Dacia has released full details of its all-new Sandero and Logan family, including a boatload of photos and videos. Based on an all-new platform (the CMF architecture), the third-generation Sandero and Logan bring a modern design, new petrol engines and transmissions, as well as more features and increased safety. Interestingly, Dacia makes no mention of a new Logan MCV estate model and that can only mean two things: it’s either gone or it will launch later.
Starting with the Sandero hatchback,
Dacia’s most popular B-segment model in Europe, it now looks more dynamic
thanks to a more sloping windshield, 10-mm lower roofline, as well as
pronounced shoulders and wheel arches accommodating wider tracks.
It’s high-riding variant, the Sandero
Stepway, goes for a more rugged appearance courtesy of a 41-mm higher
ground clearance (174 mm), modular roof bars that can turn
into a roof rack, black plastic cladding around the wheel arches and on the
door bottoms, and metal skid plates front and rear.
As for the Logan sedan, it’s now 36-mm longer thanks to an extended wheelbase and despite a reduced rear
overhang. It shares most design features with the new Sandero, including the
Y-shaped LED light signature on the headlights and taillights.
Inside, Dacia has made more significant
changes compared to the outgoing models, adopting a more ergonomic dashboard
with higher-quality materials, new Media Control/Media Display/Media Nav
infotainment systems (up to 8-inch touchscreens) with smartphone integration, a
new seat design with multiple adjustments, and more. Most importantly, interior
roominess, trunk volume and storage space have been further improved despite
the fact that the exterior dimensions have largely been maintained.
Knee room for rear passengers is now 42-mm higher, one of the best in the segment, while the boot volume has
grown by 18 liters to 528 liters in the Logan – the
Sandero’s cargo volume is 328 liters. Additionally, the load sill
has been lowered by 19 mm for easier access to the boot.
The new Logan also offers a new organizer
consisting of four removable panels that compartmentalize the boot into four
separate spaces of different sizes. A 1/3-2/3 split-fold rear bench is
available on all models (depending on the version) and the storage capacity can
reach 21 liters thanks to a big space underneath the central
armrest, door bins, and the back of the front seats.
Depending on the version, the all-new
Sandero and Logan can be equipped with a smartphone holder, on-board computer
screen, automatic headlight activation, speed limiter and cruise control
buttons on the steering wheel, new automatic air conditioning with digital
display, electric parking brake, reverse camera, front and rear parking sensors
and automatic windscreen wipers, among other things. Heated front seats will
become available from April 2021, with an electric glass sunroof to arrive
later in the year on the Sandero and Sandero Stepway.
In the engine compartment, the new
B-segment models ditch diesel units completely, adopting two petrol engines and
a bi-fuel LPG / petrol power plant. The base choice is the naturally aspirated
SCe 65 1.0-liter three-cylinder mated to a five-speed manual, followed by the
turbocharged TCe 90 1.0-liter three-cylinder paired with either a six-speed
manual or a CVT. Finally, the Eco-G 100 1.0-liter turbocharged three-pot hooked
to a six-speed manual can run on both LPG and petrol.
The stronger and more rigid CMF platform
is said to enhance passive and active safety, enabling the integration of new
driving aids including AEB (Emergency Brake Assist) and eCall emergency call
system as standard. Available driver-assistance systems include blind spot
warning, park assist, and hill start assist.