A new Dacia model spotted in testing hints at a traditional wagon body, aiming to complement the Bigster’s success with affordable, efficient versatility
Dacia is gearing up to expand its European range with a new model poised to sit just above the Jogger crossover. The upcoming addition is aimed at building on the strong momentum of the Bigster, tapping into the still-booming compact segment. While the wraps are staying on for now, the brand has confirmed more details will be shared in the coming months.
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The model, internally referred to as C-Neo, was spotted late November by Carscoops’ spy photographers. It carries over several familiar design cues seen across the current Dacia line-up but swaps the typical hatchback shape for a more traditional wagon profile.
“As we have seen with Bigster, there is a clear demand in that segment to have affordable cars,” Dacia chief executive Katrin Adt told Auto News earlier this month. “We want to play a role there.” The head of sales for Dacia, Frank Marotte, added that the brand wants to “build on the success we have met with Bigster.”
Underpinning the new Dacia will be the familiar CMF-B platform, and it should be offered with the brand’s full suite of combustion engines. These will include gas, LPG, mild-hybrid, and full-hybrid options based around a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine.
Marotte has also confirmed that the wagon will borrow some of the off-road-leaning design language seen in the Dacia Sandero Stepway. The goal is to strike a balance, creating something that looks “attractive and rugged,” as he puts it, without crossing into SUV territory.
He added that the need to reduce emissions and weight has also encouraged the brand to work on the aerodynamics of its vehicles, which explains why it’s launching a wagon, a body style that’s largely gone out of vogue.
Up front, the car will feature Dacia’s signature headlight design paired with a narrow upper grille that ties them together. Expect subtly muscular fender arches, slightly more restrained than those on the Sandero Stepway, along with sharply defined character lines running along the flanks. Roof rails and slim LED taillights round out the look.
Key Competition
Key competitors for the upcoming Dacia wagon will include the Skoda Octavia Combi, Seat Leon Sports Tourer, Toyota Corolla Touring Sports, and the Hyundai i30 Tourer, models that have long occupied the value-focused end of the compact market.
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