Budget car brand loved by Brits to launch bargain Skoda Octavia rival – and it’s coming in just months – thesun.co.uk
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The upcoming model will be priced under £25,000 – likely around £20k
BUDGET car brand Dacia is preparing a new rugged, petrol-powered estate that’s looking to rival the evergreen Skoda Octavia.
The Romanian manufacturer, part of the Renault group, has become hugely popular in the UK with their selection of bargain-priced motors – particularly the Sandero and the Duster.
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Now, this new model, codenamed C-Neo, is due in the coming months priced under £25,000 – likely around £20k.
According to Autocar, the high‑riding, non‑SUV estate – which could somewhat resemble a stretched and lifted Sandero – is looking to target buyers who want space and capability without the bulk or image of an SUV.
Expected to be around 4.6m long with a raised suspension, the motor will boast a chunky body and an “outdoorsy” but everyday‑usability, a little like the very cool Sandero Stepway.
Dacia is looking to expand in the C‑segment, Europe’s biggest mainstream class, with the Bigster SUV already selling well and giving the brand greater confidence to add more C‑segment models.
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Patrice Levy-Bencheton, Dacia’s Product Performance boss, said: “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 less ‘ostentatious’.
“For some, an SUV is a bit ostentatious.”
Another reason for the model’s arrival is Dacia seeing an opportunity, with cars like the Ford Focus being discontinued and motors like the Golf, Astra and Corolla getting pricier.
A value‑led estate could be just what drivers want, especially if it’s capable of undercutting mainstream estates such as the Seat Leon and the aforementioned Octavia.
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This is something Dacia does well; leaving out equipment they perceive to be ‘non-essential’ in order to offer a lower list price than its rivals.
One example is the Bigster, which starts from around £25,000 – some £5,000 cheaper than the Nissan Qashqai and £9,000 less than the Ford Kuga.
For now, the car’s final spec, reveal date and whether it’ll boast four-wheel-drive are not confirmed.
This comes as Skoda’s Enyaq EV was recently declared the used car of the year – beating nearly 1,200 other rivals to be the first EV to win the award since it started in 1978.
A team of experts from What Car? voted the highly practical and affordable SUV thanks to a combination of price, value, practicality, performance and reliability.
An Enyaq EV can be picked up second hand for as little as £13,000, a new model will set you back £26,000.
Alongside value, the panel were impressed by the cars practicality and long range for the price.
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