In Stripes: A Detailed Test Of The Renault Dokker Stepway

Heels with a protective plastic body kit so that it is not so scary on dirt roads and country roads are not new for Russia. Such cars were once sold by Peugeot, and now Volkswagen continues to carry them. However, neither "German" nor "French" really caught on, because they cost (and in the case of VW they still stand) as a very good, roomy, new crossover, that is, a much more comfortable and civilian car. And there was only one cheap all-terrain van in Russia - LadLargus Cross. Renault noticed this gap and decided to fill it with the Dokker Stepway
Interior
Practicality
Technics
Riding
Equipment
Competitors
Output

Video: In Stripes: A Detailed Test Of The Renault Dokker Stepway

Отличия серверных жестких дисков от десктопных — Video: Взял Renault Dokker Stepway - сквозь шторм! 2023, January

Heels with a protective plastic body kit so that it is not so scary on dirt roads and country roads are not new for Russia. Such cars were once sold by Peugeot, and now Volkswagen continues to carry them. However, neither "German" nor "French" really caught on, because they cost (and in the case of VW they still stand) as a very good, roomy, new crossover, that is, a much more comfortable and civilian car. And there was only one cheap all-terrain van in Russia - LadLargus Cross. Renault noticed this gap and decided to fill it with the Dokker Stepway

Judge for yourself: Volkswagen Caddy Alltrack costs at least 1,870,100 rubles. For comparable money, you can take a Tiguan in an average, or even in a pre-top configuration, which will be more cheerful, more comfortable and more pleasant than a van, and in terms of practicality and capacity it will not yield much to it. The most expensive Dokker Stepway, this is exactly what we got for the test, estimated at 1,179,990 rubles, which is comparable to the cost of the most sophisticated Duster. However, the Renault crossover for this amount will definitely be smaller and tighter. It turns out that the new modification of Docker makes more sense? Let's figure it out now.

Interior

It would be naive to expect miracles from the Renault Dokker Stepway salon. It is assembled from cheap types of plastic - everything is rigid, poorly fixed in places (for example, the glossy panel under the screen of the multimedia system is loose), and some parts creak and groan when driving on broken roads.

The geometry of the driving position is another confirmation that Docker, even Stepway, is a budget car, first of all. The chair is flat, with mediocre lateral support, a short cushion, and a small number and range of adjustments. Well, the steering wheel is generally adjusted only for the angle of inclination. All this greatly complicates the search for not only a convenient, but even a more or less acceptable position

The tidy is a typical example of minimalism for inexpensive Frenchmen: even the red zone at the tachometer is not marked. The on-board computer screen is huge, but there is little information in it: consumption, mileage, power reserve, temperature overboard. Moreover, it is impossible to display several indicators at once: only one at a time

But the steering wheel is not only beautiful, but also comfortable, and even sheathed with pleasant material, which is very reminiscent of natural leather. Confused only by the plugs instead of the buttons on the spokes, although European Renault has full-fledged and useful keys in these places. And it starts to embarrass even more in the context of the fact that the music in Docker has to be controlled using the remote control under the steering wheel. He is never seen and you will have to get used to interacting with him at the first meeting

In general, kicking Renault for ergonomics is a terrible bad manners. Everyone already knows that with this the “French” are not stable, thank God.But there are also good ones. For example, a multimedia system for an inexpensive, popular car is cool. There is Bluetooth, a navigator, programmable engine start too, even a rear-view camera is available. Yes, the complex is old. Yes, the graphics look so-so. But the screen is optimally sensitive, the interface is clear, and the functionality is no worse than in the new RAV4

Plus, don't forget the glove box itself, as well as the huge shelf above the driver and front passenger. By the number of things that can be folded on it, it is quite capable of competing with the trunk of some small car

Practicality

Perhaps the Docker is the best deal for the money, in terms of practicality. The maximum volume of the luggage compartment of the van is 3000 liters, the permitted carrying capacity is 600 kilograms. No new crossover or station wagon of comparable price is exactly capable of this.

By default, the Renault Dokker Stepway trunk holds 800 liters. The loading height is low, and the shape of the compartment is almost a regular parallelepiped. The picture is slightly spoiled by the protruding wheel arches, but they are not too large

Simply put, our test suitcases fit into the trunk of a Frenchman without any problems, and with proper dexterity, 9-10 objects of similar dimensions will fit into the compartment

However, there could be more of all sorts of useful little things in the trunk. There are only clips for a large mesh, but for some reason there was no room for at least one pocket for small things. At the same time, LadLargus has small but comfortable niches on the finishing of swing doors

The second row sofa is molded for three, but in fact it is made as a single unit. However, three of us can accommodate here with an acceptable degree of comfort. It's a shame that there is only one cup holder and one 12-volt outlet for all rear passengers in the Docker. Even the windows do not go down: they can only open slightly, like the vents

However, it is convenient to sit on the second row. Sliding doors slide back a long way and open up a huge opening. Moreover, in the case of the Stepway version, they will be on both sides of the body

And Stepway also has folding tables on the backs of the front seats. For an ordinary Docker, even in a rich configuration, this is an option

Technics

Structurally, the Stepway version does not differ at all from the usual modification. Even the passport ground clearance for both options is the same, but decent - 190 millimeters. Thus, all the "all-terrain" of the model is reduced to a protective plastic body kit around the perimeter of the body.

Renault Dokker Stepway was built on the front-wheel drive platform Global Access, aka B0, which also underlies Logan, Sandero, Duster and Largus. The van has a MacPherson strut in front, and a simple, semi-independent suspension in the back

There are only two engines in the range: 1.6 petrol, which produces 82 horsepower, and a 1.5-liter diesel engine with 90 horsepower. Both units are only mated to a five-speed automatic transmission

The drive for an all-terrain Docker can only be front, despite the fact that the chassis is adapted to install a plug-in all-wheel drive with a rear axle coupling

According to our measuring ladder, the edge of the front bumper of the Dokker Stepway is located at a height of 22 centimeters

The center section of the rear bumper rests neatly on a 30 cm step. However, the tailpipe on the left is more than five centimeters lower, so be careful when parking backwards to the curb

By the way, in an ordinary Docker, the front bumper is able to cope with such an obstacle

And behind the picture for an ordinary Docker is this

Riding

"Give up hope, everyone who enters here." It was with these words that I could begin the most difficult block of this test for Docker - because the primary tasks of a van of good driving manners are not very supportive. However, the van did not present anything frightening or unexpected. However, as well as nothing outstanding.

The reactive effort on the steering wheel is thin, there is no feedback, and Docker turns with laziness. But the rolls, despite the high ground clearance and high body (1814 millimeters at the withers), were not so frightening.

The Docker's tendency to understeer is noticeable, but that's okay. But the safety electronics seemed too intrusive: just a little, it immediately cuts off the supply of traction. However, this is a common thing for front-wheel drive Renault on the B0 platform: the anti-axle and stabilization system of such cars is very sensitive.

We are testing a car with a 90 horsepower diesel engine and it is he who is the main advantage of Docker. Despite the small one and a half liter volume, there is no point in pulling in bulk and turning the engine into a ringing sound. And there are so many “down” moments that, having adapted to the not very informative clutch pedal and the longish, although moderately accurate, gear selector, you can surprise your neighbors at traffic lights with a vigorous start from a place or, conversely, get under way without using the gas pedal in traffic jams.

According to the passport, Renault Dokker Stepway with a diesel engine accelerates to a hundred in 13.9, but it feels like it does it for a second, or even one and a half faster. Simply put, at traffic light starts, the French van will keep up with the pace of conventional two-liter, front-wheel drive, automatic crossovers. Like KiSportage.

Talking about the suspension of cars on B0 is the same as talking about the ergonomics of cars made on the same platform: this is a constant value. Not that the Docker was silky comfortable, but the suspension power reserve is impressive.On the field that separates the track from our shooting area, you can fall at any speed on the Docker, if you are ready to put up with the crunching and creaking of hard plastic in the cabin.

Noise isolation? Budgetary. It’s not that it’s not at all, but you can hear everything: the wheels, the engine, the gearbox, the loud radio in the next car …

Equipment

The all-terrain Docker is available in one trim level - the top-end Drive. The difference between gasoline (1,059,990 rubles) and diesel (1,179,990 rubles) cars lies only in the type of power steering: in the first case, it will be hydraulic, and in the second - electric.

The Dokker Stepway equipment list includes air conditioning, 15-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, three rear head restraints, sliding doors on both sides, air conditioning, heated front seats, driver's seat height adjustment, remote control central locking, and a leather steering wheel.

But for some options, you will still be asked to pay extra. For example, for a metallic color (12,990 rubles), an ashtray (1,990 rubles), a luggage net (4,990 rubles), parking sensors (6,990 rubles), music (12,990 rubles), a multimedia system (25,990 rubles) and a rear-view camera (8990 rubles), which is only paired with an entertainment complex. The whole set will cost 74,930 rubles.

Competitors

LadLargus Cross

Ларгус не только конкурент Dokker Stepway, но и прямой родственник: фургоны делят базовую платформу. Однако отличий хватает: Ларгус ниже, его можно заказать с третьим рядом сидений, на него ставят и отечественные 16-клапанные моторы, а ещё его делают в России, тогда как Доккер импортируется из Марокко. И ценник у модели «АвтоВАЗа» заметно меньше: от 717 900 рублей" style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

VW Caddy Alltrack

Вседорожный Volkswagen Caddy - весьма условный конкурент Доккеру. Потому что цены на немецкий фургон только стартуют с 1 836 600 рублей! Проще говоря, в базе он более чем на полмиллиона рублей дороже «француза» - на стоимость ещё одной машины! Правда, VW куда лучше приспособлен для лёгкого бездорожья, потому что у него есть версия с полным приводом. За два с лишним миллиона рублей…" style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

Output

It seems that the Dokker Stepway has as much in common with off-road vehicles as soy milk has with cow's milk: the rough black plastic around the perimeter did not make it an ideal vehicle for traveling on destinations rather than roads. And the fact that the ground clearance has not changed at all raises even more doubts about the "stepway" nature of these cars.

Therefore, if you are already looking at Docker, then take the regular, passenger version. It will be cheaper, the ride will be the same, the suspension will remain impenetrable, and the trunk will be just as roomy. However, one should clearly answer to oneself the question: "Do I need this trunk and an impenetrable suspension as a car for every day, if for about a million hard-earned money I have to sit on an uncomfortable chair surrounded by inexpensive plastic?" If there is no exact answer to this question, then look at a crossover for the same money. Yes, even the same Duster! The ride will be the same, but with all-wheel drive and without the image of a courier car. Although, if you need a courier car, then you really don't have much choice.