway and the Russian Lada Xray is actually not so easy. There is no obvious superiority of Renault, contrary to the expectations of skeptics.

In many ways, you can get the answer to the question posed by looking at the technical characteristics of the two cars.

AvtoVAZ has prepared 3 engines for Xray. All of them are 4-cylinder and naturally aspirated, run on gasoline, meet Euro 5 environmental standards. The drive is exclusively front-wheel drive. Plus there are a couple of gearboxes.

• The initial one is considered to be a 1.6-liter engine with a 16-valve timing belt. It produces 106 horsepower and 148 Nm of torque. Can only be combined with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The car accelerates from zero to hundreds in 11.9 seconds. The maximum speed with this engine is 170 km/h. In the combined cycle, 7.5 liters of fuel are required to cover 100 kilometers.
• The middle engine is from Renault-Nissan. This is also a 16-valve unit with a volume of 1.6 liters and a timing chain drive. Produces 114 horsepower and 153 Nm of torque. It is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission. The increase in power and torque made it possible to achieve acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.3 seconds. The maximum speed increased to 171 km/h, and fuel consumption dropped to 6.9 liters in the combined cycle.
• The top engine is developed by AvtoVAZ. This is a 1.8-liter internal combustion engine with 122 horsepower and 173 Nm. The gearbox can be 5-speed manual or robotic. With the robot it accelerates to hundreds in 10.9 seconds. at a maximum speed of 183 km/h. Fuel consumption is about 7.1 liters per 100 km. With mechanics, sprinting requires about 10.5 seconds. at the same maximum speed.

Quite good, especially for a domestic car.

Engine Renault Sandero

In order to determine which is better and more effective in the confrontation between Lada Xray and Renault Sandero, you should look into the engine compartment of the latter.

Currently, the updated 2nd generation Sandero Stepway is offered with 3 engines and 2 gearboxes. These are the same internal combustion engines as in the case of the regular Renault Sandero.

• A 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine with an 8-valve timing belt was presented as the base engine. It produces a modest 82 horsepower and 134 Nm of torque. Combined with a 5-speed manual transmission.
• Further down the hierarchy is another 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine, but this time with 16 valves. Works in tandem with an automatic transmission. The motor generates 102 horsepower and 145 Nm.
• The top-end engine is a 1.6-liter engine with 16 valves and an output of 113 horsepower and 152 Nm. Works in conjunction with a 5-speed manual transmission. A CVT gearbox is also available to choose from.

In terms of dynamics, the car is not very impressive. Although you can’t expect anything else from the Renault Sandero Stepway. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes from 10.5 to 12.3 seconds. The maximum speed varies from 165 to 178 km/h. Fuel consumption will range from 7.0 to 7.6 liters per 100 km. path, depending on the engine and gearbox used.

Lada XRAY: better or worse than Renault Sandero Stepway?

When we took the Lada Vesta for the first test drive, everyone was worried: us, since we had to experience something truly new, and even with a claim to quality, and the dealer’s representatives - for them Vesta was also “terra incognita”. But we didn’t expect any revolutionary impressions from the Lada XRAY, because formally it is a “clone” of the Renault Sandero Stepway, which has been on sale for a long time, so by definition such a car cannot be bad. Or maybe?

- What kind of beauty is this?

Passers-by are often interested in the cars we photograph, but this phrase came from the mouth of the owner of a Renault Sandero Stepway, which greatly surprised us. But we were even more surprised by his reaction after meeting the Lada XRAY - it sounded something like “but in the little things it’s better, more careful”...

And we understand him. Of course, the Renault Sandero Stepway is a good-quality car, strong and, at current pricing, very attractive for purchase. This is confirmed by sales statistics. However, when a “clone” comes onto the market, but with a richer package and at the same time at a lower price, the battle for the client promises to be very hot.

Or is it not so simple, and the low price is just “compensation” for some shortcomings? To check this, we invited the owner of Renault Sandero Stepway to a “confrontation2 with Lada XRAY. And here's what we found out...

XRAY's appearance is bright and emotional - the X-factor works, people pay attention to the car. However, this is not to say that the car is beautiful and proportional, like Vesta. The relief stampings on the sides are unable to hide the “plumpness” of the silhouette, and the wheels seem too small, despite the fact that Lada, like Renault, has 16-inch wheels.

And although Renault has already become familiar on the streets and generally does not look emotional, we would like to note that the French designers did their job better - the lining on the arches gives the car an “off-road” look, and the reverse slope of the rear pillar makes the profile more dynamic. True, this design decision is already collecting its “victims” - the rear door has a very protruding upper rear corner, and on the Internet you can find a lot of stories about how passengers got hit in the eye or jaw with the door... On the other hand, the fifth door has “Frenchman” hangs higher; in the case of Lada, a tall person risks more.

But Lada gets a higher rating for its interior design - everything inside is nicer, more harmonious and more solid than in Renault. There are also differences in ergonomics: the multimedia system display, which displays readings from the reversing camera and navigation system, is located slightly higher than in the Sandero; the driver always sees it with peripheral vision. Another plus that Renault drivers immediately notice is that the power window control keys are in the usual place, on the door, and not scattered around the cabin, as in Renault.

But the driving position, alas, is no different - and this is the main disadvantage. The seat is set too high; its height adjustment requires an even higher position. The steering column is adjustable only in height, and this means that people above average height are uncomfortable behind the wheel; they really want to pull the steering wheel towards themselves at least a couple of centimeters. But since this cannot be done, you have to place the back of the chair more vertically so that the steering wheel is at the correct distance from the chest.

Both models are equipped with the same multimedia system, but the audio system is controlled differently: the Renault has a traditional steering column remote control, while the Lada is controlled by buttons on the steering wheel. In terms of ease of use - parity.

There is also parity in the rear seats: tall people will not like either the Stepway or the XRAY. Despite the fact that the latter has a 3 mm longer wheelbase (why?), only short people can sit comfortably in the back row. The rest sit close to each other on their knees. By the way, if a very tall passenger is riding behind him, he will be surprised to find that if he lowers the headrest of the front seat all the way, its pins can rest against his knees - they stick out under the upholstery of the chair. And in both cars.

But the rear headrests of Lada and Renault are different, so when folding the rear seat in XRAY it is enough to simply lower them all the way, but in Stepway you have to remove them. In Lada, the trunk in its normal form is ready to accept 40 liters more, but when the rear seats are folded down, the difference is only 7 liters. In addition, Lada also has an “underground” for necessary things, while in Renault they roll around the entire trunk. Another advantage of the XRAY over its “relative” is that there is no high edge of the rear side over which you will have to “throw” heavy objects. Well, the process of accessing the trunk itself is simpler - the electric lock is located more conveniently than the “button” of Renault.

Under the hood of the Stepway is a “renowned” 102-horsepower 1.6-liter engine. In addition to this, an 82-horsepower 8-valve version is also offered for this model. Transmission is either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. The Lada XRAY has a larger choice of modifications: the basic versions are equipped with a 1.6-liter 106-horsepower Russian engine, while the test car has a Nissan engine under the hood, also a 1.6-liter, but already 110-horsepower. And the most powerful in the range is a 1.8-liter 122-horsepower engine, which can only be combined with a “robot”.

However, the difference of several “horses” does not give Lada any advantage - Stepway and XRAY accelerate equally vigorously. But there are differences in the nuances: the Nissan engine is more elastic, more energetic at the start and does not require “advancement”, like the “renault” one. At the same time, it is quieter, and it is not clear whether this should be attributed to the engine or the sound insulation of the car.

It’s the same story with the smoothness of the ride: the differences are in the nuances, not everyone will notice them. For example, we didn’t feel much difference, but the owner of Stepway, who provided his car for a comparative test, noted that the Lada goes through the pits more smoothly. He also liked the clarity of the gearbox and the power steering - the Renault's steering wheel is heavier, and this is especially noticeable when you turn it quickly.

But I had to turn quickly: on the “rearrangement” Stepway suddenly fell into a beautiful skid, despite the non-switchable stabilization system. Why? Yes, because they are “shod” in not the most expensive studded tires, and lateral grip on asphalt, as you know, is not one of the advantages of such tires.

But we have no complaints about Renault: if it weren’t for the studs, it would drive exactly the same as the XRAY. That is, correctly and clearly along the trajectory, without the slightest hint of any “provocation”. The stabilization system keeps the car in check so tightly that you can’t do anything if you want. Eh, it's a pity that it doesn't turn off...

A key to disable at least the traction control system is very necessary. First of all, for those who drive not only on asphalt. The electronic “Cerberus” is so strict that, having driven onto loose sand or deep snow, the owners of XRAY and Stepway have every chance to return from there on foot and with thoughts of looking for a tractor or SUV. Where you need to pick up speed (and for this you need to accelerate with slight slipping), the electronics begin to panic and “choke” the engine, as a result of which the car stops in the most inappropriate place. The situation is ridiculous: the geometry and ground clearance allow you to move further, but the electronics do not allow you to leave the elementary sand trap. For those who are “in the know,” we suggest: removing the corresponding fuse allows you to disable all electronic assistants.

By the way, if we talk about other “off-road” capabilities, here our rivals also have almost parity: the ground clearance is the same, and the fact that the Lada has a slightly more favorable approach angle is “compensated” by the fact that it will come into contact with an obstacle if something happens. bumper, not a plastic trim like the Stepway. So it's parity.

So what's the total score? Lada XRAY has several, albeit insignificant, trump cards that the “Frenchman” does not have. For example, more extensive equipment and a slightly more affordable price, as well as a few little things, from double seals that keep the sills clean, to a more convenient location of the multimedia system screen. On the other hand, the brand and the model’s vast operating experience play in Renault’s favor... In general, we won’t be able to say for sure who the winner is here. But looking at the huge number of Renault Sandero Stepways driving along our roads, we are almost sure that Lada XRAY sales will also be fine.

Prices and options

Prices for the new Lada XRAY in Belarus have not yet been announced, but it is known that the car we tested with a 1.6-liter 110-horsepower gasoline engine and in the TOP Prestige configuration costs 211 million rubles. This equipment includes airbags for the driver and front passenger, 3 head restraints in the rear seat, ISOFIX child seat mounts, automatic door locking when driving, automatic activation of the hazard warning lights during emergency braking, an immobilizer, a security alarm, LED running lights, fog lights , ERA-GLONASS emergency warning system, ABS + BAS + EBD, ESC stability control system, TCS traction control system, HSA hill start assist system, engine and engine compartment protection, on-board computer, gear shift prompt in the instrument cluster, folding rear backrest seats (40/60), drawer under the front passenger seat, double floor in the luggage compartment, electric power steering, steering wheel height adjustment, driver's seat height adjustment, cabin air filter, reinforced tinted rear windows, folding key, central locking with D /U, front and rear electric windows, heated front seats, electric drive and heated exterior mirrors, heated windshield, rear parking sensors, rear view camera, rain and light sensors, climate control, cooled glove box, multifunction steering wheel, 2DIN audio system with USB/AUX/Bluetooth/Handsfree, multimedia system with navigation and 7-inch display, exterior mirrors and door handles painted in body color, 16-inch alloy wheels.

The price for Renault Sandero Stepway starts at 185 million rubles for the basic Comfort version with an 8-valve 82-horsepower engine. Price tags for the 16-valve version with 102 hp. start at 216 million; in a Luxe version comparable in equipment, the “French” will cost 223 million rubles. The equipment of the top-end Sandero is good, almost the same as that of the XRAY, but you need to pay extra for certain items. For example, for navigation with a 7-inch display you need to pay an additional 6 million rubles, for a heated windshield - 3 million. In total, a version of the Sandero Stepway comparable in equipment to the XRAY will cost about 232 million rubles.

Pavel KOZLOVSKY Photo by Olga-Anna KANASHITS ABW.BY

The editors of ABW.BY express gratitude to the importer of AvtoVAZ in Belarus for the car provided for the test

Security and Manageability

It is still difficult to decide which is preferable to choose - the domestic Lada Xray or the French Renault Sandero Stepway. Therefore, an additional comparison should be made in the safety and controllability components of the machines. Here Sandero and Xray demonstrate largely equal capabilities, with a plus sign.

In terms of safety and level of performance of the body, AvtoVAZ has made a big step forward. These are no longer the same domestic models that were produced literally 3-5 years ago. Yes, there is something to work on and where to strive. But the work is being done in the right direction.

Renault Sandero

There is no expected total advantage of the Frenchman over the Russian car. Although the fact that the platform from Nissan-Renault was used to create the Xray played an important role here. The presence of airbags, equipping pseudo-SUV with safety systems and a fairly durable body allow the Xray to be approximately on the same level as the Sandero Stepway.

As for controllability, the hydraulic booster on the Stepway is somewhat superior to the Xray electric booster in terms of response to steering movements at fairly high speeds. Sandero turned out to be somewhat more maneuverable and obedient. There are no special complaints about Lada, but I would like a sharper reaction. Otherwise, everything was done at a decent level.

There is almost complete parity here, but with a slight superiority of the French high hatchback.

Maintenance costs

The thesis that domestic cars are the simplest and cheapest to maintain is gradually losing its relevance. This can be clearly observed by comparing the Lada Xray and the Renault Sandero Stepway of a new generation model.

Here you can conduct a small experiment using the operating cost calculator. For this purpose, general parameters will be set:

• basic, simplest configuration;
• operation in the city of Moscow;
• average mileage per year is about 12 thousand kilometers;
• the cost of one liter of fuel is 45 rubles.

Motor Lada Xray

Based on these data, it will cost about 60 thousand rubles a year to maintain the tall Lada Xray hatchback. Of these, 50 thousand will be needed for fuel, and another 10 thousand are needed for compulsory motor insurance. Only here the cost of maintenance, unscheduled repairs, purchase of consumables, etc. is not taken into account.

Now the same input data applies to Renault Sandero. OSAGO will cost about 9 thousand rubles. At the same time, fuel costs are almost identical. As a result, a little less than 60 thousand rubles per year.

These are arbitrary figures, since the actual cost of maintenance and service depends on many factors.

The cost of spare parts and consumables is slightly lower for AvtoVAZ products, which is understandable. But all other things being equal, Xray will probably have to be serviced more often. Still, the service life and level of reliability are somewhat lower compared to the Sandero Stepway. And this directly depends on the Lada owner and his attitude towards the car.

Changes in everything

Sometimes there is a feeling that when developing the Lada X-Ray, AvtoVAZ employees sought to distance it as much as possible from the Sandero, while knowing for sure that due to the presence of a single platform for both models, this probably would not be possible. And indeed, if you look at the cars from afar, it seems that the difference between them is significant, but as soon as they drive closer, it is practically leveled out.

It’s a strange feeling - the similarity of the models is visible in almost everything, from appearance to many engine characteristics, but once you start looking for differences, you find them almost immediately.

Clearance

According to the technical data sheet, both the Renault Sandero Stepway and the XRAY model have the same ground clearance value - 195 mm. But in real conditions, for a Renault car it will be slightly larger - 196 mm, while for the Lada X-Ray, on the contrary, it will be smaller - 191.

In the case of the second car, the decrease in ground clearance is associated with a protective shield installed on the bottom, which will help protect your car in the event of a collision with particularly large objects.

Length and width

If everything is, in principle, clear with the length of the car (Lada XRay - 4165 mm, Renault Sandero - 4080 mm), then with the difference in width it is worth understanding a little more. The fact is that with the stated difference of only 7 millimeters in favor of the Lada (Xray - 1764 mm, Sandero and in the Stepway version - 1757 mm), the track of the Sandero will be as much as 37 mm narrower, which, you see, is quite a lot.

Thanks to the wider track, the Lada X-Ray shows higher stability and controllability on the road compared to the Renault.

Trunk

When the trunks of both cars are closed, there is no sensation of difference, at least significant.

But when measuring volumes in numbers, the advantage of the Lada XRay over the Renault Sandero becomes obvious.

Renault Sandero trunk

The fact is that the volume of their trunks differs by 41 liters in favor of the Lada car (361 liters versus 320 liters for the Renault Sandero and Stepway version, respectively).

Trunk Lada XRAY

But that's not all. Luggage compartments also differ in loading height - for the Lada X-Ray it is almost 70 mm lower, which makes it much more convenient to use.

Interior

Lada Xray boasts a very interesting interior design. The so-called “saber design” is used - sharp bevels of the panels, turning into smooth lines, look like a harmonious solution.

Unfortunately, Renault Sandero cannot boast of anything like this - all the same familiar roundels of the dashboard, which became boring with their design even in the first Renault Logan models.

And if X-Ray makes a bold claim to being unusual and even somewhat premium, then the Renault Sandero Stepway remains true to the traditions of class B - no frills, rigor and minimal functionality.

Options and prices

The French pseudo-SUV Sandero Stepway is offered in several equipment options, just like its conventional competitor Lada Xray. From the start, the regular high Xray hatchback costs slightly less than the crossover version of the Xray Cross.

Lada Xray

To compare two cars, it’s worth taking Stepway and the regular Xray without the Cross prefix as a basis.

Lada Xray is offered in the following configurations:

• Standard.
• Classic.
• Comfort.
• Luxe.
• Luxe Prestige.

If you do not take into account various types of promotions, discounts and special offers, but look at the net cost, then prices for Lada start from 615 thousand rubles. The starting price for the average level of equipment is 740 thousand rubles. For the top version you will have to pay from 850 thousand rubles.

For comparison, Xray Cross costs from 760 thousand rubles, and the richest version starts at 972 thousand rubles, confidently approaching a million.

Renault Sandero Stepway has only 4 trim levels:

• Life.
• Life City.
• Drive.
• Drive City.

The minimum price you can buy a car from a French automaker is 740 thousand rubles. The average configuration costs 820-840 thousand, while the most saturated version will cost at least 923 thousand rubles.

And here a logical question arises about whether it is worth overpaying for the basic version of Sandero, if the average Xray package is available for the same money. More likely no than yes.

The Drive version seems to be the most optimal, where for an amount of 820 thousand rubles there is already a remote engine start, climate control, cruise control and a multimedia system. The bells and whistles of the top version may seem unnecessary to many, and some will not want to overpay for them.

Subtleties of positioning

Updated for last year's Moscow auto show, the Sandero Stepway received headlights with LED running lights, a more attractive, grippy steering wheel with a presentable leather braid. You can now order versions with electric heated glass and a multimedia system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I love the ability to use my own smartphone programs using the car's large infotainment center screen.

But at the same time, I sincerely felt sorry for my “boiling” colleague, who was desperate to find the button to turn off the seat heating. Sandero owners retort that it is enough to feel the key at the base of the chair once, and you will remember its location. As a last resort, you can read the operating instructions. Agree. But if you get into a carsharing car, you won’t waste precious time on touching and reading. If anything, look for the rear power window buttons missing on the driver's door under the air conditioning unit. Don’t even try to find the steering wheel reach adjustment. She is not here.

Renault Sandero Stepway I 113 hp I 0–100 km/h – 11.1 s.

The interior of the Renault looks more restrained than that of the Lada, but there are also more complaints about ergonomics. The climate control unit is stylish and at the same time convenient. Thanks to Clio model for a great gift! But the small cup holders located in front of the gearbox lever cannot be called practical.

The joystick for controlling the radio is located on the right under the steering wheel. And the buttons on the spokes of the new steering wheel are responsible for cruise control.

The devices in the Sandero Stepway look a little simpler, but there are no problems with readability of the readings.

To integrate your smartphone with the head unit, just download the free application. Navigation with traffic jams on the big screen is just one of the visible fruits of cooperation.

Just guess, an inexperienced person, that the keys on the right and left control the rear windows.

Renault received a large, but only cup holder for rear passengers during the latest update.

Quite comfortable chairs even for not the healthiest back. And fabric upholstery in this case looks even more presentable than the so-called “eco-leather”.

Seat heating buttons in an area hidden from view have been a long-standing topic of criticism, and not only on inexpensive Renaults. But the French don't listen.

The ceiling in the Renault is slightly higher, and the backrests of the front seats are thinner, making the Frenchman’s sofa a little more spacious.

The back of the sofa can be folded in parts; no other additional amenities were found in the trunk of the car of the French brand.

Hood cover with gas stop. For a car of this class, this is a rare luxury.

A 1.6-liter 113-horsepower engine from Nissan has been installed in the Renault Sandero Stepway since 2016.

The wheels are 16-inch, but the wheels are not cast, but stamped with stylized caps.

Although the Xray Cross is made from much of the same hardware as the Sandero Stepway, the vehicles are positioned differently. Sandero is a budget and affordable means of transportation for many. Lada is not the most ordinary thing with pretensions. On the outside, the reasons for the Lada's higher self-esteem are hardly obvious, but on the inside it's hard not to notice the difference.

The French can draw, but the current designer of AvtoVAZ, Steve Mattin, did a better job.

Yes, and the Lada does not have the most expensive finishes, but the ergonomics are an order of magnitude higher. The seat heating buttons, not single-position, as in Renault, but three-stage, and the button for turning on the electric filaments of the windshield are lined up in a row on the center console. Everything is before your eyes. Do you want your hands to not freeze on the steering wheel in winter? And there are no problems here. The button with the corresponding pictogram is located on the right spoke of the steering wheel, right under the thumb.

Special thanks to AvtoVAZ engineers for remaking the steering column and equipping it with reach adjustment.
Only because of it, landing in the Lada is much more convenient. Moreover, the regular Xray hatchback is deprived of this benefit, but the Cross can boast of it even in the basic configuration. Euro NCAP

As for the sofas, here, if you do not take into account the additional amenities available only on the Xray Cross in the form of a USB connector for charging mobile devices and heating buttons, in general, there is parity. In both cars you sit almost upright. The amount of headroom for a passenger 185 cm tall is minimal, and there is no freedom left for the legs if the front seats are occupied by equally tall fellow passengers. In general, there is nothing to brag about here.

Lada Xray Cross 2022: what is better than the regular Xray?

Comparative test of Kia Rio and Kia Rio X-Line 2018

Comparative test of Lada Vesta Cross and Renault Logan Stepway 2019

But in the trunk competition, Lada is again the top performer. Compared to the simple cargo compartment of the Renaut with simple upholstery and tools built into the side niches, the geometrically evenly planned hold of the Xray Cross looks much neater. In addition, it has a little more space for long items and has a hard raised floor, under which it is convenient to hide various small items.

Who to give preference

To make a final decision and make a choice, you should present a number of requirements, take into account personal wishes and your own preferences.

It was not possible to identify an obvious favorite in this confrontation. Therefore, it is impossible to say what to choose and which car is much better than the other. Each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses. Xray turned out to be more spacious and roomy. Although the interior is made of inexpensive materials, like the interior of the Sandero Stepway, it was the Frenchman who used higher-quality finishes and managed to wisely manage the available capabilities.

Xray definitely shouldn't be discounted. Sandero Stepway feels great in Russian conditions. The car is strong, reliable, quite maneuverable and economical in every sense. If you are ready to spend more than 900 thousand rubles, then you should take Stepway. But the final decision is yours.