Introducing the Dacia Bigster: Growth in the volume segment
Dacia wants to appeal to new customers with an SUV. This should succeed, especially as the Bigster is a compact SUV in the bestseller segment.
(Image: Dacia)
The segment that Dacia wants to break into with the Bigster is gigantic. Around 600,000 SUVs of a similar size are sold in the European Union alone – every year! Popular bestsellers in this class include the VW Tiguan, Ford Kuga and Mazda CX-5. Dacia is trying again with a price breaker, which should work.
Below the competition
There are no exact prices yet, but there is a rough direction of travel. The basic model should be available for less than 25,000 euros, the most powerful engine with basic equipment for less than 30,000 - a range that other manufacturers have long since abandoned. Even an economically equipped VW Tiguan will generally be well over the 40,000 euro mark, and a CX-5 with standard equipment will not be far behind. With similar equipment, the Dacia should easily undercut the competition by at least 5000 euros.
Dacia Bigster Exterieur (5 Bilder)
Dacia
)At 4.57 m long and 1.7 m high, the SUV is significantly larger than a Duster. There should be plenty of space for the occupants in the Bigster. Dacia gives the trunk volume as 667 liters. The maximum loading length is said to be 2.7 m. If you like, you can invest in things like a sound system, electrically adjustable driver's seat, sunroof and electric tailgate –, which has been rather unusual for Dacia up to now. Presumably those responsible rightly expect that a certain proportion of customers in this class will be more demanding than the previously targeted clientele.
Unusual combination of engines
Dacia is taking an unusual approach with the engines. There are two mild hybrids, which are quite close to each other at 96 and 103 kW. The slightly weaker engine is only available with all-wheel drive and is therefore also available on its own. All others have front-wheel drive. Hardly any manufacturers still offer LPG ex works, but you can still buy it from Dacia. The ECO-G140 also has around 103 kW. Its petrol tank holds 50 liters, the LPG tank 49, giving it a range of 1450 km. Like the mild hybrids, the LPG drive is only available with a six-speed manual gearbox – a bold decision in this segment.
Videos by heise
Top model as bestseller?
Dacia expects the hybrid drive in the top model to account for more than 50 percent of sales. It is a new development, the manufacturer emphasizes. Conceptually, it takes up the multi-mode gearbox that has been used in the Group for many years. There is a petrol engine with four ratios and two electric motors with two ratios. The system output is around 114 kW. This value has not yet been finalized exactly – in an English press release there is talk of 155 bhp, which would be 158 hp and thus 116 kW. Much more important than that, however, is that the Bigster could actually be comparatively economical. Test cars in the editorial department with this drive setup, such as the Renault Austral, were able to shine in this respect.
Dacia Bigster Interieur (12 Bilder)
Dacia
)The Bigster can be ordered from January 2025, with deliveries scheduled to start in April. It then remains to be seen whether Dacia can repeat the success of the Sandero and Duster in a higher segment. The opportunity is there, especially as a compact SUV for this price should attract more customers to the segment.
(mfz)