Dacia is attacking the compact car segment again with the new Striker. At first glance, it could be called a station wagon, but the Romanians want to see their new product positioned differently: namely, as a crossover that wants to combine “station wagon, SUV and sedan.” Inside, it quickly becomes clear that everything here must be practical so that the attacker is not immediately perceived as a refusenik. A base price of less than 25,000 euros has already been announced, orders can be ordered from October, and it will hit the streets in December – including as a hybrid with electric all-wheel drive.
Headroom? More like “this is how it works”!
From the first test drive, it is clear who Dacia has in mind: connoisseurs who, in everyday life, expect a lot from a car for their money. Sitting in the back is usually comfortable; The upholstery makes a good first impression and should remain comfortable even on long journeys. The catch: the headroom is more likely to be classified as “good” than “adequate.” The rear seating position is relatively high, but at the same time the Striker is quite flat at 1.53 metres. In practice this means: anyone over 1.73 meters tall will get along, but taller passengers may quickly reach their limits depending on the seating position and the (glass) roof. For families with many children, this is a point that should definitely be taken into account and tested before purchasing.
It’s still practical: a small center console in the rear with two cup holders, plus two USB ports for charging a smartphone are everything you often need in everyday life. Dacia’s Youclip system (a flexible clamp/holder solution known from other models) is also used. And one more thing: the durable Starkle material, which is used in the bumpers and wheel arches on the outside, is used for the first time in the interior – although the front passengers benefit the most.
Dacia Striker with real buttons and buttons
From the front, the Striker remains a true Dacia: lots of plastic, part hard, part foam, with textile surfaces in between – calm, functional, not pretentious. The Striker uses a 10.1-inch touchscreen display (with or without navigation, depending on the configuration), but smartphone mirroring is possible in any case. The good: The air conditioning and many basic functions are still controlled by actual buttons and controls, and the steering wheel has plenty of buttons, too. If you don’t feel like fiddling with touch screens, you’ll quickly feel at home here.
The instrument cluster is interesting (it takes a little getting used to): Dacia installs the LightVisio system in every version. You are not looking directly at a classic display, but at a reflection – the information appears three-dimensional, as if floating in space. It looks modern, but may not be for everyone as it works visually differently than a regular digital cockpit. It is best to stop by for a while, take a look and decide for yourself.
Good basic equipment, there are innovations beyond that.
Even in the basic version, the Dacia Striker is fairly equipped: manual air conditioning, parking sensors, a rear view camera and electric windows at the front and rear are always included. New from the center line is the Auto Hold function – a real plus in city traffic, since at traffic lights you can take your foot off the brake without the car rolling away.