Dacia Bigster 1

The Dacia Bigster (from late 2024) is the brand's largest and most expensive model to date — new from around £21,000 / €20,500, putting it well above the Duster but still below almost every rival in the compact SUV class. It shares the CMF-B platform with the Duster III, Renault Captur and Clio — Renault engineering in Dacia packaging.

The car is too new for solid long-term data — market launch was late 2024 and most examples have fewer than 20,000 miles on the clock. That said, early ownership patterns are already visible.

Engine choice: The HR12VDV 1.2 TCe mild hybrid (140 hp) is the bread-and-butter option — light 48V mild hybrid, manual gearbox, sensible on paper. Early owners report sporadic engine warning lights with no clear root cause — hardware or software, still unclear. The ECO-G LPG variant (also 140 hp) adds factory autogas to the same base — compelling in markets with cheap LPG, fully covered by warranty.

Approach the HR18DDT 1.8 E-Tech full hybrid (155 hp) with caution. The Renault E-Tech automatic gearbox carries a known shaft seal defect across the broader family (Clio, Captur, Megane, Arkana) — gearbox oil can enter the electric motor, potentially a total write-off ($2,000–14,000). At least one Bigster owner experienced gearbox failure at just 1,100 km. The slow, hesitant gearchanges are normal E-Tech behaviour, not a fault — but the seal risk is real.

Known early issues (all variants): - Software recall: False 'stop the vehicle immediately' engine warning — free dealer fix, no actual engine damage - Rear seat lever: Bowden cable incorrectly routed at the factory, lever jams or won't engage — common, straightforward warranty fix - Tailgate gas strut: Detaches from body ball joint on some units — assembly fault, warranty replacement - Infotainment: Sluggish response, intermittent CarPlay drops, reversing camera occasionally goes dark for several days - Wind noise above 60 mph: A-pillar and insufficient sound deadening. Better than Duster but nowhere near segment average

What works well: Top Gear's long-term test covered 13,000+ miles with zero mechanical failures. Oil consumption is essentially nil. Body construction is solid. Best-in-class safety value — 5-star Euro NCAP at this price point.

Who it's for: Buyers who want a big SUV for little money and don't need premium materials or polished ride quality. The Bigster is honest transport with modern powertrains.

Test-drive checklist: Software updates current? Check rear seat lever from boot. E-Tech Hybrid: feel for hesitation and shunting in the gearbox, look for oil seeping at the gearbox face. Any stored ELEC-system warnings in fault memory?

Market 2026: Bigster 1.2 TCe 140 manual new from ~$22,000, used examples barely below $19,000. E-Tech Hybrid 155 new from ~$25,500. LPG variant approx. $23,000. Insider pick: 1.2 TCe 140 manual — solid mild hybrid without the E-Tech gearbox risk; 2025 pre-reg examples with service history from ~$20,000.