The Dacia Sandero and Dacia Sandero Stepway will receive a new hybrid flagship engine option amid a raft of updates to ring in the 2026 model year.
In the wake of celebrating its seventh consecutive year as Europe’s best-selling vehicle, the Dacia Sandero has been facelifted on the surface and tweaked underneath in an effort to maintain its popularity on the continent.
Changes on the outside include a new LED headlight design and revised grille, plus a reprofiled bumper and fresh wheel trims, while the interior gets new graphics for a more contemporary look.
However, it is under the skin where the most significant changes lie after Dacia confirmed the Sandero and its more rugged, raised-height sibling, the Dacia Sandero Stepway would be getting hybrid-assisted power for the first time.
It sees the Sandero gain a 109hp 1.8-litre petrol engine combined with two electric motors for a total power output of 155hp.
It represents a significant step in power for the Sandero, which until now was only available with an 89bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine.
Despite the extra grunt, because the Sandero is likely to remain in all-electric mode for long periods at low speed, it is set to return superior fuel economy of plus-60mpg and lower CO2 emissions.
The more frugal powertrain – which will also be available in the seven-seat Dacia Jogger estate-cum-MPV – serves to amplify the Sandero’s value-for-money ethos.
Indeed, the Romanian model has earned a loyal following for having an honest function over form approach as a way of keeping costs down compared with the opposition.
And yet, while the updated Sandero has gained in desirability, it is still destined to remain one of the cheapest models on sale in the UK, with prices for the base 1.0-litre Essential remaining around £16,000 OTR.
Prices for the Dacia Sandero and Sandero Stepway Hybrid 155 are yet to be confirmed for the UK.
- Dacia
- Electric
- New Cars