Launch Report: Dacia Bigster impresses with size and price

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Launch Report: Dacia Bigster impresses with size and price


23 June 2025

Can Dacia’s latest SUV, the Bigster, continue a trend of quality and affordability as it competes in the C-SUV segment? Phil Curry, Autovista24 special content editor, evaluates the new model with Autovista Group experts.

Dacia has come a long way in its approach to the automotive market. From a simple budget brand, the carmaker is now offering credible alternatives to some of the bigger carmakers. At the same time, the Romanian manufacturer is maintaining a focus on affordable motoring.

The Dacia Bigster is the latest example of this. Its entry into the C-SUV market provides drivers with an opportunity to opt for a larger vehicle. Key to the appeal is its strong looks and decent equipment while remaining within a modest budget.

But just how good is the Dacia Bigster, and how does it hold up to its rivals in terms of forecast residual values?

Autovista Group experts in Austria, France and Italy have benchmarked the model against its key competitors. As part of this, they analysed the Bigster’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Find the full breakdown in the dashboard below.

Bigster by name

The Dacia Bigster has a very strong stance, with sharp angles and a boxy design. While the model uses the same CMF-B platform as the Duster, the Bigster lives up to its name, with a longer wheelbase and taller dimensions.

With an overall length of 4.57 metres and a wheelbase of 2.7 metres, the car’s build is formidable. This length translates into additional practicality inside.

The car’s front end is very angular, with narrowed LED headlights running into a split light bar across the front grill. It also features a non-colour-coded bumper, wheel arches and running boards. While these remove from the overall aesthetics, they are practical for a big vehicle that could be used off-road, making them cheap to repair or replace.

At the rear, the bodywork flares out, with the pointed LED lights housed in the wings. This leaves plenty of space for the boot lid. The rear overhang is also quite long, at just over a metre, emphasising the overall size of the vehicle.

All the angles

The angular design philosophy continues inside the Bigster. The dashboard features many sharp lines, with elongated octagonal air vents highlighting the edginess of the vehicle. The driver and passenger are separated by a floating centre console packed with storage options, providing a true cockpit-style feel.

However, it is here that some of the Dacia’s value becomes noticeable. There are plenty of low-quality feeling plastics. While looking impressive, the feel of the dashboard and seating is not on par with the Bigster’s more premium competitors.

The Bigster gets a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, while behind the steering wheel is a smaller seven-inch screen for driver information. The model features wireless smartphone connectivity, allowing users to stream Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

There are a number of buttons dotted around the dashboard. Unlike some other carmakers, Dacia has provided physical controls for many of the onboard systems, rather than placing them on the infotainment system.

There is even a button to deactivate some of the advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) alerts. This may be a selling point for those who find it distracting to search through on-screen submenus to activate air conditioning.

Size means practicality

Rear legroom is good for adult passengers, while the higher body style provides plenty of headroom. Back-seat occupants also get two USB-C charging ports and air vents. Furthermore, there is also a central armrest with two cupholders for added convenience.

The longer body length and generous rear overhang combine into a generous boot size of up to 677 litres. It also features a flat floor, making loading much easier. The rear seats feature a 40/20/40 split, allowing for the carrying of bulky items alongside passengers.

The easy loading aspect is improved by an electric tailgate, which comes as standard on the ‘Journey’ trim. This can be activated in three ways: either from the dashboard, externally on the lid, or via the key fob.

The Dacia Bigster also makes use of the carmaker’s ‘YouClip’ system. Four points around the car allow for the securing of a range of accessories. This can include a table holder, phone holder, or storage pouch.

Manual movement

Despite being a bigger vehicle, the Bigster offers drivers a good line of sight. However, it is also easy to manoeuvre, thanks to its parking sensors and a multi-view camera. This is included as standard on all trim levels.

Despite its lower price point, the Dacia handles nicely. The suspension is soft enough to soak up road imperfections, while the steering is light enough to make drivers feel confident on sharper corners. Its acceleration is not the fastest. Yet, with a C-SUV, performance is secondary to comfort.

On faster roads, the Bigster holds well, with little deviation. There is, however, a larger amount of cabin noise at higher speeds.

The petrol mild-hybrid powertrains come with a six-speed manual gearbox. Meanwhile, the full hybrid (HEV) option features an automatic four-speed gearbox, with two additional electric driving gears. As most cars are now coming to market featuring automatic gears as standard, this may sway customers towards the HEV.

In summary, the Dacia Bigster offers large-vehicle motoring at a much lower price point than its competitors. The model is comfortable and easy to drive, and its angular looks fit well with modern design philosophies.

The low price is reflected in some of its quality choices. But overall, it is a model that will offer good competition in the C-SUV segment.

View the Autovista Group dashboard, which benchmarks the Dacia Bigster in Austria, France and Italy. The interactive dashboard presents new prices, forecast residual values, and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.

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