Dacia is poised to enter the highly competitive C-segment market with a new estate model designed to rival the Skoda Octavia. Scheduled for release in the coming months, this rugged and petrol-powered vehicle will be priced under £25,000, offering a practical and budget-friendly alternative in Europe’s most popular car segment.
Expanding Dacia’s Presence
The C-segment currently accounts for roughly a fifth of Dacia’s sales, and the introduction of this new model is a key part of the company’s broader European expansion strategy. This move follows the successful launch of the Bigster SUV earlier this year, which has significantly boosted Dacia’s profile. Another model is planned for release approximately a year after the estate’s debut, further solidifying Dacia’s presence in this vital market.
The Bigster’s Influence
According to Dacia’s CEO, Katrin Adt, the strong performance of the Bigster has instilled confidence in the brand’s ability to compete effectively in the C-segment. The Bigster’s success, particularly its ranking among the top 10 best-selling retail cars in key markets like France and Germany, highlights the growing demand for Dacia’s unique value proposition.
A Distinct Offering
To ensure the new estate car is a valuable addition to Dacia’s lineup, Adt emphasized the importance of each model having a unique purpose. She stated that the new estate will present a “totally different offer” to customers compared to the Bigster, acknowledging that buyers have diverse needs and preferences.
Design and Target Audience
Leaked images of a prototype, codenamed C-Neo, reveal that the estate car will resemble a stretched and lifted version of the popular Sandero. This design suggests a high-riding compact estate, approximately 4.6 meters in length. This design choice reflects a growing trend toward practical and versatile vehicles.
Appealing to a Different Buyer
Dacia’s product performance boss, Patrice Lévy-Bencheton, highlighted the significant portion of C-segment buyers who are not drawn to SUVs. These buyers are looking for a lower driving position and a more efficient, less ostentatious vehicle.
“There is also a significant share of the C-segment which is ‘non-SUV’ people, who are still looking for a lower driving position, a more efficient product [which is] less ‘ostentatious.’”
He explained that this demographic values the performance and comfort of a larger car but prefer a more elegant and efficient design over the SUV aesthetic. The new estate car is intended to cater specifically to this underserved market.
The forthcoming Dacia estate car presents a strategic move towards expanding the brand’s reach by targeting a segment of buyers seeking practicality, affordability, and a distinct alternative to the increasingly popular SUV. This new model is poised to bring a fresh offering to the C-segment and solidify Dacia’s position as a value-driven automotive brand
