Dacia Bigster review

Overview

The Bigster makes a convincing case as a roomy family car without the extras that can push a mainstream SUV well beyond budget. Our focus is the 2025 UK Journey with the 1.8-litre hybrid 155 system, an automatic five-seater that does not plug in. It is not the manual mild hybrid or the four-wheel-drive version, and equipment and luggage figures should not be shared between them. This is a desk-researched buying review based on Dacia documentation and UK independent testing. The main choice is whether you would rather put the money into cabin and boot space than into a more polished interior or a sharper drive.

Exterior and interior

The upright body and squared-off rear are useful rather than merely decorative: they make the load area easier to judge at a glance. In the cabin, the emphasis is on simple surfaces and everyday storage rather than expensive finishes. Some materials feel less plush than in costlier family SUVs, but try the controls and driving position before assuming that is a disadvantage. On a used one, inspect the load sill and plastics for wear, then check the tailgate, seat adjustment and any roof equipment fitted. If a panoramic roof is advertised, operate it and look at the headlining. Verify the features on the actual car, not a brochure photograph.

Practicality

Dacia lists 546 litres by the VDA method for the hybrid 155 with a repair kit, falling to 488 with a spare in its technical table. Higher figures quoted elsewhere may use a different method or describe another engine. Take your folded pushchair or the cases you normally carry and try the space below the load cover. There are five seats, not seven, and the Bigster is not a substitute for a Jogger if the extra row is essential. Bring child seats if relevant and check the door opening and belt access before deciding. The strongest reason to buy it is generous usable space with all five seats available.

Driving experience

The full hybrid suits gentle departures, suburban roads and a relaxed motorway approach. Auto Express's long-term Journey test and Carwow's broader road review provide useful context on that balance. Do not judge the car from its SUV styling or expect the drivetrain to respond like a conventional automatic in every situation. On your drive, try a cold start, a hill and a short stretch of motorway. Listen to the engine when climbing or accelerating and judge whether the noise bothers you. At a steady pace the attraction is straightforward family transport. Those looking for steering feel and a composed ride over difficult roads should compare a rival directly.

Performance

Dacia's hybrid 155 combines a 1.8-litre petrol engine with electric assistance. The combined rating is 155 PS, or about 153 bhp, and the manufacturer's technical sheet gives 9.7 seconds to 100 km/h. That is ample for ordinary use, but the number does not describe how the transmission responds when you ask for more speed. Leave a normal gap on a slip road and see how naturally the power builds with your passengers aboard. Do not infer towing capacity from the engine figure: check the plated weights and relevant handbook if towing is part of the brief. This is the front-drive full hybrid, not the four-wheel-drive Bigster.

Fuel economy

The hybrid battery recharges as part of driving; there is no charging cable to find or wall box to install. The benefit is most apparent when the car repeatedly slows and sets off. Motorway journeys in winter or short trips with the heater on can tell a different story. Dacia's UK price guide prints 58 mpg against Journey hybrid 155, but the accompanying litres-per-100-kilometres value does not convert to that figure. We do not treat either as definitive for a particular 2025 car; check its certification documents. At our illustrative 50 mpg, 8,000 miles uses roughly 727 litres and costs about £1,055 at £1.45 per litre. That is a budgeting assumption, not a RoadMatch test result. Compare annual fuel savings with what you would pay for a simpler version.

Reliability

The Bigster is relatively new, so there is not yet enough representative UK ownership evidence to make a firm judgement on long-term hybrid failure rates. A warranty is helpful but does not replace a check of the car. Get the dated servicing and inspection records, check the dashboard for messages and try the infotainment and heating from a cold start. A recent car can still have had heavy family use, poor repairs or neglected tyres. Ask Dacia to confirm any remaining cover and whether the service history meets the conditions. We would favour a straightforward well-documented example over a dearer car with accessories and unexplained warning lights.

Safety

Read the independent Euro NCAP Bigster assessment and its applicability notes, rather than treating a new registration as proof of top-tier crash performance. Its published result uses related Duster evidence alongside checks specific to the Bigster; Euro NCAP's detailed report identifies differences between impact scenarios and limitations in occupant protection. Compare cars tested under similar protocols and check that the relevant variant is covered. On a viewing, fit the restraints you intend to use and verify that warning lights, belts and assistance systems operate normally. Before buying, check the vehicle on the GOV.UK recall service and ask the dealer to confirm the status against the VIN.

Technology and features

Journey is the sensible grade if you care more about convenience than styling. UK material describes smartphone projection, camera and parking aids, and the hybrid's adaptive cruise is worth demonstrating on a suitable road. Try both the interface and your phone before assuming the connection will work every time. Confirm seat heating if it is important: options and packs are not universal. Also test the powered functions on the actual example and make sure there is a spare key. A car with the right features working reliably is more useful than a higher-spec advert. Driver assistance still requires the driver to supervise and understand its limits.

Running costs

Allow £23,000–£30,000 as a broad used shopping budget for the 2025 version, dated 6 November 2026, not a surveyed range of stock. At the stated fuel assumption, adding a provisional £200 for tax and £450–£950 for routine servicing, MOT when due and wear gives roughly £1,700–£2,200 per year. Check the actual tax, insurance and manufacturer maintenance requirements. The estimate excludes insurance, depreciation, finance and major faults. Check the price of an equivalent new Journey before paying a high used price, particularly if the new car includes meaningful cover. Large wheels and overdue tyres can erode the apparent saving on a cheaper car.

Advantages and disadvantages