Dacia Bigster v Nissan Qashqai: can the budget bruiser beat this family favourite?

The Dacia Bigster follows on from the fantastic Duster bringing lots of space, hybrid power and a degree of ruggedness for a bargain price. But is it as good as the big-selling Nissan Qashqai? Deputy reviews editor Tom Wiltshire has put the two head-to-head to find out

The Nissan Qashqai is credited as the car that started the UK’s obsession with family SUVs back in 2008, and the latest model remains an incredibly popular choice. It’s a good car, too, and though it’s hardly exciting I actually think it’s a bit of a hidden gem among cars of this type.

But there are dozens of alternatives to the Qashqai. One of the most exciting, though, is the Dacia Bigster. It’s similar in size to the Qashqai but undercuts its entry price by a whopping £5,000 – in keeping with Dacia’s positioning as a value brand.

The price difference is so great that you can actually pick up a top-spec Dacia Bigster for around £600 less than the entry-level Qashqai. So should you stick with what you know – or give the upstart Dacia your consideration?

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Dacia Bigster v Nissan Qashqai: interior, practicality and technology

If space is one of your biggest concerns – and if you’re buying a family SUV, it probably is – then there’s a clear winner between these two cars. All versions of the Qashqai have an okay boot at 505 litres in capacity, but the Bigster has a 612-litre space – and that’s if you opt for the full hybrid model. Go for a front-wheel drive mild hybrid model and you get a mammoth 677 litres.

Rear space is greater in the Bigster too, with more legroom and headroom for tall passengers. And the seats fold in a highly useful 40:20:40 split rather than the traditional 60:40 – this means you can carry long loads in between the two rear passengers. The Qashqai isn’t cramped – but it’s outshone here.

Things equalise a bit more when you start to poke around. The Qashqai’s interior isn’t exciting, but it’s nicely finished and neatly trimmed. Even the base model we have here feels suitably plush with a nice swathe of material across the dash and comfy seats.

The Bigster feels solid, but you can tell where Dacia’s cut corners. The recycled material on the seats is a bit sweaty to sit on, and some textures – like the grainy finish across the dash – feel really cheap and nasty.

In terms of tech, it’s a pretty even match. Both models get big touchscreens in the middle of the car, and all get at least partially digital dials, too. The Qashqai’s infotainment is a neat Google-based system from the mid-spec car upwards, while the Bigster’s infotainment is pretty basic – but both cars also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to bypass it.

The final win for the Bigster, though, is in its neat features. The cabin’s dotted with mountings for Dacia’s optional ‘YouClip’ attachments, and the rear centre seat has some clever gadget holders. The Qashqai’s cabin is a bit more staid and simple in comparison.

Dacia Bigster v Nissan Qashqai: driving and engines

Each of these cars has various engine options available. The Qashqai’s line-up starts with a 1.3-litre mild hybrid petrol engine, which can be had with 140hp or 158hp. The former has a six-speed manual gearbox and the latter a CVT automatic.

The Bigster also has two mild hybrid engines, both manual – there’s a 140hp option with front-wheel drive and a 130hp option with four-wheel drive.

Both also come with full hybrid systems, but they operate very differently. Nissan’s Qashqai e-Power uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine, but it never drives the wheels – it just generates electricity while a motor drives the front wheels. It has 205hp and Nissan says it’ll return up to 62.8mpg.

The Bigster’s system uses a 1.8-litre petrol engine and a couple of electric motors which operate through a complex system of gearboxes. It has 155hp, so it’s less powerful than the Qashqai but returns an identical 62.8mpg in official tests.

In both models, the full hybrid is the one to get, and the Qashqai wins out here – its e-Power system is really smooth in operation and proved very efficient in my testing. It has the instant response of an electric motor, while if you push the Bigster’s system hard it can sometimes take a while to get itself in order choosing the right gear and applying power.

The Qashqai is also the more comfortable car, as the Bigster can feel a bit brittle over bumps. However, if you want something a bit rugged, the Dacia is the way to go thanks to its sturdy construction, higher ground clearance and the option of four-wheel drive.

Dacia Bigster v Nissan Qashqai: prices and verdict

Buying directly from the manufacturer, the Nissan Qashqai is around £5,000 more expensive than the Dacia Bigster – the gap widens to £6,000 if you want a hybrid engine.

However, the Qashqai has some pretty hefty discounts available if you buy through Carwow, which equalises the playing field a little.

Which one you prefer will come down to what you like. The Qashqai feels more grown-up than the Dacia Bigster – it’s more comfortable to drive, the hybrid system is smoother and the interior feels plusher even on the basic spec.

The Bigster is roomier, more rugged and has a bit more personality – it’s not quite so bland as the Qashqai is. It’s also available with four-wheel drive, which the Qashqai isn’t.

For my money, even with Carwow discounts the Dacia Bigster makes a better buy. Space is so important in a family car and the Bigster has it in spades with its huge boot. Add that to its nicely efficient engine range, as well as the reassurance of Dacia’s new seven-year ‘Zen’ warranty cover and it’s a hard package to beat.

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