Marseille, France. Mobile.bg team from the event site.
After its premiere at the end of last year in Paris, the Dacia Bigster is now ready for mass production and the first copies were taken to the road. Our team, of course, took the opportunity to do the first test of the new, largest and most powerful Dacia. The Romanians had organized the test drive in France, where we got to know the new off-road car in detail. Here are our initial impressions.
Exterior and interior
The times when "Dacias" were defined as cars without design are long gone. Now Romanian cars impress with a rather attractive appearance. But no Dacia has ever looked as impressive as the Bigster – at least because none is that big.
With its 4.57 meters in length, it is even two centimeters longer than the seven-seater Jogger, and with its 1.81 meters in width, it is 3 cm wider. It is also 3 cm higher than the Jogger.
But the small difference in size does not mean that the Bigster is identical to the seven-seater Dacia. It is simply much more of a car. In fact, the Bigster is positioned in the upper car class - it is more massive and is a real crossover. You sit higher, more comfortably, have more space and, although the entire interior is made of hard plastic, it looks better quality.
Some people may wonder why we are comparing the Bigster to the Jogger and not the Duster. And the question is valid. After all, the Bigster is an SUV, just like the Duster. However, the Bigster is the significantly bigger brother - with a difference of 23 centimeters in length. In terms of dimensions and functionality, it is much closer to the Jogger, although it does not have a seven-seater version.
The fact is that there is a lot of space in the Bigster. The trunk holds up to 667 liters, and with the rear seatbacks folded (which are released with a remote control) it reaches a monstrous 1,937 liters. However, this only applies to the front-wheel drive versions - in the four-wheel drive and hybrid version the cargo volume is slightly more limited. However, even the hybrid has a full 550 liters of cargo space.
On the side there is a small but powerful LED trunk light, which can be removed and used as a flashlight. In addition, the holder can carry other practical accessories.
Another interesting exterior gimmick is the hidden tailgate handle, located next to the window. It looks good and is functional, but hardly anyone would think that the Bigster is a two-door car. And there's no need to hide the back seat, because even taller passengers will find it very comfortable, with plenty of knee and head room.
The Bigster also lives up to its reputation as a flagship in the front seats. The seats are comfortable, although without much lateral support. The speedometer is a 7- or 10-inch display, and a 10-inch touchscreen is standard in the center of the dashboard. Most controls are digital, but the steering wheel buttons are analog, and there's a convenient panel with climate control buttons below the display.
Engine and driving characteristics
The base version of the model has a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine with 140 hp, complemented by 48-volt mild hybrid technology and a manual six-speed gearbox. The engine, called TCe 140, debuted in a Dacia-branded car. It is economical, but lacks a little dynamics.
The optimal option in our opinion is the Hybrid 155 - a more powerful full hybrid that provides better dynamics. Only this engine can be combined with an automatic transmission. However, the Bigster does not have a 4x4 version for this bike, as it is mainly intended for city and highway driving.
The only version with four-wheel drive is the TCe 130 4x4, which has a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system and a power of 131 hp. Thanks to the 22-centimeter ground clearance, even the standard versions are suitable for light off-road terrain.
As for the ride, it is soft and comfortable, ideal for long trips. Dacia engineers have tried to maintain balance - despite the comfortable suspension, the car stands stable in corners and the roll is minimal for this class of cars. Another thing - noise insulation is at an excellent level, which was not typical of previous Dacia models.
Conclusion and price
From the outside, the Dacia Duster looks much more prestigious than the plastic-laden interior, which, however, as we have already mentioned, does not look bad at all. And this can be forgiven for the brand's largest SUV, as the interior is considered sturdy and definitely very well designed.
Besides, where can you get a fully equipped compact SUV with all-wheel drive in the C-segment, including all the extras and special paint for 55,000 leva? Here is the entire price list of the new Bigster, which hardly needs any comment.
For relatively little money (considering the prices of competitors) you get "a lot of car". And last but not least. Very soon, in June, a dual-fuel version with a factory gas system is expected, which in our opinion is the best alternative for economical driving.