The Dacia brand is preparing for a significant expansion of its model range in Europe. The new model, which will occupy a position between the Jogger crossover and the company’s other cars, is designed to strengthen the success started by the Bigster model and establish itself in the popular compact segment. Official details are still limited, but the brand promises to reveal more information in the coming months.
Key Features of the New Model
The model, internally known under the code C-Neo, was first spotted back in November. It retains the design elements characteristic of modern Dacias but has received not a typical hatchback body, but a classic station wagon body.
Strategy and Management Comments
Dacia CEO Catherine Adt emphasized the importance of car affordability in this segment, citing the success of the Bigster. The brand’s sales director, Franck Marotte, added that the company aims to build on this success.
As we saw with the Bigster, there is a clear demand for affordable cars in this segment. We want to play our role there.
Marotte also confirmed that the station wagon will borrow part of the design language, oriented towards off-road use, from the Dacia Sandero Stepway. The goal is to create a balanced exterior that is both attractive and robust, without crossing into the SUV category.
Technical Features and Design
The new Dacia will receive the well-known CMF-B platform and a full range of petrol engines, including hybrid variants based on a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder unit. The need to reduce emissions and weight forced the brand to work seriously on aerodynamics, which partly explains the choice of a station wagon body, which has lost its former popularity in recent years.
The front of the car is adorned with the brand’s signature headlight design, united by a narrow upper radiator grille. Muscular wheel arches, clear lines on the sides, as well as roof rails and narrow LED rear lights are expected.
Future Competitors in the Market
The main competitors for the new Dacia station wagon will be models such as the Skoda Octavia Combi, Seat Leon Sports Tourer, Toyota Corolla Touring Sports, and Hyundai i30 Tourer. These cars traditionally occupy the niche of affordable offerings in the compact segment, which is where Dacia is heading with its new product.
The appearance of this model could significantly revitalize the compact station wagon market, offering consumers who value practicality an alternative to crossovers. The emphasis on affordability and a wide choice of more environmentally friendly powertrains, including hybrids and LPG, aligns with modern European trends. The success of the Bigster has shown that there is demand for balanced offerings from Dacia, and the new station wagon has every chance of repeating this success, filling a specific niche in the brand’s lineup.