Rattles also extend to the audio system. I’ve had to turn the bass down, because it struggles with some deeper voices on podcasts and the occasional hip-hop track. Despite my intention to never ever give him up, Barry White is off the playlist. The radio has dropped out on occasion, too.
But the biggest Bigster bugbear so far is clipping in seatbelts. I struggle to get my hands down the side of the centre console to clip in; it’s narrow and tight, much like accessing the door bins. With the rear belts too, my family has found it tricky to clip in, because the buckles sink into the seat recesses. It’s not a big deal for adults, but it is awkward when fitting booster seats.
With holidays looming, it’ll be good to see how my family and the Bigster sync with Dacia’s brand message of enjoying the great outdoors.
Dacia Bigster Journey hybrid 155: first report
New SUV joins our fleet and starts life with a road trip to Kent
- Mileage: 3,351 miles
- Efficiency: 57.8mpg
Usually in the first report on a new long-term test car, you might expect a gentle introduction, but not this time. Within an hour of our new Dacia Bigster arriving at my London home in February, my wife and I had packed the massive 612-litre boot (well, half of it) and we were on the road for a peaceful week exploring Kent.
I was pleased to find our Bigster was a self-charging hybrid in Journey trim. That mid-range specification adds £1,500 to the cost of the entry-level Expression edition, but brings a powered tailgate, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel, all of which were switched on immediately to counter the cold weather.
