New Dacia Sandero to get an electric powertrain and offer over 400 km of range
Dacia is preparing a fourth-generation Sandero for 2028, with an all-electric version for the first time. Petrol and full-hybrid options will remain alongside the electric model, which will have a range of more than 400 km. Most interesting, however, is the manufacturer's decision to retain the existing platform and much of the body structure to keep development costs under control and avoid turning an affordable small car into an expensive technology project.
New generation to use familiar technology
According to British publication Autocar, the new Sandero carries the development code DB4B1, with production expected to begin in April 2028 at the Casablanca plant in Morocco. European sales would begin in the summer of the same year. Dacia will retain the current RGMP Small platform, previously known as CMF-B. Several key elements of the monocoque body will also remain, including the roof structure, A-pillars and door structures. The car will remain approximately 4.1 metres long. Updates will focus on exterior styling, the cabin and powertrains.
This approach allows Dacia to reduce the need for new production tooling and development work. Dacia is not trying to reinvent the small car, but to use the existing structure more efficiently.
Electric Sandero could cost around €22,000
The biggest technical change concerns the electric version, for which Dacia will adapt the existing platform to accommodate a traction battery.
Preliminary information suggests the electric Sandero will have a motor producing approximately 79 kW and a 44 kWh LFP battery. The range target exceeds 400 km on the WLTP cycle.
That would mean significantly more range than Dacia's smaller electric cars, although the figures are not yet official.
A potential European starting price of around €22,000 has been suggested for the electric version. Achieving that price would be important for Dacia, as the model is expected to compete with the Renault 5 E-Tech, Citroën ë-C3 and Volkswagen's forthcoming affordable electric cars.
The electric Sandero would therefore be unable to rely solely on nostalgic styling or generous equipment. Its main selling point would have to be its balance of price and range.
Petrol and hybrid options to remain
Dacia does not intend to force all Sandero buyers to switch to an electric car.
The current 1.0-litre turbocharged engine will be replaced by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder TCe developed by HORSE Powertrain, with output expected to be around 73 kW.
The manufacturer is also preparing a more affordable full hybrid, which likewise uses a 1.2-litre petrol engine. Preliminary information puts this engine's output at approximately 84 kW, but the hybrid system's total output is unknown.
The current Sandero Hybrid 155 uses a 1.8-litre petrol engine alongside an electric drive, delivering a combined system output of 114 kW.
Switching to a smaller engine could help reduce production costs for the next-generation hybrid. Dacia aims to make full-hybrid technology available at a lower price point than before.
Stepway to stay, with no standalone SUV
Dacia initially considered replacing the Sandero Stepway with a standalone small SUV.
According to Autocar, the manufacturer abandoned that plan in 2025 to avoid an additional investment of approximately €200 million.
The Stepway will therefore continue as a version of the Sandero with increased ground clearance and off-road-inspired styling. The new model is expected to look more distinct from the standard hatchback than before.
The decision makes economic sense. Rather than developing a separate model, Dacia can offer largely shared technology to two different groups of buyers.
A price war looms in Europe's small-car market
The Sandero is exceptionally important to Dacia. In 2025, it was Europe's best-selling passenger car for the second consecutive year, while it has held the top spot among private buyers since 2017.
In its March 2026 futuREady strategy, the manufacturer confirmed that the next Sandero will retain a choice of powertrains and continue to focus on affordability.
Competition is changing rapidly, however. Citroën, Fiat, Renault and Volkswagen are developing affordable electric cars, while Chinese manufacturers are putting pressure on small-car prices in Europe.
Dacia's greatest strength to date has been its simple engineering and low production costs. Electrification makes that advantage harder to maintain because the battery accounts for a significant share of a vehicle's price.
The new Sandero's success will therefore depend not only on its 400 km range, but on whether Dacia can genuinely keep the electric car's price close to €22,000. If it succeeds, the Sandero could become one of the leading contenders in Europe's affordable electric-car market.
