It has been a big year for the Dacia Bigster since its debut here last year, writes Brian Byrne. Among its awards, notable mentions include the Irish Medium SUV of the Year 2026 in partnership with Continental, the German Car of the Year (under €25,000), the Lithuanian Car of the Year (under €35,000), and a finalist in the 2026 European Car of the Year. In this market, it boosted Dacia’s SUV sales alongside its smaller sibling, the Duster, helping the Renault-owned budget brand break into Ireland's top ten brands for 2025. Although it’s only fourth in sales among Dacia's five models locally, there’s a strong sense that the Bigster is on a promising rise.
Like all Dacias, the Bigster prioritises practicality and affordability. As a C-segment SUV, it offers a lot of car for the money. Larger than the VW Tiguan, and not much smaller than the Toyota RAV4, it positions itself as a serious contender for family buyers.
The design is sharp, an elongated version of the highly successful Duster in its latest generation. Sometimes, simply stretching an existing model doesn't look quite right, but that's not the case here. From any angle, the proportions are spot on. The front end has quite a pleasing style, with the grille and light design. The overall appearance is further enhanced by roof rails, which can be adjusted for cross-roof use, making it easy to secure items like a kayak. The rear features distinctive tail lights and a roof-level spoiler, which help keep the rear screen clean, among other benefits.
Inside, the dashboard is exactly like that of the smaller Duster, and there's nothing wrong with that. The central screen might stick out a little, and I'd be cautious about how sharp the corners are in the event of a head impact, but if, as they should be, the passenger is properly belted, it’s unlikely to pose an issue. The graphics on both the driver’s information screen and the multimedia display are clear, sizeable, and feature enough colour to please the eye. There's a row of switches underneath to manage key climate features. The built-in navigation system isn’t brilliant, but with CarPlay and Android connectivity, this isn’t a real problem. The materials are durable but don't look cheap—one area where the Dacia brand’s image has significantly improved since arriving here. My review car was in the top Extreme trim, with copper-coloured accents inside and out, which adds a further touch of character.
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The Bigster offers slightly more rear passenger space than the Duster, but its true advantage over the smaller model lies in its cargo capacity, with 667 litres. Returning to the family theme, this is where all their gear can be easily transported, and even a lawnmower can be taken with ease for end-of-season servicing.
When I reviewed the Bigster last July, I drove the hybrid car, which, by design, has an automatic transmission. This time, I was in the 4x4 version, powered by a 130hp 3-cylinder engine paired with a manual gearbox and a console-mounted selector to manage various off-road settings. On paper, the slightly lower power and added weight of the all-wheel-drive system make the Bigster a bit sluggish compared to its 2WD versions, but it doesn’t feel slow. The road drive is good, with some low-speed fidgeting, getting better at motorway speeds. The manual gearbox feels somewhat agricultural, especially in what seem to be very low first and second gears, and the clutch pedal placement doesn’t help. I adapted to it, but my overall preference would still be the Bigster hybrid with its automatic transmission.
This is now Dacia's flagship model, elevating the brand into a new segment. Will it carve out a solid place in Dacia's overall performance in the Irish market, where the Sandero remains the top seller? I believe the answer is a Bigster yes.
PRICE: From €29,990; Review car: €40,435 (including paint). WHAT I LIKED: The ongoing evolution of a brand that was once associated with cheap and cheerless vehicles.
