Dacia’s Hipster EV Concept Arrives as a Boxy Family-Carrying Transporter

Dacia debuted the Hipster last week, a small electric vehicle with four seats and a foldable trunk in a box less than ten feet long. The Romanian company, famed for its no-frills vehicles such as the Spring, has expanded on this idea with its latest prototype. Engineers began with daily commutes in mind – short excursions around town or to the suburbs, nothing more – and everything follows from there. The Hipster is slightly under 3 meters long, 1.55 meters wide, and 1.53 meters tall, making it ideal for parking in compact areas.

Romain Gauvin, Dacia’s head of advanced design, describes it as the most true-to-form project the team has completed. He compared its potential to the Logan, which was introduced 20 years ago and put wheels on the road for common people. Gauvin desired a simple design that anyone could draw in three lines: a block with four corner wheels, no bumpers, and no fancy curves. In the front, horizontal lines frame small LED headlamps hidden behind glass, giving the face a sturdy, welcoming appearance. Around the sides, large bumpers constructed of Starkle, a recycled plastic combination developed by Dacia’s own team, provide toughness without adding weight.

Inside, there are vertical windows and a steep windscreen that can accommodate four adults, with the front seats inclined like the Sandero to provide a clear perspective of the road. Wide door gaps and a tilting passenger seat in the front provide for easy access to the back. The seats are stripped down to frames coated with thin, breathable mesh that allows air to flow between the backs and the walls. The back headrests slide away from the pillars instead than being affixed to the bench, allowing it to fold flat. Dacia has hidden two airbags on the dashboard for driver and passenger safety, but the passenger airbag is exposed as part of the bare-bones design that reduces fluff.


The driver looks straight ahead at a tall, thin screen that displays speed, charge, and basic information; there are no maps or music included. When you place your phone in a dash holder, it takes over: unlocks with a tap, launches your mapping app, and even streams audio via a clip-on Bluetooth speaker. Eleven hook spots on the dash, doors, and boot for accessories such as cup holders or a roof light, all of which require no tools. Sliding side windows save on mechanisms and glass, while a translucent roof panel in the front allows for natural light.




Cargo capacity behind the seats is 70 liters, which is sufficient for shopping bags or a weekend’s worth of errands with everyone on board. When the rear bench is removed, the capacity is 500 liters, which is sufficient for bikes or large goods when just two people are on board. The tailgate has two parts: lift the glass top for fast access, or drop the entire bottom to load large items edge to edge. The rear lights conceal behind the top panel, eliminating the need for additional coverings. One set of Isofix points in the back accommodates a child seat, allowing for family use without complicating the configuration.




The power comes from a simple electric setup that provides approximately 200km per charge, enough for urban loops with some juice left over for the occasional country diversion. Lighter weight equals less motor pull, and Dacia claims that the entire vehicle cuts carbon footprint from cradle to grave by 50% compared to previous four-seat electric vehicles. Raw resources drop, industrial power declines, and road drinking improves. Production will begin shortly, likely sharing parts with the next Spring and Renault’s Twingo EV, however the box shape may soften for production lines. There are no prices yet, but Dacia is targeting the 77% increase in car prices in Europe since 2010 and intends to undercut the competition on the sticker.