Renault’s decision to buy Dacia at the end of the 1990s has proved to be a masterstroke. Once a laughingstock of the automotive industry, the Romanian automaker has flourished over the past couple of decades. The Sandero was Europe’s best-selling car overall in 2024 and has been the most popular model among retail customers since 2017. Last year alone, nearly 310,000 people bought the supermini.
While rivals at this price point are few and far between, Dacia isn’t letting its hugely successful car linger. For 2026, the Sandero and its pseudo-rugged Stepway sibling receive a mid-cycle facelift. The design tweaks extend to the Logan sedan and the Jogger wagon, with all four models gaining redesigned headlights that flank an updated grille, designed to give the illusion of a single piece.
Moving to the rear, Dacia adds a pixel effect to the LED taillights, which continue to extend upward on the Jogger for a Volvo-like appearance. The Sandero Stepway now features a matte black strip incorporating the brand’s name, though it’s barely visible. Whatever happened to traditional badging?
Rounding off the exterior changes are newly designed alloy wheels and fresh hubcaps for the cheaper variants, which ride on steel wheels. A shark fin antenna is now standard, and depending on the model, two new colors, Amber Yellow and Sandstone, join the palette.
Photo by: Dacia
Although Dacias remain some of the most affordable cars in Europe, they don’t skimp on features. For 2026, the lineup gains a larger 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Jogger, and Logan also receive an induction charging pad, automatic headlights, a multi-view camera, and power-folding mirrors.
Many of these amenities cost extra, but it’s reassuring to see Dacia offering modern conveniences even as options. Another thoughtful feature, already available on other models, is the YouClip anchor point system, which is found throughout the cabin. The Logan has one on the dashboard and another at the back of the center console. The Sandero models add a third in the tailgate, while the Jogger gains a fourth on one side of the cargo area. These anchor points can secure various small items, from a phone holder to a coat hanger.
Since Europe remains Dacia’s core market, the company must keep EU regulators happy by meeting the latest safety standards. New features now include a driver attention alert and automatic emergency braking with detection for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorbikes.
Photo by: Dacia
The most significant upgrade lies under the hood of the Sandero Stepway and Jogger. Dacia has fitted a hybrid powertrain pairing a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter gasoline engine with two electric motors, a 1.4-kWh battery pack, and an automatic transmission featuring four gears for the combustion engine and two for electric drive.
The setup produces a combined 155 hp and 170 Nm (125 lb-ft) of torque. The cars always start in electric mode, and Dacia claims that up to 80 percent of city driving can be done without the gas engine. The Jogger can already be ordered with this hybrid, while the Stepway will follow in the fourth quarter of next year as the first electrified Sandero.
More affordable configurations will forgo the hybrid setup. All four models can be equipped with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo engine that also runs on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). It develops 120 hp sent to the front wheels through either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. With full gas and LPG tanks, the Sandero Stepway and Jogger can travel up to 920 miles (1,480 kilometers).
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Source: Dacia
Depending on the model, gas-only turbo engines with 100 or 110 horsepower are also available, each paired with a six-speed manual. The base engine remains a naturally aspirated three-cylinder producing 65 hp, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. Yes, five.
Dacia’s success proves there will always be demand for no-frills, affordable cars, even in the SUV age. These comprehensive updates refine an already winning formula to help maintain the brand’s strong sales momentum.
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