With the new Bigster, Dacia is taking a significant step for the brand, because for the first time the former budget brand is attacking a segment in which not only the price/performance ratio, but also status and prestige play an important role in the purchase decision.
Time will tell whether the new Bigster can also impress in the SUV C segment with its classic Dacia qualities and some newly acquired premium features. However, the conditions are pretty good.
When the old Romanian brand Dacia dared to relaunch under Renault’s aegis in the mid-2000s, the brand clearly stood for extremely inexpensive cars with high utility value. The Logan was the first modern representative of Dacia and offered a lot of space, but carried the Renault technology of the previous generation and was rather basic in terms of comfort.
81 Pictures
Christopher Otto
Over the years, Dacia has managed to maintain the excellent price/performance ratio while still offering more and more comfort and modern technology without denying its roots. The Duster is a perfect example of the success of this strategy. And the market share continues to increase, especially among private customers.
Now, however, Dacia is reaching for the stars – by its standards – and is launching a new model in, of all things, the strongest class in Germany – the SUV C segment. Everything of distinction is found here, from the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1 to the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage to the top dogs Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tiguan. And here customers definitely expect a little more comfort, prestige and exclusivity. During an initial seat test, we took a look at whether Dacia can manage the balancing act between the brand’s typical pragmatism and these new requirements.
Exterior | Interior | Engines | Prices
Outside
At first impression, the Bigster is quite an impressive SUV. With a length of 4.57m, it is more towards the upper end of the C segment and is a good 25 centimeters longer than the visually very similar Duster. The rear overhang shows where the plus in length goes.
Overall, the Bigster appears very massive due to its clear lines and sharp edges. Overall, a lot was adopted from the “Bigster Concept” study presented in 2021. The whole vehicle seems very robust, but still has a few nice design features to offer. Graphic design features on the front section and doors as well as above the rear license plate are mentioned here.
Christopher Otto
Christopher Otto
Christopher Otto
And instead of following the gloss black trend, Dacia designers have opted for a mix of gloss and matt black, creating a more robust and durable finish. Strong underrun protection at the front and rear emphasizes the robustness of the vehicle. Especially with the optional 19-inch rims and the exclusive “Indigo Blue” color, the Bigster looks very grown-up and by no means cheap.
The “Y” serves as a groundbreaking graphic element and can be found everywhere on the vehicle. Y? Wasn’t that Lamborghini’s trademark? In any case, Dacia does not lack self-confidence in this regard…
Interior
When it comes to the interior, Dacia had to dig deeper into its bag of tricks in order to stick to the specified budget on the one hand and to satisfy the new, demanding clientele on the other. According to the company, they concentrated on the essentials: space, ergonomics and comfort.
The very high, vertical instrument panel immediately catches the eye. With its clear lines and geometric shapes, it takes up the design of the exterior and continues it seamlessly. It all seems very robust, but also has a certain feel-good effect.
Christopher Otto
The workmanship is very attractive, although there are still no foamed plastics or even noble materials. Although the Bigster looks a whole lot more elegant on the inside than the Duster, for example, it is still a long way from being “premium”. Only the steering wheel appears quite elegant with its leather cover, which particularly stands out because otherwise hard plastic dominates. Of course, none of this seems particularly high-quality, but it has been de rigueur at Dacia since the Mehmet Scholl advertising clips. It remains to be seen whether the targeted customers will see it that way.
Dacia also has some clever tricks up its sleeve, such as the You Clip system known from the Duster, which allows a variety of accessories to be easily and practically attached to important points in the passenger compartment. Whether it’s a flashlight, coat hook or tray holder – everything can be installed quickly and easily. Almost reminiscent of Skoda’s “Simply Clever” concept.
Christopher Otto
Christopher Otto
A central 10.1-inch touchscreen is standard equipment in all model variants (unlike the Duster). In the Bigster Essential and Expression, the screen offers access to the Media Display multimedia system with four speakers and wireless smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
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.
Depending on the equipment, driving information is displayed on a 7-inch driving information display (Essential and Expression) or a 10-inch digital display (Extreme and Journey) – in color and customizable to your own preferences.
Christopher Otto
When it comes to space, Dacia promised one of the most spacious vehicles in the class. After our detailed seat test, we have to conclude that this promise was not exaggerated. It’s very comfortable to sit at the front with plenty of space on all sides. The knee room in the back seat is overwhelming and, subjectively speaking, almost matches that of the class leader Skoda Kodiaq. The headroom is also impressive, despite the huge panoramic roof. Partially electric seat adjustment and dual-zone air conditioning provide a bit of luxury.
The trunk holds up to 667 liters up to the bottom edge of the windows, which should be enough in all situations. With the Easy Fold function, the rear backrests can be easily folded down using two levers from the trunk.
The floor of the load compartment is protected by a robust, easy-to-clean rubber boot mat that can be easily rolled up when not in use. It is part of the standard equipment in the Extreme equipment and is available as an accessory in the other versions. The tailgate can be operated electrically if desired and, unlike the competition, uses a motor, as has been proudly mentioned several times.
Christopher Otto
Christopher Otto
Christopher Otto
The engine
Four engines will be available from the start. The Bigster TCe has a newly developed unit, which is being used in the entire group for the first time in Bigster. The TCe combines a new generation 1.2 liter three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, based on the Miller cycle and offering optimized efficiency with reduced pumping losses, with a 48V mild hybrid system and a six-speed manual transmission. With a total of 140 hp, the Bigster is quite motorized.
Second in the group is the ECO-G 140, which can be operated with both gasoline and LPG. LPG drive is a Dacia specialty. With the Bigster, Dacia is breaking new ground and combining a bivalent drive with a 48V mild hybrid system for the first time. This supports the 1.2 liter three-cylinder turbo engine when starting and accelerating in both petrol and LPG mode.
Christopher Otto
The two tanks hold a total of 99 liters of fuel (50 liters of petrol and 49 liters of LPG) and enable a range of up to 1,450 kilometers. The LPG tank is located under the trunk floor so that the cargo space is not affected. A switch on the dashboard allows for quick and seamless switching from one fuel type to another.
The top engine is also the new Hybrid 155. Its drive system combines a 107 hp four-cylinder gasoline engine, two electric motors (a 50 hp motor and a high-voltage starter/generator), a 1.4 kWh battery (230 V) and an automatic electric transmission with four gears for the combustion engine and two more for the electric motors. Since the Bigster always starts electrically, the clutch is completely unnecessary.
Christopher Otto
If you actually want to travel off-road more often, you will find the right drive in the TCe 130 4×4. This four-wheel drive version is combined with a six-speed manual transmission and a 48V mild hybrid system for the best efficiency. Here too, the 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo engine is electrically supported when starting and accelerating.
Variants
The new Bigster is offered in three equipment levels: Essential, Expression and the two equally priced top versions Extreme and Journey. While “Extreme” is aimed at outdoor fans with its standard panoramic sunroof, modular roof rails, hill descent control, rubber mats and 3-in-1 YouClip system, “Journey” is more towards travel comfort: with two-tone paint (black roof optional) , electrically operated tailgate and a partially electrically adjustable driver’s seat.
Incidentally, all variants have the SUV-typical driving modes such as MUD/SAND, OFFROAD or SNOW and hill descent control. Modern assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control are also available, some even as standard.
Christopher Otto
Prices
At Dacia, vehicle development continues to follow a different pattern than the competition. While the cars are first developed there and the price is then determined, at Dacia the target price is firmly established from the start. Everything else has to be subordinated to this. And the developers always manage to adhere to these requirements.
No exact prices have yet been set for the Bigster. However, Dacia CEO Denis Le Vot promised a base price of under 25,000 euros for the pure combustion engine during his presentation, while the technically complex hybrid should remain under the 30,000 euro mark. In fact, these would almost be competitive prices given the competition and, above all, the existing qualities.
By the way, the bigster will celebrate its physical world premiere on October 14th, 2024 in Paris. The car can then be ordered in Germany from January 2025. Incidentally, Germany is a very important market for the Bigster because the C segment is strongest here. Over 600,000 vehicles are sold across manufacturers every year. That’s why the detailed customer surveys also took place in Germany.
Our conclusion: With the Bigster, Dacia manages to transfer the aspects typical of the brand to the topic of SUC in the C segment and, with the Bigster, sends a competitor into the ring that should particularly convince potential customers who are less concerned with prestige and more with it Lots of space and practicality at a reasonable price.
