Dacia continues its aggressive expansion into the upper segments. After consolidating its position in compact SUVs with the Duster and the upcoming launch of the larger Bigster, the Romanian brand with French roots is aiming straight at the heart of the family car market. The goal: to dethrone the unshakable hegemon in the class, the Skoda Octavia, with a brand new model.
The new project bears the internal designation C-Neo and will include two main variants - a compact fastback/sedan and, more importantly for the European market, a spacious station wagon. The idea is to offer not just another budget car, but a full-fledged competitor to established players such as the VW Golf, Peugeot 308, Opel Astra and, of course, Octavia.
Dacia's key weapon, as always, will be the price.
The station wagon version of the C-Neo is expected to hit the market in 2026 with a base price that will probably hover around the 22,000 euro mark. This positioning, combined with the philosophy of maximum space and reasonable practicality, is a serious threat to the more expensive Czech and German alternatives.
According to initial information, the Dacia C-Neo will adopt the brand's new, more durable and modern design language, and the station wagon version may even get a slight “allroad“ flavor, adding more functionality and an attractive appearance. Dacia no longer just makes cheap cars, it creates reasonable cars that people want. This model has the potential to rewrite the rules in the C-segment.