2026 Dacia Sandero Release Date, Specs, Dimensions

2026 Dacia Sandero Release Date, Specs, Dimensions – Although Dacia was established in 1966, the Romanian automaker didn’t formally launch in the United Kingdom until 2013. Its primary goal has always been to lower the cost of family cars. “We don’t do frivolity; function’s our thing,” the Sandero’s debut television commercial stated frankly before presenting the car’s £5,995 asking price. The Sandero was a tempting alternative for anyone on a tight budget who didn’t want to deal with the possible wear and tear charges of a used automobile.

With the launch of the newest, third-generation Sandero supermini, Dacia is expected to continue to grow its sales of over eight million vehicles, including 250,000 in the UK alone. Importantly, the Sandero’s pricing remain extremely affordable even with its many mechanical and technical advances that give it a more modern, contemporary feel. The Sandero has been given new headlights, an integrated Dacia insignia, and a more angular look, just like the rest of the brand’s portfolio. These changes have only made the package more appealing. 2026 Dacia Sandero Release Date

2026 Dacia Sandero Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior & Interior

Without a doubt, the latest Sandero’s interior is better than its predecessors. Cruise control, Bluetooth, a USB port, a DAB radio, air conditioning, a smartphone dock in the dashboard, and remote central locking are among the amenities of the base Essential. Instead of alloy wheels, it rolls on 15-inch steel wheels with trims.

We would advise purchasing the mid-range Expression because of its softer cabin amenities, which include cushioned armrests, a soft-touch, leather-look steering wheel cover, and eye-catching fabric accents around the dash, all of which contribute to the more upscale feel.

Rear parking sensors, an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen to see the rearview camera, electrically adjustable door mirrors, keyless entry, auto wipers, all-around electric windows, and front fog lights are just a few of the many standard features that Dacia offers on the Expression models.

Climate control, an adjustable smartphone dock on the side of the infotainment screen, and a more carefully crafted center console with an integrated armrest are features included in both the Sandero Stepway’s Extreme trim and the Sandero’s top-tier Journey trim. Stepway variations differ from the standard Sandero model in a number of internal copper trim components.

The Sandero features a central digital screen for travel statistics and alarms, and its analog dials are clear and legible. As previously stated, the base Essential vehicle only has two speakers, Bluetooth, and a DAB radio; it lacks a touchscreen. The steering column houses the Sandero’s sound controls; this straightforward arrangement has been a Renault vehicle standard since the 1990s and is still quite user-friendly.

An eight-inch infotainment touchscreen and a four-speaker sound system are standard on Expression grades and above. You can acquire sat-nav by upgrading to a Journey or Extreme trim, or you can use a navigation program on your phone that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The screen does the job, and the settings are straightforward and easy to use, even if it isn’t extremely sharp or high quality because some newer automobiles lack certain features. The layout of the tiles makes it simple to understand Sandero’s limited features; one page even assigns a driving competence rating to a motorist. Even while the gadget itself isn’t very fast, the screen regrettably reacts to touch inputs a bit slowly. Only the most costly trim levels come with an adjustable smartphone cradle on the screen, despite the fact that there is a convenient USB connector adjacent to the touchscreen.

2026 Dacia Sandero Specs

Engine & Performance

Using the CMF chassis from the Renault Clio, which is lighter and more robust than the previous model, the third-generation 2026 Dacia Sandero is wider than the previous model. The improved ride comfort of the TCe 90 gasoline and TCe 100 bi-fuel models makes the Sandero a great city vehicle and a capable highway cruiser, even though it isn’t a car for car fanatics. The Sandero features good grip, little body roll, and a smooth spin.

Because it offers enough power and torque to keep up with traffic on quicker A and B highways without needing as much effort as the entry-level Citroen C3’s non-turbocharged engine, the TCe 90 model is the best option for most purchasers. The TCe 100 Bi-Fuel and a standard Sandero are quite comparable while running on LPG.

Until you want to experiment with the higher end of the rpm range, the 1.0-liter TCe engine doesn’t make much noise. After that, it sounds really forced. The power distribution isn’t as even as competitors with comparable power, such as the Skoda Fabia and SEAT Ibiza, because there is a visible acceleration bump as soon as the turbo creates boost.

Parking in confined areas is made easy by the Sandero’s 10.5-meter turning radius and consistently light handling. Despite being more modern than it was in the past, the Sandero is not as quiet as the most recent Volkswagen Polo or Renault Clio. The five-speed manual transmission also occasionally appeared clumsy and inaccurate. The Sandero will eventually be perfect for you if you consider it a low-cost supermini and are more concerned with going from point A to point B without any problems.

With the help of a five-speed manual transmission, the turbocharged TCe 90 petrol engine, which generates 89 horsepower and 160 Nm of torque overall, can reach 62 mph in a reasonable 12.2 seconds. The CVT automatic version of the TCe 100 Bi-Fuel is initially a bit slower than the manual version, despite taking 13.4 seconds to get from 0 to 62 mph.

The Sandero Stepway’s engine lineup is nearly identical to that of the conventional Sandero, with the addition of a more powerful TCe 110 variant with 109 horsepower, which cuts the time from 0 to 62 mph to less than 10 seconds. 2026 Dacia Sandero Release Date

2026 Dacia Sandero Fuel Economy

Because it’s never easy to discover a car that fits your budget, customers on a tight budget will find the Sandero fascinating. However, it’s crucial to remember that problems with insurance and operating costs persist even after you’ve invested a significant amount of money on new wheels.

Fortunately, expensive maintenance shouldn’t be necessary to maintain your Sandero in good shape. With the exception of the TCe 90 CVT auto model, which performs somewhat worse at 49.6 mpg, Dacia has an overall fuel efficiency rating of up to 53.3 mpg. In the actual world, our tested 2026 Dacia Sandero TCe 90 manual outperformed the Citroen C3 with a fuel economy of 49.3 mpg.

Both the manual and CVT auto versions of the TCe 90 emit 119g/km of CO2, which is respectable but not very high. Competitors with hybrid technology, such as the Renault Clio in certain models, will outperform the Sandero in terms of emissions; however, you will need to weigh that against the high cost of a hybrid Clio. Check out the Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140 if you want the great value of a Dacia together with the low running expenses of a hybrid car.

Compared to those who choose for the standard Sandero, those who desire the Sandero Stepway will spend a bit more and pay more at the petrol pump. The CVT auto, the more potent TCe 110’s 45.6 mpg, and the TCe 90’s 50.4 mpg, however, are barely going to break the bank.

Even if you are lucky enough to live close to an LPG station and can adjust the Bi-Fuel model to your needs, be aware that using LPG will not yield the same fuel efficiency as using gasoline. To monitor the discrepancy, the driver’s instrument cluster may display several trip computer readouts. 2026 Dacia Sandero Release Date

2026 Dacia Sandero Release Date & Price

Consumers considering more expensive rivals are growing increasingly concerned about the Sandero’s new appearance and complexity. Despite being bigger, the Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen Polo, Hyundai i20, and the nearly identical Renault Clio are more expensive than the Dacia since even an entry-level vehicle costs thousands more than a top-spec Sandero. The Sandero is the only supermini of comparable size that offers a value package comparable to the Sandero while remaining hundreds of pounds less expensive than the base Citroen C3.

The Sandero series’ Essential specification starts at about £14,000. Despite lacking a touchscreen, this model has Bluetooth, DAB, air conditioning, cruise control, and remote central locking. The base Sandero has rear parking sensors, which makes parking a bit easier, but it loses the base C3 You!’s electrically adjustable and heated side mirrors and alarm.

Despite costing over £15,000, we believe the mid-range Expression trim is the best value Sandero. Modern upholstery, a rearview camera, an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and clever gray cloth accents are all included in exchange for the interior upgrade. The top-tier Journey, which costs over £16,000, has technologies including satellite navigation, blind spot detection, temperature control, and front parking sensors.

Conclusion

The latest Sandero is the perfect example of Accia’s stated goal of bringing down the price of high-end new vehicles. The Sandero is still among the most reasonably priced superminis in the UK, even with minor modifications to its specifications, running gear, interior, and design.

However, the Dacia Sandero 2026 offers great value for anyone on a tight budget. Because of its cheap operating expenses, it also makes sense for those who choose for the higher-quality alternatives. Although Dacia’s carefully priced supermini isn’t one of those popular compact SUVs (there is a pseudo-SUV type called the Stepway, if you wish), it is competitive with the finest in its class. The simplest concepts are frequently the best, as they say.

Note: The details included in this blog post are derived from pre-release material that was accessible when the article was written. If you want the latest information, you should check official sources or call your nearest dealership.