The arrival of Dacia Bigster it was really disruptive. The largest model in the Romanian company’s current range has rather unique characteristics in terms of engines and market positioning, so much so that finding direct rivals is anything but a simple mission.
Among the main competitors, however, there is the MG HSwhich was recently renewed with the presence of a plug-in hybrid powertrain capable of allowing 100 km in electric mode. Furthermore, like the Bigster, the HS is fully equipped at a very competitive list price.
External
With his 4.57 meters longthe Dacia Bigster is 25 cm longer than the Duster. While inheriting the style of the latter, with details such as the headlights with the characteristic Y graphic and the wheel arches that give a robust and almost off-road appearance, the Bigster has a look and an identity of its own.
Also characterizing the Romanian SUV are the matte black finishes and the elaborately designed moldings on the sides and rear. The aesthetic package is completed by the front and rear underbody protections, while the 19″ rims optional add a touch of style.
MG Motor
The new generation of the MG HS features a completely revised exterior design. The size has grown, with an increase of 4.5 cm in length, for a total of 4,66 m. The roof, however, has been lowered by approximately 3 cm, to give it a more streamlined and aerodynamic look.
On an aesthetic level, the front of the new MG HS is characterized by a bold design, thanks to a generously sized grille and thin fari full LED.
At the back, the soft curves of the previous model have been replaced by taut and decisive lines. The full LED light cluster now extends into a single light band, while the rear bumper has been redesigned with a new extractor.
Interior
The interiors of the Dacia Bigster focus on spaciousness and concreteness. The front seats guarantee ample freedom of movement and comfort on all sides, while the rear ones offer abundant knee and headroom, making the car also suitable for long journeys.
The interior design is refined, with a dashboard that stands out thanks to the Y-shaped inserts in the air conditioning vents. All the installations of Dacia include the 10.1″ central touchscreen and wireless integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The top-of-the-line Extreme and Journey trims come with the Media Nav Live system, which includes connected navigation and map updates for eight years.
Christopher Otto
Dacia Bigster, the interiors
Driving information is displayed on digital color displays: 7″ in the Essential and Expression versions and 10″ in the more advanced Extreme and Journey.
Furthermore, Bigster adopts the system You-Clipalready present on the Duster, which allows you to attach various accessories to strategic points in the passenger compartment, such as torches, coat hooks or tablet holders. Q
Il trunk of the Bigster offers a minimum capacity of 667 liters and, thanks to the Easy Fold function, the rear seatbacks can be folded down easily using the levers in the boot. The bottom of the load compartment is protected by a rubber mat, easy to clean and rollable, standard in the Extreme trim level.
The interiors of the new MG HS have been completely redesigned with a strong focus on technology. The bridge hosts two 12.3″ high definition displays each, through which you can easily manage all the car’s functions. Among these, compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 360° camera and wireless charging for the smartphone stand out.
In the top of the range trim levels, the seats are in leather with electric adjustments and heating functions. Coming to the boot, the 44-litre increase over the outgoing model has brought the minimum capacity to 507 litres.
Engines
On the Bigster we find two engines on petrola petrol mild hybrid, one mild hybrid a benzina/GPL and a full hybrid.
Going in order, the HYBRID 140 and 140 ECO-G are available on the Bigster, both powered by the 1.2 three-cylinder turbo mild hybrid with 140 HP. The second is also equipped with a bi-fuel petrol/LPG system with a 49-litre LPG tank and a 50-litre petrol tank allowing for a combined range of 1,450 km.
Also new is the 1.8 Hybrid 155 155 HP full hybrid engine with automatic transmission which promises to circulate in the city up to 80% of the time in electric mode.
Dacia
MG Motor
The HS range is more compact and is available with a 1.5 turbo da 170 CV e 275 Nm non-electrified and in one version ibrida plug-in. The latter delivers a total of 307 HP and 343 Nm, with the 24.7 kWh battery allowing a range of around 100 km in electric mode. The non-electrified engine is combined with a 7-speed automatic transmission, while in the PHEV we find a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Prices
Expected in dealerships in January 2025, the price list of the Bigster has not yet been made official, even if the company’s top management have promised a starting price under 25,000 euros.
In the case of the HS, the prices of the 1.5 with manual gearbox start from 27,490 euros. The PHEV has a starting price of 37,990 euros.
