Should you buy one?

If you’re wanting a more affordable family SUV, the answer is yes, you should buy one. The Bigster makes plenty of rivals in this class, such as the Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga, look rather expensive because of its low price, while still offering lots in the way of standard equipment. 

It also has the largest boot in its class and a decent amount of rear space – enough to justify it over the Dacia Duster. We would say, however, that it’s worth comparing the two cars back-to-back because of how similar the cars are in terms of styling inside and out, as the Duster is still quite a practical 4x4 on its own accord. 

The only thing that gets in the Bigster’s way is the MG HS, which offers more rear-seat space and a higher-quality interior than the Dacia, but at the same price. The Bigster’s slightly lower-rent interior could also come as a surprise to those used to a more premium finish in this class. 

What we like

The Bigster’s price is the key attraction, because of how much cheaper it is than most rivals. It’s also very spacious with an especially big boot, gets lots of equipment and is an attractive and distinctive-looking car in this class. The hybrid setup is also among the best in this class, even if it’s down on outright pace compared to more expensive rivals. 

What we don’t like

The Bigster’s interior feels quite low-rent for a car of this size (even with its price) and refinement lags behind most in this class. Its styling might also be too similar to the Duster – Dacia could perhaps have done more to distinguish them from one another.