New-look 2026 Dacia Sandero priced from £14,765

UK order books for the new Dacia Sandero have opened, pricing the supermini from £14,765 and its rugged sibling, the Sandero Stepway, from £16,065.

That means the supermini retains its position as one of the UK's cheapest new cars, although the smaller, electrically powered Dacia Spring has now undercut it, thanks to a new discount.

Initially, the latest Sandero will be offered with a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, putting out either 99bhp or 108bhp. 

But it will gain a hybrid powertrain as part of its mid-life update, which also includes a new look and added equipment across the board.

In around a year's time, Dacia will equip the range-topping Sandero Stepway with its new Hybrid 155 powertrain, which combines a 108bhp four-cylinder petrol engine with a 49bhp electric motor and a starter-generator for 154bhp and 125lb ft of torque - chunky gains over the Sandero's current 108bhp engine.

As deployed in the flagship Dacia Bigster SUV, this arrangement features a 1.4kWh battery for short-distance electric running and a clutchless automatic gearbox that has four ratios for the engine and two ratios for the motor.

Dacia has yet to reveal full performance and efficiency figures for the Sandero Stepway Hybrid 155, but the same powertrain in the much larger Bigster returned 72.4mpg in urban driving and around 55mpg in higher-speed running in an Autocar road test - figures that the lower and lighter Sandero should improve upon.

​The hybrid is expected to command a circa-£3000 premium compared with the pure-petrol model, based on the gap between the pure-ICE and hybrid versions of the related Jogger seven-seat estate.

Dacia has no plans as yet to introduce the Hybrid 155 powertrain to the standard Sandero.

Product performance boss Patrice Lévy-Bencheton told Autocar the lower-slung supermini must remain as affordable as possible to maintain its position as Europe’s best-selling car on the retail market.