Sales of the Dacia Bigster in Europe will begin in the first half of 2022, and Auto Express has caught wind that it would cost about 20% less than the Volkswagen Tiguan, despite running on hybrid power.
At 4.6 meters (15.1 feet) long, the Bigster will be larger than the Tiguan. Dacia does not say whether a seven-seat version is coming to the market, and it looks not that likely with the Jogger MPV needing sales, too.
A naturally aspirated 1.0-liter three-cylinder may be the weakest engine at the carmaker’s disposal with 64 PS (63 hp / 47 kW). However, chances that it will be used for a vehicle this big are slim. Much more likely, the Bigster will start with a turbocharged version of that engine rated at 90 PS (89 hp / 66 kW), while a marginally more expensive version will benefit from a 1.3-liter Renault turbo four-pot good for 130 PS (128 hp / 96 kW).
Hybrid drivetrains have also been announced, but details remain unknown. One option could be borrowed from the Renault Clio E-Tech, which uses a 1.6-liter engine with an electric motor and gets 140 PS (137 hp / 103 kW) out of the setup. A brand-new powertrain centered on a 1.2-liter turbo is also possible, and could go as high as 200 PS (197 hp / 147 kW).
Auto Express believes that the Dacia Bigster will come in at around £5,000 less than the Tiguan, or £20,000. It would make it one of the most affordable CUVs in its market segment – if not the most affordable.
The Bigster Concept debuted in early 2021 (look into our gallery and watch the video if you missed it). The production car will be based on the CMF-B platform of the next-gen Duster, but is marketed as a larger, more comfort-oriented vehicle for traveling and daily driving.