Dacia plans to shake up the most competitive model segment in the UK with the launch of its largest model yet, the Bigster compact SUV.
The Romanian brand has announced a starting price for the new model of £24,995 on-the-road – this is more than £5,000 less than the long-established compact SUV best-seller, the Nissan Qashqai, and more comparable to smaller SUVs.
Dacia adds that the entire Bigster range, which spans two petrol and one hybrid engine, three trim levels and a 4×4 option, is available at under £30,000, a price where most of the car’s rivals start at.
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
The £24,995 price tag buys a car in entry-level Expression trim with a 1.2-litre 140hp petrol engine. Features on the car include 17-inch diamond alloy wheels, a 40/20/40 split rear bench with an easy-fold function, and Dacia’s Media Display multimedia system with four speakers and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto wireless connectivity.
The Expression is also available in 4×4 form with a 130hp mild-hybrid version of the 1.2 petrol engine at a price of £27,195, and with a 1.8-litre hybrid 2WD powertrain offering 155hp at £27,995.
Benefit-in-kind rates for the three engines are 30, 32 and 25% respectively.
Journey versions, available with the 140hp petrol and the hybrid at £26,245 and £29,245 respecitvely, are intended to offer more luxury. The car adds 19-inch semi-diamond cut alloy wheels, bespoke upholstery, front passenger seat lumbar support, and a powered tailgate.
Range-topper is the Extreme, offered with all three models and according to Dacia built for outdoor enthusiasts. Prices range from £26,494 to £29,495 and buyers get 18-inch semi-diamond cut alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, modular roof bars, washable ‘MicroCloud TEP’ upholstery and rubber mats as standard.
Equipment levels on all versions also include keyless entry, a 10.1-inch central touchscreen, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, Multiview camera, automatic wipers, Hill Start Assist, four YouClip attachment points and intelligent speed assist cruise control with a speed limiter.
Journey and Extreme models also include a heated steering wheel and front seats, wireless phone charging, high beam assist, heated and electronically adjustable door mirrors and rear window privacy glass.
Having faced criticism for its safety levels in the past, Dacia is insisting that the Bigster is compliant with the latest European safety standards, all versions fitted with a suite of safety aids including autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition with speed alert, emergency stop signal, lane change alert, lane keep assist, driver attention warning and an emergency call system.