Let’s be real: Dacia has always been the underdog, the car you buy when your wallet is begging for mercy and your neighbors are snickering with their shiny Teslas. But now, in a plot twist that would make even the most jaded car enthusiast perk up, Dacia has given the Sandero, Sandero Stepway, and Jogger a proper kick in the pants. It’s not a revolution—Dacia doesn’t do revolutions, they’re too expensive—but a cunning facelift that turns these budget beasts into something almost… charming. Yes, I’m saying it: it makes your life a bit easier without bankrupting you with monthly payments.
The front end now sports a light signature shaped like an upside-down T—seriously, LEDs dangling above the headlights, linked to a black grille by a line of white dots. It sounds like a kid’s doodle, but it works: it gives the car a fresh, almost cheeky vibe. At the back, the taillights stretch into the windows, with a matte black strip between them that screams, “I’m tough, but not daft.” For the Stepway and Jogger, they’ve added “Starkle” protective strips on the wheel arches and sills—made from 20% recycled plastic with white granules, unpainted and rugged to fend off scratches. It’s like Dacia saying, “We’re turning your old yogurt pots into an off-roader.” New colors? Amber yellow for the Sandero and Stepway, sandstone for the Jogger. Because who wants to be gray in a world full of gray mice?
Inside? That’s where the fun really starts. The air vents echo the exterior’s T-shape, the dashboard and door panels get blue fabric or denim—depending on your trim. The Extreme trim boasts washable green and black upholstery, plus rubber mats front and back, so you can hose off the mud from your dog-walking adventures without guilt. New steering wheel, three YouClip points for your tablet or phone holder (four in the Jogger’s boot), and for the hybrids, a slicker gear lever. It’s not a palace, but a practical tent on wheels: functional, and that’s exactly why you want it.
Tech? Dacia doesn’t mess about with fluff, but delivers smart basics. Standard on higher trims is a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay—no more wrestling with tangled cables. For base models, you control everything via your phone, with info displayed on the instrument cluster. Optional extras: a Media Nav Live with real-time traffic and a six-speaker Arkamys sound system that doesn’t murder your playlists. Add a 7-inch digital cluster, wireless phone charger, electrically folding mirrors, and a 360-degree camera, and you’ve got a car smarter than the average driver on the ring road. Safety? Automatic emergency braking and attention alerts are now standard—cheers, EU regulations—and the rest is optional, because Dacia keeps it affordable.
But the real fireworks are under the hood, and here’s where my EV-loving heart does a little jig. The Jogger gets the Hybrid 155: a 1.8-liter petrol engine with two electric motors for a total of 155 hp. A 1.4 kWh battery lets you drive up to 80% electric in the city—a step closer to the quiet, clean world I’m fighting for. It’s 10% more efficient than the old Hybrid 140, with a quirky four-speed gearbox for the combustion engine and two for the electric. The Sandero Stepway gets it by late 2026. Then there’s the Eco-G 120: a 1.2-liter bi-fuel (petrol/LPG) with 120 hp, now with an automatic option—a first!—and a bigger LPG tank for up to 1,590 km of range in the Sandero. The TCe 100 petrol jumps from 90 to 100 hp, and the base SCe 65 hp remains the cheapest in Belgium. No more diesel? Smart move, who wants to breathe soot when hybrids exist?
Pricing? Dacia’s tight-lipped, but it’s still sharp: the Sandero remains Europe’s best-selling car, the Jogger your practical pal. This isn’t an assault on Audi or BMW—that’d be laughable—but a reminder that cheap doesn’t have to mean dull. It’s the car for the savvy folks who keep cash for beer and petrol… or electricity, if you’re clever.
And let’s be clear: this upgrade is Dacia’s way of saying “we’re growing up,” but the real future? It’s silent and emission-free. So, if you’re itching for something that truly spares your wallet and the planet, dive into our marketplace where you can search and buy 100% electric cars. From zippy city runners to family EVs: all electric, no compromises. Check it out at https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/. Why settle for a hybrid when you can embrace the full glory of electric?
