our giant slideshow to get to know this large SUV in detail.

A little tight for the new Duster to accommodate five travelers and their luggage? No matter, Dacia has lengthened it. This is in essence what defines this Bigster, inheriting most of the lines of its little brother while stretching over 23 cm to reach 4.57 m, the length of the Renault Arkana from which it adopts a platform. revised and corrected form. If the wheelbase increases by 4 cm to improve legroom in the rear seats, the extension of the rear overhang increases the trunk volume from 517 l to 667 l, in the best case, knowing that certain engines restrict part of the carrying capacity due to the size of their technology (hybridization or LPG). Data that we did not have at the time of writing these lines. But for example, the trunk of the Duster full-hybrid 140 hp sees its volume drop by 87 l (430 l) compared to a conventional engine.

In any case, the Bigster should be easier to load up to the ceiling due to the lower inclination of its rear window, going hand in hand with a gain of 5 cm in total height. However, we regret that Dacia did not push its reasoning so far as to provide it with seven seats, undoubtedly for fear of overshadowing the Jogger, 3 cm shorter in total. However, from our point of view, the Bigster would probably have been more legitimate to accommodate two additional seats in its trunk, the latter facilitating access to the third row compared to a Jogger with a lower ceiling.

More chic on the outside

Style-wise, the newcomer clearly identifies with a “large Duster”, but takes care to stand out in detail by evolving the structure of its grille and the shape of its front bumper. In profile, the decorative strip upstream of the front doors is covered in the body color while the roof offers a striking contrast when it is adorned, as an option, with lacquered black paint. An elegant two-tone effect, the demarcation line of which is symbolized by the name in full of the vehicle, at the level of the C pillar. Finally, we note the introduction of new diamond-cut rims extending up to 19” in diameter , as well as a striped license plate holder with the most beautiful effect, to stand out from the Duster.

Equipment never seen on a Dacia

Another source of distinction: the layout of the passenger compartment. Although the dashboard is identical, depending on the finishes, totaling a 7” digital panel with a 10.1” central touch screen, it offers the exclusivity of dual-zone air conditioning extending its air vents towards the second row, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, a panoramic sunroof or even a high console grouping an induction charger, a storage space with sliding shutter, as well as an armrest housing a refrigerated compartment. At the rear, the bench benefits from a 40-20-40 modularity, the central part of which transforms into an armrest supporting drinks and smartphones. The icing on the cake is that two “Easy Fold” controls are cleverly placed on either side of the compartment to fold down all the backrests.

A unique engine offering

From the “trunk”, the new Bigster also gains under the hood by offering at least 130 hp, when the Duster is satisfied with 100 hp at entry level. Unfortunately, this level of power is only associated with all-wheel drive, via the 3-cylinder 1.2 l TCe mild-hybrid 48V petrol engine (6-speed manual gearbox). In two-wheel drive, we access at least 140 hp via a block derived from the one mentioned above. An engine fueled by both unleaded and LPG. One of the few, if not the only 48V hybridized LPG offering on the market. Finally, at the top of this hierarchy, the Bigster inaugurates a brand new full-hybrid powertrain within the Renault group. It consists of a 107 hp 4-cylinder gasoline engine, two electric motors (a 50 hp motor and a high voltage starter/generator), a 1.4 kWh (230 V) battery and a electrified automatic gearbox. This has 4 gears dedicated to the thermal unit, as well as two others allocated to the electric. This unit combines 15 hp more than that released by the Duster and Jogger to stand at 155 hp, while the torque of the combustion engine gains 20 Nm to climb to 170 Nm, thus amplifying the towing capacity of the order of 250 kg to tow up to 1 ton. An attractive program for families looking for a roomy but inexpensive SUV.

Prix SUV Dacia Bigster

The first deliveries of the new Dacia Bigster will take place at the start of 2025, at a base price that we are promised below €25,000, when we will have to count on just under €30,000 to afford the first full-hybrid finishing level of 155 hp.

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