Dacia goes bigger, maybe better, with Bigster
BY MIKE STEVENS | 17th Oct 2024
RENAULT’S budget-friendly Romanian brand Dacia has a new medium SUV, revealed in Paris bearing Bigster badges and effectively a stretched version of the Australia-bound Duster.
The Bigster measures 4570mm long with a 2700mm wheelbase, dimensions that are respectively around 400mm and 45mm longer than the Duster, or similar in size to the Mazda CX-5 (4550/2700mm) and Toyota RAV4 (4570/2690mm).
Importantly, the Bigster is only a little smaller than the eight-year-old second-generation Renault Koleos (4672/2705mm), which could make the newest Dacia SUV a compelling replacement here in Australia.
However, while the Duster is confirmed for the Australian market as an affordable new Renault-badged compact SUV, the local importer’s spokesperson Oliver Peagam told GoAuto the Bigster remains “under investigation” for the Australian range.
And, while the Duster will arrive with a modern interior design, there will be no mistaking its budget-focused position. If the same is true of the Bigster’s interior, it may not be deemed suitable for Renault in the hugely competitive medium SUV segment.
Still, with the Koleos sitting on just 780 sales year-to-date, lagging behind segment leaders by more than 10,000 sales, the Bigster would likely only improve things for Renault.
In Europe, the Bigster will be offered with three electrified powertrains and at least one all-wheel-drive variant, although specific details are still to be revealed.
Inside, the Bigster gets a 10.1-inch main display – a modest size by today’s standards in the medium SUV segment – and a digital driver display behind the steering wheel.
The rear seats are configured in the optimum 40:20:40 split-folding pattern, and despite its budget build, the Bigster will also have a powered tailgate available, along with dual-zone climate control, powered driver’s seat, rear air vents, a panoramic sunroof and acoustic insulated glass.
Further details on the Bigster’s powertrain options, performance figures, and pricing are yet to be announced.
