With the new Bigster, Dacia has taken an important step for the brand, as the former low-cost brand is for the first time attacking a segment in which not only the ratio between price and performance, but also status and prestige play an important role in the purchase decision. Time will tell if the new Bigster, with its classic features of the Dacia brand and some new premium features, can impress even in the SUV-C segment. However, the prerequisites for this are quite good.
When the old Romanian brand Dacia decided to make a new start under the umbrella of Renault in the mid-2000s, the brand was clearly defined for extremely affordable cars with high utility value. The Logan was the first modern representative of the Dacia brand and offered a lot of space, but it was equipped with Renault technology of the penultimate generation and was quite basic in terms of comfort. Over the years, Dacia has managed to maintain an excellent price-performance ratio while offering more and more comfort and modern technology without denying its roots. Duster is a perfect example of the success of this strategy. Its market share continues to increase, especially among private customers.
However, Dacia has now – by its own standards – reached for the stars and introduced a new model in the most powerful class in Germany – the SUV-C segment. All the big names are in this segment, from Audi's Q3 and BMW X1 to Hyundai's Tucson, Kia's Sportage and the top models Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tiguan. Customers, however, expect slightly more comfort, prestige and exclusivity. In the first seat, we tested whether Dacia managed to strike a balance between the brand's characteristic pragmatism and these new demands.
Exterior
At first glance, the Bigster is definitely an impressive SUV. With a length of 4,57 meters, it is more in the upper part of the C segment and is a good 25 centimeters longer than the visually very similar Duster. The last overhang shows where the length has increased. Overall, the Bigster looks very powerful thanks to its clean lines and sharp edges. Overall, a lot was taken from the 'Bigster Concept' study that was presented in 2021. The whole vehicle looks very rugged, but still has some nice design features. It is worth noting the graphic design elements on the front and doors and above the rear license plate.
Instead of following the gloss black trend, Dacia designers opted for a mix of gloss and matte black, creating a more robust and resistant finish. Strong undercarriage protection at the front and rear underlines the robustness of the vehicle. Especially with the optional 19-inch wheels and the exclusive 'Indigo Blue' color, the Bigster looks very mature and by no means cheap. The 'Y' sign found throughout the vehicle is a pioneering graphic element. Y? Wasn't that the Lamborghini logo back in the day? Dacia certainly does not lack confidence in this regard.
Interior
Inside, Dacia had to reach even deeper into its bag of tricks in order to stay within the given budget on the one hand, and satisfy new, demanding customers on the other. According to the company, the focus was on essential elements: spaciousness, ergonomics and comfort. The very tall, vertical instrument panel immediately catches the eye. With clear lines and geometric shapes, it connects to the design of the exterior and continues it flawlessly. The whole thing looks very robust, but at the same time it feels nice.
The construction is very attractive, although there are still no plastic materials with insufficient foam or even precious materials. Although the interior of the Bigster looks much more classic than, for example, the Duster, it is still far from "premium". Only the leather-covered steering wheel seems quite elegant, which particularly stands out, since otherwise hard plastic dominates. Of course, none of this looks particularly high-quality, but it's been an integral part of the Dacia brand since Mehmet Scholl's ads. We'll see if the target customers view it the same way. Dacia also has some clever tricks up its sleeve, such as the You-Clip system, known from the Duster model, which allows simple and practical attachment of various accessories in key places in the passenger compartment. Whether it's a lamp, a coat hook or a tablet holder - everything can be installed quickly and easily. It almost resembles Škoda's "Simply Clever" concept.
A central 10,1-inch touchscreen is standard in all model variants (unlike the Duster model). In the Bigster Essential and Expression, the screen provides access to the four-speaker Media Display multimedia system and wireless smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Bigster Extreme and Bigster Journey are equipped with the Media Nav Live multimedia system, which offers connected navigation with real-time traffic information and map updates for eight years. Driving information is displayed on a 7-inch (Essential and Expression) or 10-inch (Extreme and Journey) digital screen, depending on the equipment - in colors and according to your preferences.
Dacia promises to be one of the most spacious vehicles in its class in terms of roominess. After our extensive seat test, we find that this promise was not exaggerated. The front seats are very comfortable and have a lot of space on all sides. In the back seat, knee room is amazing and subjectively almost equal to that of the class-leading Škoda Kodiaq. Even the headroom is impressive despite the huge panoramic roof. Semi-electric seat adjustment and dual-zone climate control provide some luxury.
The boot can hold up to 667 liters up to the lower edge of the windows, which should be sufficient in all circumstances. With the Easy Fold function, you can easily fold the rear backrests out of the trunk with two levers. The boot floor is protected by a robust rubber mat that is easy to clean and can simply be rolled up when not in use. It is standard on the Extreme trim level, and available as an option on other versions. On request, the tailgate can be operated electrically and, unlike the competition, is motorized, which has already been proudly mentioned several times.
Engines
Four engines will be available from launch. The Bigster TCe features a newly developed powertrain that will be used for the first time across the entire Bigster range. The TCe combines a 1,2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine with a new generation turbocharger based on the Miller cycle, which has optimized efficiency with lower pumping losses, a 48-volt mild hybrid system and a six-speed manual transmission. With a total of 140 hp, the Bigster already has a decent engine.
The second in the group is the ECO-G 140, which can use both gasoline and LPG. Autogas drive is a specialty of the Dacia brand. With the Bigster model, Dacia breaks new ground and for the first time combines a bivalent drive with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. This supports the 1,2-litre three-cylinder turbo engine in starting and accelerating in both petrol and LPG modes. Both tanks hold a total of 99 liters of fuel (50 liters of gasoline and 49 liters of liquefied petroleum gas), which enables a range of up to 1.450 kilometers. The liquefied petroleum gas tank is located under the bottom of the trunk so that the luggage space is not compromised. The switch on the dashboard allows a quick and smooth transition from one type of fuel to another.
The flagship engine is also the new 155 hybrid engine, whose drive system combines a 107 hp four-cylinder gasoline engine, two electric motors (50 hp engine and high-voltage starter/generator), a 1,4 kWh battery (230 V) and an automatic electric transmission that it has four gears for the internal combustion engine and two more for the electric motor. Since the Bigster always starts with an electric drive, the clutch can be dispensed with completely. The TCe 130 4×4 is the perfect drive for those who actually want to travel off-road more often. This all-wheel drive version is combined with a six-speed manual transmission and a 48-volt mild hybrid system for optimal efficiency. Even in this case, the 1,2-liter three-cylinder turbo engine receives electric assistance when starting and accelerating.
Variant
The new Bigster is available in three equipment levels: Essential, Expression and two equally affordable top versions Extreme and Journey. While the 'Extreme' with its panoramic roof, modular roof racks, hill descent control as standard equipment, rubber floor mats and the 3 in 1 YouClip system is aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, the 'Journey' is more adapted to travel comfort: with a two-tone color (optional black roof), electrically sliding rear doors and partially electrically adjustable driver's seat. By the way, all versions have typical SUV driving modes such as MUD/SAND, OFFROAD or SNOW and hill descent control. Modern assistance systems are also available, such as adaptive cruise control, in some cases even standard.
Pricelist
At Dacia, vehicle development still follows a different pattern than that of the competition. While there the cars are developed first and then the price is set, at Dacia the target price is firmly set from the very beginning. Everything else must be subordinated to it. Developers always manage to stick to this goal. Exact pricing for the Bigster has yet to be determined. However, Dacia CEO Denis Le Vot promised at the presentation that the basic price of the internal combustion engine will be below 25.000 euros, while the technically perfect hybrid should remain under 30.000 euros. Considering the competition and especially the existing features, these are really almost competitive prices.
By the way, the Bigster will have its physical world premiere on 14.10.24/2025/600.000 in Paris. It will then be possible to order it in Germany in January XNUMX. By the way, Germany is a very important market for Bigster, as the C segment is the strongest here. More than XNUMX vehicles of all manufacturers are sold here every year. This is why extensive customer surveys were previously carried out in Germany as well.