Hoping to buy a hybrid on a budget? The Dacia Sandero hatchback and crossover-style Sandero Stepway now come with the option of a petrol-electric powertrain.
As Europe’s best-selling new car for the past two years, the Sandero is vitally important to Dacia, which is owned by Renault but has its roots in Romania.
Gaining a full hybrid system provides the Sandero, and its rugged-looking Sandero Stepway cousin, with both more power and greater efficiency.
Beneath the bonnets of the newest Dacia Sandero and Sandero Stepway is the familiar 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Combined with a pair of electric motors, it serves up a total of 155hp.
Thanks to a 1.4kWh battery, the Sandero Hybrid 155 is claimed to cover up to 80 percent of urban miles on electric power – and without ever needing to be plugged in to charge.
New Sandero hybrid is more efficient
Dacia already makes use of the Hybrid 155 powertrain in several other models, including the Duster, Bigster and forthcoming Striker crossover.
A clutchless transmission automatically shifts between four gears for the petrol engine, with a further two when in EV mode.
Regenerative braking helps ensure that the battery remains charged. The Sandero Hybrid 155 always starts in electric mode to maximise efficiency.
The 155hp output gives the Sandero and Stepway a notable boost in performance, with 0-62mph dispatched in a brisk 8.3 seconds.
Compared to the equivalent petrol-only version, the Hybrid 155 could reduce fuel consumption by 40 percent.
Still an affordable Dacia at heart
Despite the addition of a more complex hybrid powertrain, the Sandero and Sandero Stepway are still affordable to buy.
The Sandero Hybrid 155 in entry-level Expression trim costs from £17,995, while the equivalent Sandero Stepway is listed at £19,295.
Choosing the Sandero Hybrid in plusher Journey specification ups the cost to £19,295. The range-topping Sandero Stepway Extreme Hybrid is priced at £20,595.
Lina Ribeiro, Dacia brand director for the UK, said: “Sandero has always been about giving customers more of what they actually use, without making them pay for things they don’t. Hybrid 155 fits that thinking perfectly. It brings automatic driving, electric power around town and lower fuel consumption, but there’s nothing extra to plug in or worry about.
“Whether you prefer the straightforward simplicity of Sandero or the more rugged character of Sandero Stepway, you now get those same useful hybrid benefits while keeping everything that makes each model such a strong Dacia.”
The hybrid-powered versions of the Dacia Sandero and Sandero Stepway are both available to order now.
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