Dacia Bigster (2025) Review

Introduction

The Romanian brand Dacia has built its name by offering straightforward, no-nonsense cars at ultra-competitive prices. But with the launch of the 2025 Bigster, Dacia is moving into new territory – the land of big SUVs. Although the Bigster is related to the popular Dacia Duster, this is a bigger, bolder machine that’s aimed at families who need space, but without breaking the bank.

Staying true to Dacia’s philosophy, the Bigster arrives with a very tempting starting price of less than £25,000, yet boasts generous equipment levels and the option of a hybrid powertrain. But can you really get everything you want for less?

At a Glance

The Bigster is Dacia’s largest car to date, both in size and ambition. From the outside, its chunky, rugged styling gives it real presence, especially in top-spec Extreme guise. It’s more imposing than the Duster, and closer in size to cars like the (much more expensive) Skoda Kodiaq.

Under the skin it shares much with the Duster, but the increased size translates to loads of space inside, especially for passengers in the rear. Boot space is very generous, too, making this a very family-friendly machine.

However, cost savings are apparent inside, where hard plastics abound. The infotainment system, while functional, can be somewhat sluggish, and wind noise is more noticeable than in pricier rivals. On the flip side, you get loads of equipment for your money, even on the base model.

Key Features

The Dacia Bigster majors on space, with a roomy five-seat cabin and generous rear legroom that makes it well suited to family duties. All versions come with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, while the rear seats fold in a practical 40:20:40 split to accommodate various passenger and luggage configurations. This is particularly impressive for a car at this price point – there are many more expensive cars with back seats that only fold in a 60:40 split.

Buyers can choose between Mild Hybrid and Full Hybrid petrol engines, and there’s an optional four-wheel-drive system for those that need off-road ability. Inside, Dacia’s clever YouClip mounting system adds useful customisation options for accessories like phone holders and cupholders. Most appealing of all, the Bigster offers this level of equipment and practicality at a price that undercuts even smaller rivals.

There are three trim levels: Expression, Journey and Extreme. Each version builds on the last with more features and design enhancements, but even the entry-level model is well equipped for the money.

Expression kicks things off with 17-inch alloy wheels, roof bars, a 7-inch digital driver display, and a reversing camera paired with rear parking sensors. Dual-zone air conditioning is also standard, ensuring decent comfort from the outset.

Moving up to the Journey trim adds a more premium flavour, including larger 19-inch alloy wheels, an electric tailgate, a hands-free key, and a wireless phone charger. It also features a higher centre console with an integrated armrest and cooled storage compartment, while the infotainment setup is upgraded to Dacia’s Media Nav system with improved speed and usability.

The Extreme trim leans into rugged styling, with 18-inch wheels, modular roof bars that can be repositioned crosswise, and Copper Brown interior and exterior detailing. Upholstery in this model is a washable synthetic material, and both the boot and floor mats are rubberised to cope with muddy adventures or messy kids. Hill descent control is also included, enhancing its off-road credentials, and there’s a larger digital driver display and a range of YouClip accessories such as a portable flashlight and a clip-on cupholder.

Range & Batteries

The Bigster is available with three electrified powertrains, but it isn’t a fully electric car. At the top of the range is the Hybrid 155, which is a full hybrid with an electric motor that supports the 1.8-litre petrol engine during low-speed driving. Dacia says that it’s capable of running in electric-only mode for up to 80% of the time around town, and it boasts an official fuel economy figure of 60.1mpg

Meanwhile, there are two Mild Hybrid options. The Mild Hybrid 140 model is front-wheel drive and promises just over 51mpg, while the Mild Hybrid 130 4x4 version will give you up to 46.3mpg, due to the added weight and complexity of the four-wheel-drive components.

There’s no plug-in hybrid model (yet) and no pure electric model in the pipeline. The Bigster is resolutely combustion-powered, albeit in increasingly efficient form.

Performance & Drive

Dacia hasn’t attempted to make the Bigster sporty – and that’s no bad thing. This is a comfort-focused SUV that’s happiest cruising on the motorway or trundling around town. We tested the Hybrid 155 model, which offers decent pace (0-62mph in 9.7 seconds) and can, as promised, run on electric power alone in low-speed conditions.

While refinement is improved compared to older Dacia models – thanks to thicker glass and an acoustic windscreen – the engine can be rather vocal under load, largely due to the automatic gearbox hanging on to lower gears for longer than we’d like, and there’s considerable wind noise, even below motorway speeds, that’s hard to ignore.

Handling is safe and predictable, with light steering and a comfortable ride. There’s some body roll if you try and hustle it along, but that’s par for the course in a big SUV. Although we’ve not tried it, the 4x4 version should add genuine off-road capability, backed by a clever terrain control system and decent ground clearance.

Running Costs & Emissions

With fuel economy ranging from 46.3mpg to just over 60mpg depending on your engine choice, the Bigster should be cheap to run – particularly in Hybrid form. Lower running costs will appeal to families on a budget, and servicing should also be very much at the affordable end of the spectrum.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), better known as road tax, varies slightly by engine, with the Hybrid 155 model costing £390 in its first year under the 2025/26 regulations, but that’s bundled with the purchase price anyway. Subsequent years cost £195 a year on all variants.

Interior & Technology

Hop inside the Bigster and you’ll find a cabin that’s functional rather than luxurious. Hard plastics dominate, but the layout is logical and everything feels robust. The design is lifted directly from the Duster, but that’s no bad thing – it’s intuitive and easy to use.

A 10.1-inch touchscreen is standard across the range, although the base Expression trim lacks built-in sat-nav. Thankfully, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, so smartphone navigation sent to the screen is easy. Higher trims get the upgraded Media Nav system and a sharper digital driver display (10-inch as opposed to the 7-inch screen in base cars).

We like the presence of proper physical climate controls – no need to try and use a touchscreen to change the temperature – and the Extreme trim’s washable upholstery and rubber mats are practical touches. Dacia’s clever YouClip system for mounting accessories like phone holders and cupholders is useful, too, letting you move hooks or other doohickeys around the car thanks to third-party and 3D-printable options.

Practicality & Boot Space

Space is where the Bigster really delivers. Dacia has chosen not to offer a seven-seat version – to do so would make the rear legroom too small, it says – but that means the five-seat layout is generous, especially in the back. Headroom and legroom are excellent, and the tall body means easy access for all passengers.

Boot space is similarly impressive. Depending on powertrain, you get between 612 and 677 litres of boot volume, with up to 1977 litres available with the rear seats folded. Flop those seats down and you get an almost-flat, 2.7-metre-long load bay for bulkier items.

Storage space in the cabin is plentiful too, with deep door bins, a large central cooler box (in higher trims) and rear seat pockets.

Want to tow? Go for one of the Mild Hybrid models, which will haul up to 1500kg (braked), while the Hybrid will manage up to 1000kg.

Safety

At the time of writing the Bigster didn’t have a safety rating from independent safety experts Euro NCAP, but Dacia admits that it isn’t expecting the full five-star score. There’s a pragmatic reason for this – Dacia is focusing on cost-effective passive protection in its cars, rather than expensive active systems, because it believes its customers don’t want to pay for these systems. As Euro NCAP requires them for the top scores, Dacias rarely get an impressive rating.

Features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance are present, but only where legally required. There’s no blind-spot monitoring or rear cross-traffic alert, for instance.

Still, basics like autonomous emergency braking and driver-fatigue monitoring are standard, and Dacia insists the Bigster’s structure offers solid crash protection.

Options

In typical Dacia fashion, the Bigster’s options list is kept refreshingly simple, but there are still some notable additions for those who want to tailor their car to their lifestyle. Higher-spec versions like the Extreme and Journey come with extra equipment over the base model, but customers can also add a range of accessories and practical upgrades.

One of the standout options is the Sleep Pack – a cleverly designed double bed setup that turns the boot into a makeshift bedroom, ideal for camping trips or impromptu overnight stays with friends that don’t have a spare room. There’s also a roof tent available, which connects to the rear of the car to create a small but flexible shelter for the more adventurous buyers.

If you need more utility, a roof rack can be fitted to carry bikes, luggage or outdoor gear. Meanwhile, Dacia’s modular YouClip system allows buyers to add a host of accessories to the interior, including cupholders, phone mounts, bag hooks and even a portable torch – with third-party and 3D-printed options also supported.

Paint options are kept straightforward, although customers can choose a two-tone finish with a black roof on certain models. While the core equipment list across trims is already generous, these thoughtful extras give the Bigster a bit more versatility without pushing up the price too far.

Rival Cars

Though priced like a mid-size SUV, the Bigster’s generous size and space put it up against larger models. It undercuts the Nissan Qashqai by around £5000, while offering more interior room than the Kia Sportage or Citroen C5 Aircross. Those rivals offer a bit more in terms of comfort and tech, particularly in their higher trims, but they can’t match the Bigster for outright value or space.

The Skoda Kodiaq is perhaps the Bigster’s most natural size rival, although the Czech model is considerably more expensive. You can get it with seven seats and a much more upmarket interior than the Bigster, as well as the option of plug-in hybrid power. But even the most basic Kodiaq starts at some £7000 more than a fully-loaded Bigster.

To get similar practicality for the same money, you’d have to look at used cars, which just shows how much value Dacia is offering.

Verdict & Next Steps

The Dacia Bigster is a car that delivers exactly what it promises: lots of space, respectable efficiency, and a strong list of standard features, all at a price that undercuts much of the competition. For families on a budget, or simply those who want maximum practicality without overpaying for brand image or gimmicks, it’s an incredibly appealing proposition.

It’s not without its compromises. The interior materials are on the cheaper side, and refinement – particularly wind noise and gearbox smoothness in hybrid models – still lags behind more premium competitors. Dacia’s deliberate choice to limit advanced driver assistance systems may also give some buyers pause, particularly those looking for the latest in family-car safety tech.

However, judged in context, the Bigster represents exceptional value. It’s bigger than anything else at this price point, both in terms of physical space and presence on the road. The choice of hybrid powertrains adds welcome fuel efficiency, and optional extras like the Sleep Pack and modular accessories show a degree of versatility and thoughtfulness that many rivals overlook.

For existing Duster owners looking for a bit more room, the Bigster is a natural step up. But it also serves as a viable alternative to far more expensive SUVs, offering similar practicality for thousands less. Dacia expects the Bigster to attract new customers to the brand, and with this blend of affordability and usability, it's hard to see why it wouldn’t.

If you’re in the market for a spacious, sensible SUV and don’t mind skipping the premium polish, the Bigster should absolutely be on your radar. You may find that spending more on a rival buys you more tech and refinement, but it won’t necessarily get you a better family car.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Audi A6 Avant e-tron.

**Correct as of 08/04/2025. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £3189.15 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.