Dacia Striker: here’s your first look at the new sub-£22k hybrid SUV
Dacia's new small SUV will rival the likes of the MG HS and Nissan Qashqai – here's what we know so far...
On sale Summer 2026 Price from £22,000 (est)
When you hear the word ‘striker’, most would think of one of football’s great goal-getters – the likes of Pele or Van Basten. What doesn’t spring to mind is an affordably-priced hybrid SUV, much like the new Dacia Striker.
With a price tag of less than £22,000, Dacia’s newest model will massively undercut family SUV rivals including the petrol-powered MG HS (£26,245) and the hybrid Nissan Qashqai (£30,615). And yet it’s longer in size than the Renault Austral and Skoda Karoq, meaning it potentially offers more space than either of those cars.
The Striker will be technically related to the Dacia Bigster (and even the Renault Clio), with a choice of three power options initially offered: two mild hybrid engines (offering 128bhp and 138bhp) and one full hybrid setup offering 153bhp. Officials say the hybrid Striker will be able to operate on electric power alone for up to 60% of the time when driving in the city, potentially slashing running costs for owners. A bi-fuel – or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) – variant is also on the cards, but this isn’t expected to form part of the launch line-up
Customers will also have the option of four-wheel drive, which will take the form of a new 148bhp setup combining a 1.2-litre petrol engine and an electric motor driving the rear wheels. This model will feature six adaptive driving modes – including at least one for off-road driving – and will be rated to tow up to 1500kg. This engine will also be fitted to the Bigster and Duster in time.
On to design, and the fresh face of the Striker fronts Dacia’s new daytime running light signatures, which move away from the brand’s traditionally horizontal Y-shaped lights. Compared with the Bigster, the Striker’s low-tucked grille seems smaller, too, with the fog lights positioned within this space as opposed to further out wide.
The Striker’s rufty-tufty nature is amplified through wheel arch cladding, roof rails and blacked-out trim pieces enveloping the windows. From the side angle, it also appears to have longer overhangs (the sections of the car which sit ahead of the wheels) than the Bigster, giving it that estate-esque look.
Inside, it’s safe to assume the Striker will follow in the Bigster’s footsteps. That means a 10.1in central touchscreen and 7in digital driver’s display, complete with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring and a number of physical switches for important functions like climate control.
Given its low-budget model, many of Dacia’s cars feel low-rent inside with scratchy plastics. Officials told What Car? that although the Striker's interior will be 'straightforward', the brand has experience with offering different textures and surfaces to enhance their appeal.
The Striker will use a similar pricing policy to the Bigster, which means lower trim levels will be utilitarian and void of ‘non-essential’ equipment to keep costs low.
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