The new Dacia Striker: Hatchback-SUV mashup to cost less than £25,000
Car changing is a big deal
This is the new Dacia Striker, and it’s a car you can’t pigeonhole. It is a hatchback? An SUV? Or is it an estate car? Whatever you call it, this car will cost less than £25,000 when it goes on sale later this year.
Dacia models rarely conform to standard car classes. The Duster sits somewhere between a Volkswagen T-Cross and T-Roc in terms of size, and the Bigster toes a fine line between mid-sized and large SUVs, such as the Kia Sportage and Sorento.
They both straddle two segments, and now there’s a new model which also doesn’t quite fit into one category. This is the Dacia Striker, a family car which will take on cars like the Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia when it goes on sale next year.
What is the new Dacia Striker?
Good question. Dacia calls the Striker a C-Segment car, which is the same class where you’ll find family hatchbacks like the Volkswagen Golf, Peugeot 308 and Vauxhall Astra.
However, it doesn’t look very similar to any of those cars. It has a slightly jacked-up stance and chunky black cladding which lends it a rugged, off-road vibe, but the low roofline means it doesn’t look like an SUV.
At 4.62 metres long, it’s about 300mm longer than a Volkswagen Golf, while also being a smidge shorter than a Skoda Octavia Estate. So what we have here then is a family car which sits somewhere between a hatchback and an estate car, while also offering SUV-like ground clearance.
Despite this mild identity crisis, the Striker is a great-looking car. The upright front end and blocky headlights give it character and road presence, and the sweeping roofline adds a sporty flavour as well.
Those rear lights do look familiar though. Remember the Skoda Vision 0 Concept? Well if you don’t then you can check out our first impressions of that car, and you’ll see that the T-Shaped LEDs are nothing new.
There are no pictures of this car’s interior just yet, but you can see a sneak preview of the dashboard through the panoramic roof. It seems as though it’ll have the same steering wheel as the Duster, and you can expect to see the same 10.0-inch touchscreen as well.
New Dacia Striker engines
Dacia has revealed that the Striker will be available with hybrid engines, as well as a version which runs on LPG – a type of fuel which is much cheaper than petrol, but also quite tricky to find in the UK.
This means you can expect to see the same range of engines that are available in the Dacia Duster, starting with a 1.2-litre mild hybrid petrol paired to a manual gearbox. A 1.8-litre petrol hybrid is also likely, and there will be a hybrid four-wheel drive version of the Striker as well for those of you that want to venture off the beaten track.
New Dacia Striker price and alternatives
The Dacia Striker will be revealed in full in June this year, which is when you’ll be able to see the interior and learn exactly what engines will be offered. It’ll cost less than 25,000 euros on the continent, which means you can expect it to start from under £25,000 in the UK.
But what other family cars could you consider for that money? Well, here are the three most logical alternatives to the new Dacia Striker.
1. Skoda Scala
The Skoda Scala is often overlooked, but it’s one of the most obvious alternatives to the Striker. It bridges the gap between the Skoda Fabia and Octavia, and it costs just over £24,000.
You get a spacious cabin and a massive boot, but there’s no hybrid version on offer and it’s fairly dull. The Striker looks more, well striking.
2. Volkswagen Golf
When shopping for a family hatchback, the Volkswagen Golf will be near the top of most people’s shortlists. It’s a brilliant all-rounder, offering decent interior space, plenty of kit, a comfortable driving experience and economical engines.
Being physically smaller than the Striker, the Golf is unlikely to be as roomy as the Dacia. It’s also a few grand more expensive.
3. Peugeot 308
The Peugeot 308 is one of the most stylish family cars on the market, and it feels truly classy inside as well. Few cars will turn as many heads for the money, and the 308 is also brilliant to drive.
However, at almost £30,000 the 308 is on the pricey side for a car in this class, and the small steering wheel setup won’t work for everyone.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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