New Dacia Sandero: Big Tech, Small Price—What Changed

The Dacia Sandero doubles down on what made it a favorite in Europe: honest design, everyday toughness, and features that matter more than flash. The first thing that catches the eye is the new light signature. The inverted T daytime running lights sit inside fresh LED headlights and connect visually to a simplified grille with a neat line of pixel style dots. It gives the front a single piece look that feels modern without pretending to be something it is not. Around the back, the redesigned LED lights sharpen the stance and make the car read wider and sturdier. New wheel designs and a shark fin antenna arrive from the Expression trim and up, and a new Amber Yellow paint joins the palette alongside Sandstone if you prefer something more understated.

Inside, the Sandero keeps the same down to earth vibe but with nicer materials where hands and eyes spend the most time. The new air vents echo that inverted T theme from the outside, and the seat fabrics are upgraded across trims. Essential and Expression bring a new cloth, while Journey adds blue denim upholstery for a warm, casual feel. Ergonomics get a lift with a reshaped steering wheel that sits naturally in hand on long drives or quick errands.

Tech lands exactly where drivers will use it. A new multimedia setup introduces a 10 inch central touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the Expression, Extreme, and Journey trims. The digital driver display measures 7 inches and now has a cleaner interface. There is also an available wireless smartphone charger on Extreme and Journey so you can keep your phone powered while running navigation and music. If you prefer to keep things ultra simple, the standard Media Control system pairs with the Dacia phone app, gives you steering wheel buttons, Bluetooth, a USB C port, and four speakers without the fuss.

Under the hood, the updated 1.0 liter turbocharged three cylinder now makes 100 horsepower, up from 90, and it stays paired to a six speed manual gearbox. The result is better pull in everyday traffic and calmer highway cruising without chasing revs. The Sandero remains light on its feet and easy to park, which is exactly the point.

Smart practicality continues with YouClip, Dacia’s sturdy mounting points placed on the dashboard, the back of the center console, and inside the tailgate. Add a tablet holder, phone clamp, storage pouch, even a glasses case, and the cabin bends to your routine. Safety steps up to current European standards with automatic emergency braking that can detect vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorbikes, plus a driver attention alert. For extra peace of mind, you can add automatic headlights, a multi view camera that makes tight spaces less stressful, and power folding mirrors. A clever My Safety button lets the driver store preferred assistance settings and bring them back with one press.