New Dacia Bigster: all-new flagship SUV confirmed for 2025

• Bigster SUV will be largest Dacia model, sitting above Duster SUV
• Potential for a hybrid version
• Expected in 2025

The new Dacia Bigster SUV will be launched by the Romanian brand in 2025 and will be closely based on the 2021 Dacia Bigster concept car. 

The Bigster is likely to be around the same size as a Land Rover Discovery Sport, and could undercut rivals such as the Volkswagen Tiguan and even smaller, premium SUVs such as the MINI Countryman.

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Dacia hopes the Bigster will introduce a ‘touch of coolness’ to the brand’s image, but will be based on the same CMF-B platform as the rest of the brand’s cars, which means it can retain the low prices the marque is known for.

2025 Dacia Bigster SUV: design and interior

Dacia revealed the Bigster concept in 2021 and our images preview how the production model might look when it’s fully unveiled. The front of the car features a full-width grille that houses Dacia’s Y-shaped signature headlight design. It also features adjoining LED lights in the grille, as part of the front lightbar. Below this, a squared-off front bumper features a large central grille, a pair of vertical air intakes and contrasting silver trim surround.

From the side, the Bigster shares several design cues with the smaller Duster SUV, such as the angular wheel arches that house large 10-spoke alloy wheels. Squared roof bars similar to those seen on the Duster and Sandero Stepway also feature. The entire lower part of the car features black-plastic body cladding.

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At the rear, a pair of Y-shaped tail lights feature, alongside a tailgate design featuring a large ‘Dacia’ logo with a chunky silver contrasting insert in the upper half of the bumper.

The interior of the Bigster promises plenty of space and practicality, but it's not yet known whether Dacia plans to offer a seven-seat model. While there are no details of the new car’s interior, we’d expect it to follow the design seen in the new Sandero, with a floating central infotainment screen, along with plenty of useful storage cubby holes.

Engines and versions

Given the Bigster’s position at the higher end of Dacia’s range, it’s not completely out of the question that a hybrid version of the large SUV will be offered. Sister brand Renault already offers a 138bhp 1.6-litre hybrid drivetrain in its Clio and Arkana E-Tech cars which could make an appearance in the Bigster.

We’d expect the entry-level models to kick off with the turbocharged TCe 1.0-litre petrol engine used in the Sandero, or even the 1.3-litre TCe 130 petrol engine used in larger versions of the Renault Captur.

It’s likely the Bigster will be offered in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations, matching the Dacia Duster.

Dimensions, pricing and rivals

At 4.6 metres in length, the Bigster will be the largest Dacia model yet. Despite its size, Dacia has said the new car will still represent good value for money, with a price tag closer to that of smaller SUVs: “the Bigster is the Dacia way of making the C-segment accessible, delivering a larger, more capable vehicle at the cost buyers would expect from the segment below.”

When it arrives, the Bigster will sit above the Duster in the firm’s range. Even though it will be a flagship model, it will be priced closely to smaller SUVs like the Volkswagen T-Roc and Skoda Karoq, while also being an indirect competitor to bigger SUVs like the Skoda Kodiaq.

What does it mean for car buyers?

While the Bigster won’t arrive in showrooms for a few years, its dimensions place it in between a number of popular family SUVs such as the Skoda Karoq and Kodiaq. If Dacia can price the production model correctly, and we fully expect them to do so, then the Dacia Bigster could hold a lot of appeal for buyers looking for a more affordable large SUV, especially if the brand can offer hybrid drivetrains at an attractive price.

To find out about a smaller car in the current Dacia range, read our review of the new Sandero or Sandero Stepway.