New Dacia debuts: Affordable entry into the SUV market
It was just a matter of time. Dacia is finally entering the market's most popular segment, and the new model is doing many things its way. Moreover, it will have a solid four-cylinder engine under the hood.
8:27 AM EDT, October 9, 2024
The arrival of the Bigster is no surprise, as we saw its concept back in 2021. This model is meant to compete in the C segment, but its main advantage is its low price. With a wheelbase of about 106 inches—slightly more than the Toyota RAV4—it will cost 25,000 euros (about $27,000). It's time to start cutting costs!
Of course, the manufacturer immediately showed us the best-equipped cars. For the first time, we have 19-inch wheels, and you can opt for a two-tone body. I like the hood creases, as they add a bit of aggression to the considerable shape.
You may ask: Where are the savings? Well, let me explain. Open the trunk lid (24 cubic feet, although stretched to make space for a spare wheel), and it rises on a single electric strut. You won't find a third row of seats in the trunk. In the most expensive version, the upholstery is fabric. The entire cabin is transferred from the Duster, along with its characteristic driving position, meaning you need long arms and short legs or sit in a very strange pose.
However, the managers have done their homework, surveying customers and discovering that Dacia can't compete in this segment without certain elements. These include adaptive cruise control, a glass roof, adjustable rear seatback, dual-zone air conditioning, rear seat ventilation, and better engine insulation. I know this might bring a smile of pity to some readers, but it's precisely by cutting out unnecessary elements that Dacia has become one of the top choices in Europe. Why have an electrically adjustable steering wheel when you set it once for leasing? Exactly.
It was also realized that without at least 150 horsepower, the Bigster might lag behind the competition. So here you go: under the hood is a new 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, an evolution of smaller units, generating 107 horsepower. It's supported by two electric motors, giving a total of 155 horsepower, but a battery takes up space for the spare wheel. Therefore, adding a gas installation to this setup is impossible.
If you forgo the "full" hybrid, a gas installation can be factory-combined with a three-cylinder engine featuring a "mild" hybrid. It has a capacity of 1.2 liters and generates 140 horsepower. If you don't want the LPG installation, no problem; it will only be an option.
If you're looking for a 4x4 drive, the Bigster is available with a 1.2-liter engine with 130 horsepower and a manual transmission. There may be doubts about its capabilities, but the manufacturer hasn't yet revealed how much the Bigster will weigh. Perhaps, like the Duster, it will be an interesting choice, for example, for foresters.
It is known that the hybrid version will cost around 30,000 euros (about $32,500). The exact price list has not yet been revealed, but it's already known what each equipment version will offer.
Dacia Bigster - versions and equipment
Bigster Essential: 17-inch aluminum wheels, fixed roof rails, a Media Display multimedia system with a 10.1-inch central screen, a 7-inch instrument cluster, manual air conditioning, radar, a rear parking camera, and electrically adjustable front and rear windows.
Bigster Expression: Essential + dual-zone automatic air conditioning, automatic parking brake, rain sensors, automatically folding side mirrors, modular rear bench seat foldable in a 40/20/40 configuration with Easy Fold function, etc.
Bigster Extreme: Expression + 18-inch aluminum wheels, modular roof rails, exterior and interior decorative elements in brown-copper color, panoramic opening roof, keyless entry card, easy-to-clean microcloud fabric upholstery, rubber trunk floor mat, 10-inch digital instrument cluster, Media Nav Live system with a 10.1-inch central screen and internet-accessible navigation, Arkamys 3D sound system with 6 speakers, downhill speed control, etc.
Bigster Journey: Expression + 18-inch aluminum wheels, automatic trunk lid, keyless entry card, high central console with armrest, electrically adjustable driver's seat, 10-inch digital instrument cluster, Media Nav Live system with a 10.1-inch central screen and internet-accessible navigation, Arkamys 3D Sound System with six speakers, wireless smartphone charger, active speed regulator, etc.
The cars will be available in showrooms around the turn of the year.
