Dacia, the Romanian carmaker known for its affordable and reliable vehicles, has unveiled three new models at the Geneva International Motor Show. The new Dacia Duster, the new Dacia Spring, and the Dacia Sandrider are set to revolutionize the market with their innovative features, design, and performance. Here’s what you need to know about Dacia’s latest offerings.
The All-New Dacia Duster: A Compact SUV with a Bold Personality
The all-new Dacia Duster is the second generation of Dacia’s best-selling model, which has sold over 1.6 million units worldwide since its launch in 2010. The new version has been completely redesigned, with a more muscular and dynamic look, a higher ground clearance, and a wider range of colors and options. The All-New Duster also boasts improved comfort, safety, and technology, with features such as:
- A new multimedia system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone mirroring, and voice recognition
- A new 4x4 monitor that displays the vehicle’s pitch angle, compass, and 4x4 mode
- A new multi-view camera that provides a 360-degree view of the surroundings and helps with parking and off-road driving
- A new blind spot warning system that alerts the driver of vehicles in the blind spot area
- A new hill descent control system that helps the driver maintain a constant speed and brake automatically on steep slopes
- A new automatic air conditioning system that adjusts the temperature and airflow according to the number of occupants and the outside conditions
The Dacia Duster is also more efficient and eco-friendly, with a new engine range that complies with the latest Euro 6D emissions standards. The new engines include:
- A 1.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine with 90 hp and 160 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic transmission
- A 1.3-liter turbocharged petrol engine with 130 hp and 240 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
- A 1.5-liter turbocharged diesel engine with 95 hp and 260 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
- A 1.5-liter turbocharged diesel engine with 115 hp and 300 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
The All-New Duster is available in four trim levels: Access, Essential, Comfort, and Prestige. The prices start from $14,500 for the Access version and go up to $21,500 for the Prestige version.
The New Spring: An Electric City Car with a Spacious Interior
The 2024 Dacia Spring is Dacia’s first electric vehicle and the most affordable electric car in Europe. The New Spring is based on the Renault City K-ZE, a popular model in China, but has been adapted to the European market with a new design, a new battery, and a new charging system. The New Spring is a compact city car, measuring 3.73 meters long, 1.62 meters wide, and 1.51 meters high, but it has a spacious interior that can accommodate four adults and a 300-liter trunk. The New Spring also has a high ground clearance of 15 cm, which makes it suitable for urban and rural roads.
The New Spring is powered by a 33 kW electric motor that delivers 125 Nm of torque and a 26.8 kWh lithium-ion battery that provides a range of 225 km in the WLTP cycle or 295 km in the WLTP city cycle. The battery can be charged in three ways:
- Using a 6.6 kW wallbox, which can charge the battery from 0 to 100% in 5 hours
- Using a 30 kW DC fast charger, which can charge the battery from 0 to 80% in less than an hour
- Using a standard 2.3 kW household plug, which can charge the battery from 0 to 100% in 14 hours
The New Spring also has a smart driving mode, called Eco Mode, that limits the power output to 23 kW and the top speed to 100 km/h, and extends the range by 10%. The New Spring also has a regenerative braking system that recovers energy during deceleration and braking and a battery pre-conditioning system that optimizes the battery temperature and performance.
The New Spring is equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen, a digital instrument cluster, a rearview camera, and a remote smartphone app that allows the driver to check the battery level, the charging status, the remaining range, and the location of the vehicle. The New Spring also has safety features such as ABS, ESP, EBD, six airbags, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.
The New Spring is available in two versions: Standard and Comfort. The Standard version has manual air conditioning, electric front windows, LED daytime running lights, and 14-inch steel wheels. The Comfort version adds automatic air conditioning, electric rear windows, a rearview camera, a 7-inch touchscreen, and 14-inch alloy wheels. The prices start from $12,000 for the Standard version and go up to $13,500 for the Comfort version.