Dacia will reinvent Europe's best-selling Sandero supermini in 2028 when it ushers in a lighter, bolder new generation with hybrid power, a heavily upgraded cabin and the option of pure-electric power for the first time.
Dacia has performed well since 2021, with the Sandero and Duster consistently among Europe's most popular cars, but the market is proving tougher for the Romanian brand in 2026. Chinese competition and aggressive pricing from Citroën and Fiat in the budget small-car segment are putting it under pressure.
Company insiders acknowledge that Dacia no longer has the market to itself, nor a monopoly on generous equipment at an affordable price, so the fourth generation of its Renault Clio-based hatchback has a hugely important role to play in shoring up the brand's footprint.
The new Sandero's arrival in spring 2028 will also give Dacia an opportunity to reshape its brand image and positioning within the Renault Group.
For the new Sandero, codenamed DB4B1, Dacia has focused on making the car more competitive through rigorous cost control and a tightly managed development budget, according to Autocar sources.
The new Sandero is expected to be unveiled in spring 2028, with production in Morocco scheduled to begin in April. Sales are due to start that summer.
Familiar but fresh Sandero
The fourth-generation Sandero will retain the current car's dimensions, including its 4.10m length. That is because it will carry over the existing, Clio-derived RGMP Small platform, previously known as CMF-B, together with the underlying body structure, including the roof, A-pillars, door structures and glazing.
This will bring substantial savings in development costs and tooling at the Casablanca factory in Morocco – which will help to preserve the Sandero's value positioning. It follows the approach Renault adopted for the sixth-generation Clio, focusing changes on the elements customers see.
So although the Sandero's proportions will be familiar, its exterior bodywork will be new. The front end, in particular, will take styling cues from the new Striker estate-SUV, as shown in our artist's impression at the top.
Inside, the dashboard will be completely redesigned. Our sources say the Sandero is set to follow the lead of larger Dacia models in adopting a cockpit that is more heavily stylised – with textured surfaces and chunky, angular details – but that also maintains a healthy array of physical controls, in keeping with Dacia's focus on utility.
