Dacia Striker is a sub-£25,000 family car: Crossover is a jacked-up estate – can it win over UK drivers?

Dacia is launching a new crossover that will rival popular family cars such as the Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Octavia.

Striker, which takes its name from the idea of ​​’attacking’ or ‘hitting the target’, expands its growing range of affordable models.

The Romanian value-oriented automaker says the car carries the ‘Dacia DNA’, a vehicle that is stylish and durable enough to appeal to recreational users and environmentally conscious buyers at the same time.

The company says the Striker will “combine the high driving position and outdoor capabilities of an SUV, the versatility and comfort of a sedan, and the efficiency and performance of a sedan.”

Dacia, which has largely started selling affordable small cars like Sandero, is struggling to improve its reputation in the family car industry. Under Striker’s leadership, it aims to increase its sales in the competitive C segment from 20 percent to 33 percent by 2030.

Exact pricing has yet to be confirmed but Dacia says it will start from less than £25,000.

An estate or an SUV?

Dacia wants the Striker to look different from its SUVs and other crossovers, so it’s leaning towards a station wagon in appearance, albeit an upgraded one.

Horizontal flowing body lines are ‘inspired by the elegant forms of saloon cars’, and the sloping windshield, elongated roofline and rear window are also intended to be estate-like.

The taut, contoured shoulder line, raised ground clearance and strong lower proportions reflect the SUV side of the crossover, as do the gloss black grille and integrated roof bars.

It is 4.62m long and should have plenty of cabin space and luggage room. It should also feel airy inside, thanks to its height of 1.53 meters, which is between a traditional sedan and a full-fledged SUV.

You will be able to purchase your Striker, which has seven color options, in two new tones: Frost Green and Cosmic Blue.

Striker’s interior is environmentally focused and functional. 10.1-inch screen and physical controls are standard

What’s the interior of the Dacia Striker like?

There are four Striker trims available (more on these later) and they all share the same new cockpit concept.

Striker’s instrument panel continues the car’s exterior theme inside, with a different horizontal layout that aims to create a feeling of spaciousness and surrounding comfort. It also has an intuitive three-layer structure designed for maximum functionality.

Level One is closest to the passengers and focuses on comfort and perceived quality. The parts are made mainly from fabrics and Starkle, a scratch-resistant plastic that surrounds the dashboard, developed for the Dacia Duster.

This material has never been used in a Dacia before and forms part of the brand’s ‘Eco-Smart’ approach.

Level Two is more functional and structured, grouping the most frequently used controls together. Much to the delight of analog enthusiasts, these controls are physical and designed to be operated intuitively to keep the driver’s attention on the road.

Level Three sits further back and features interface and display features, including the 10.1-inch central touchscreen that’s standard across the range and comes with Media Display or Media Nav Live, depending on trim level.

Media Nav Live uses connected navigation with real-time traffic information and map updates.

Other interior features are designed to make daily life easier.

These include a cable duct that runs from the storage compartment opposite the passenger seat to the center console, helping to neatly conceal cables. There is also an ice scraper discreetly integrated into the front panel and a 6.7-litre armrest compartment that can be equipped with a sliding drawer.

Three new family-friendly features include a water bottle holder, a blanket that doubles as a children’s play mat, and a multi-purpose net that can be used to carry objects or installed between the front seats.

The Striker comes with a 600-litre boot that can be divided into three sections to separate loads and keep items safe.

The Striker comes with a 600-litre boot that can be divided into three sections to separate loads and keep items safe

Space, practicality and environmentally friendly features of the striker

Striker, which can carry five people and their luggage, has a 600-liter trunk and Dacia’s new automatic tailgate function, Easy Trunk Opening.

The trunk can be divided into three sections (standard on Extreme and Journey trims), allowing owners to separate cargo and keep items secure.

It can also be arranged on two levels; The upper level creates a hidden storage area below and creates a flat load surface when the rear seats are folded. All three sections are reversible.

Dacia doubles down on sustainable materials; Striker contains more than 32 percent recycled and circular economy-sourced materials, from recycled plastic to recycled rubber.

Another feature that will make the Striker feel more spacious is the panoramic glass roof, which uses advanced thermal and acoustic glass to keep the cabin bright, quiet and comfortable on long journeys.

There are four trim options: Essential, Expression, Extreme and Journey. Essential focuses on value, Expression adds extra convenience, Extreme maximizes rugged appeal, and Journey prioritizes comfort

Dacia Striker engines and trim levels

Dacia Striker is offered with efficient, advanced electric powertrain options.

The all-wheel-drive Striker Hybrid 155 combines a 109 hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, two electric motors and a 1.4 kWh battery.

Dacia says the combination of regenerative braking, the battery’s high energy recovery capacity and the efficiency of the automatic transmission means the Striker can operate in fully electric mode for up to 80 percent of urban driving.

There are five riding modes, including Off-Road and Sand, while the Striker also comes with Hill Descent Control.

There are four trim levels: Essential, Expression, Extreme and Journey.

Essential offers all the basics, from the 10.1-inch central touchscreen to rear parking sensors.

The Expression adds a number of useful features, including an electric parking brake and additional USB ports.

The Extreme is aimed at outdoor enthusiasts and features Copper Brown exterior and interior accents, a panoramic sunroof, washable synthetic upholstery, rubber floor and trunk mats, a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and hill descent control.

Journey adds more premium features for longer-distance drives, such as heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, Media Nav Live, wireless smartphone charging, and an automatic power liftgate.

When can it be used?

Striker is expected to go on sale in early 2027 after being introduced in March this year.

Priced at around £25,000, it will likely be the cheapest model of its size and segment when UK deliveries begin.