When it comes to value for money, few can compete with Dacia, writes James Stinson
Dacia was recently likened to Aldi and Lidl… Like those supermarket discounters, it’s a disruptor in the market, winning over buyers with value orientated cars that major on the essentials rather than the nice-to-haves.
Made in Romania but part of the Renault group, Dacia has been growing rapidly in recent years with cars like the Duster, Jogger and Sandero. They used to look a bit cheap compared to rivals but they’ve now got a presence to match their competitors while still managing to keep a lid on prices.
And Dacia has big ambitions, as you can see looking at this new Bigster, which is set to hit our roads next year. A rugged looking SUV, it is as the name suggests bigger than Dacia’s existing wares. It will sit above the Duster and go head-to-head with the likes of VW’s Tiguan, Hyundai’s Tuscon and the Kia Sportage.
Even with the move into new markets though, Dacia is staying true to its roots promising the Bigster will appeal to consumers who “face spiralling costs” but “want a brand new SUV without compromising on comfort, performance and space”. Prices haven’t been confirmed yet but will likely be in the £20,000 to £30,000 range.
The Bigster features the robust, angular looks that have become so popular in this class. A recycled, unpainted material called Starkle is used for the wheel arches and side skirts adding to the rugged look and protecting the car from bumps and scrapes. In keeping with the latest Dacia models, Y-shaped details feature heavily and are part of the front and rear light clusters.
Inside the Bigster there’s a focus on space and practicality. It sports a particularly large boot – some 667 litres – and the rear seats can be folded flat with a 40/20/60 split to maximise flexibility. There will be three levels of trim, starting with entry-level Expression and branching off to two higher levels: Extreme and Journey.
These are both well-equipped with Extreme geared towards those seeking outdoor adventures and Journey aimed towards more lifestyle focused customers.
Extreme trim comes with rubber boot and floor mats as standard, plus washable upholstery so any mud or spills can easily be cleaned. Base level Expression cars come with dual-zone climate control, a 10.1-inch touchscreen and 7-inch driver display, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.
Extreme models gain features such as satnav, hill descent control and an opening panoramic sunroof – a first for a Dacia. Meanwhile Journey cars get more creature comforts such as a central armrest, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, a wireless phone charger and adaptive cruise control.
You’ll also be able to add an array of accessories. These include an organiser for the back of the front seat, a Sleep Pack to transform the interior into a double bed and a rear armrest which can be transformed into a backpack. Additionally, there’s Dacia’s YouClip system with anchor points around the car enabling you to attach things like phone cradles and cupholders.
There’s a choice of three engines including a new automatic 155 horsepower hybrid motor, with a towing capacity of around one tonne. This version can remain in all-electric mode up to 80% of the time in the city, says Dacia.
Alternatively, there’s a 140 horsepower mild hybrid with a six-speed manual gearbox. These are both two-wheel drive options. Additionally, you can go for the four-wheel drive set up which uses the same manual 130 horsepower mild hybrid engine as the new Duster.
Prices and on-sale date will likely be confirmed in the new year.