What Is the Dacia Hipster?
So, what’s the Hipster all about? Basically, it’s a tiny electric car built for nipping around town – perfect if you’re mostly doing short runs. No frills, no unnecessary tech, just a stripped-back, functional car that gets the job done.
It’s been designed with British city driving in mind. The average daily commute here is just 19 miles, so with a range of about 200 km (roughly 124 miles), the Hipster should be plenty. It’s also light – weighs under 800kg – which is around 20% less than Dacia’s current Spring EV. That means better efficiency and a lower carbon footprint over its lifetime.
A New Category of Urban Electric Car?
Now here’s the catch – whether or not we’ll actually get the Hipster depends on new rules being sorted in the UK and EU. There’s talk of a possible new “E-car” category that’s aimed at lightweight, no-fuss electric cars like this one.
Dacia says if that happens, we might see the Hipster on sale “in the next year or so.” But for now, there’s no confirmed UK launch date. Still, people over here are interested — loads of us are keeping an eye out on car blogs and forums for any updates.
Design & Specifications: Mini Land Rover Aesthetic, Big on Space
Looks-wise, it’s pretty quirky. Think boxy, kind of a cross between a Mini, a Fiat Panda, and a classic little Land Rover. It’s proper small — 3.0 metres long, 1.55 metres wide, and 1.53 metres tall — shorter than any other EV you can buy in the UK right now. But somehow, it still manages to fit four adults without feeling cramped.
The boot? Starts at 70 litres, but you can fold down the back seats and get up to 500 litres – not bad for such a tiny car. The whole thing’s built to be light and low-impact. So, you don't get flashy gear, but what is there makes sense: airbags in the front, sliding windows, and fabric loops instead of door handles. It’s all been chosen to keep the cost – and the weight – down.
Essential Tech & Efficient Living
The Hipster skips all the usual car tech – no built-in infotainment screen here. Instead, you’re meant to use your own smartphone for everything from music to maps, even unlocking the car.
There’s also a clever little modular system they’re calling “YouClip”, which gives you 11 spots around the cabin to attach stuff — like cupholders or Bluetooth speakers. Smart thinking if you ask us.
Dacia's design boss, David Durand, says the goal was to make loads of space on the inside without making the outside bulky — and it shows. Another Dacia exec, Romain Gauvin, thinks the Hipster could have the same kind of impact as their original Logan: a cheap, no-fuss car that changed the game a bit.
When Could the Dacia Hipster Arrive in the UK?
The car’s pretty much ready to go. But whether we get to actually buy one depends on whether the rules change to let these stripped-back EVs onto the roads.
The Dacia Hipster might be small, but its potential impact on the market is anything but. At a time when electric cars are often priced out of reach for everyday buyers, this no-nonsense urban EV proves that simplicity can still be smart. By focusing on low cost, low weight, and genuine practicality, Dacia is challenging the industry to rethink what makes a good electric car.
