by A New Perspective on Affordable Cars
Dacia has introduced the Hipster concept – a tiny urban electric car created with the aim of rethinking the idea of a people’s car. This model focuses on the essentials, featuring a cubic design, lightweight construction and modular interior.
According to the Romanian brand, “the average price of new cars in Europe has increased by an impressive 77% between 2010 and 2024, significantly exceeding the purchasing power of households”.
With Hipster, the company wants to make electromobility accessible to a wider audience, taking a step further from the already budget-friendly Spring model.
Compact Dimensions
The electric car has a length of 3 m, width of 1.55 m and height of 1.54 m, making it smaller than a kei car. In fact, the only vehicles smaller in Europe are heavy quadricycles like the Citroen Ami.
Minimalist Design
Hipster has a minimalist design described as “a cube firmly standing on four wheels at the corners”. It resembles something between a Jeep and Land Rover Defender with a straight front end, short hood, flat windows, powerful stylistic elements and almost no overhangs.
The body is painted in one color with three bright details and protective trim made from partially recycled Starkle material. Other cost reduction methods include straps instead of door handles, rear lights embedded behind glass, and sliding windows.
Lightness and Space
Despite its tiny dimensions, Hipster has enough space for four adult passengers on comfortable bench seats. Behind the split rear doors is a 70-liter trunk that can expand to 500 liters with the rear seats folded.
Innovative Interior
The interior fully utilizes the proprietary “You Clip” accessory mounting system with 11 mounting points for cup holders, armrests, lights, toys, etc. In characteristic Dacia style, the user’s smartphone is mounted on a docking station, serving as a digital key, navigation device and multimedia system connected to a portable Bluetooth speaker. There’s also a digital instrument panel behind the futuristic steering wheel and dual airbags.
Thanks to the manufacturer’s focus on weight reduction, Hipster weighs only 800 kg, which is 20% lighter than the subcompact Spring hatchback. By using less energy in the production process and reducing energy consumption, the manufacturer aims to halve the carbon footprint throughout the car’s lifecycle compared to current electric vehicles.
Driving Range
Battery capacity and electric motor power have not yet been disclosed. However, there are several hints about target characteristics.
According to research, 94% of French drivers travel less than 40 km daily, which amounts to 280 km per week. Dacia claims that Hipster is designed to provide sufficient range for daily trips with two charges per week, hinting at a figure of about 93 km.
Future Prospects
Dacia’s approach to rethinking the car is not just a design studio exercise. It’s clear that the company wants Hipster to become a production model capable of changing the electric vehicle market in Europe. This could happen thanks to future regulatory changes that will allow the sale of smaller and more affordable electric vehicles in the Old Continent.
Interestingly, Hipster differs from the budget electric hatchback announced earlier this year with a promised price from €18,000 and debut in mid-2026. In addition to presenting the new concept, Dacia also updated the Spring EV and introduced updated versions of Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Logan and Jogger.
The emergence of such a car could significantly impact the electric vehicle market, especially among urban residents looking for an economical and ecological solution for daily commuting. The rise in car prices in recent years makes initiatives like Hipster particularly relevant, offering an alternative that combines affordability, practicality and environmental friendliness.
