Skip advert
Advertisement

New Dacia Bigster to get 4x4 hybrid tech with PHEV to follow in time

Dacia’s hybrid roadmap is becoming clearer, with all Renault Group parts at brand’s disposal – including plug-in tech

Dacia Duster - front static

The new Dacia Bigster will be offered with a four-wheel-drive, full-hybrid powertrain before the end of the year, according to the brand’s CEO Denis Le Vot, and there’s also a possibility the range-topping SUV may receive a plug-in hybrid powertrain down the road.

When orders open for the Bigster in March, it’ll be available with a Hybrid 155 set-up that uses a new 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, which works together with an electric motor that can drive the front wheels only. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The new 4x4 hybrid powertrain will get an additional electric motor on the rear axle to provide extra traction. The technology will be introduced on the Bigster’s little brother, the Dacia Duster, at the same time later this year, and does without the transfer boxes traditionally used by four-wheel-drive systems.

Dacia will continue its rollout of hybrid powertrains through 2025 and beyond, with the brand’s top boss confirming that the technology will be “growing more and more in the future”.

In an exclusive interview, Le Vot told Auto Express that his team will continue to utilise all the parts available to them, insisting that parent company Renault has “all the solutions” – from ICE (internal-combustion engines), to hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

“We recoup the assets developed by the [Renault] Group,” Le Vot told us. “We put them back and make our own soup with the leftovers. We make good business with that for us, and for the clients and we manage, as a whole, the CO2 emissions of the Group.”

Le Vot told us the 1.0-litre TCe turbo (as found in the Jogger and Duster) and even the 1.6 HEV are too small for the Bigster. It’s for this reason that Dacia is utilising the new 1.8-litre hybrid in its flagship SUV – an engine born from the so-called ‘Horse’ joint venture formed in 2024 by Renault and Geely to develop new electrified powertrains.

We asked Le Vot if there might be space for Renault Group, Dacia or Horse to develop a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the Bigster and he said: “We have plug-in hybrids in the company. PHEV is in the panorama, but maybe not tomorrow morning.”

So while a plug-in hybrid is possible – and likely – its introduction doesn’t appear imminent. In 2022, Dacias accounted for a significant 7.6 per cent of the European retail market, and with so few financial incentives available to private customers, there is seemingly less reason for Le Vot to push ahead with PHEV – at least while he’s able to pool Renault’s EV mix and meet the necessary ZEV (zero-emission vehicle) mandates.

Haven't got time to wait for the Bigster? These are the best plug-in hybrids to buy...

Skip advert
Advertisement
News reporter

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

The Dacia Bigster has landed! First look at sub-£25k SUV on UK roads
Dacia Bigster on the road - front tracking

The Dacia Bigster has landed! First look at sub-£25k SUV on UK roads

In true Dacia style the Bigster will undercut many similarly sized family SUVs
News
5 Feb 2025
Dacia Bigster to hit UK streets fast as brand signals high hopes for the new SUV
Dacia Bigster - reveal front

Dacia Bigster to hit UK streets fast as brand signals high hopes for the new SUV

UK brand director says buyers will not be left waiting for Bigster deliveries as they have been for Mk3 Duster
News
9 Jan 2025
New Dacia Bigster will offer best value in mid-size SUV segment, promises UK brand director
Dacia Bigster - front

New Dacia Bigster will offer best value in mid-size SUV segment, promises UK brand director

Plus “customers will be pleasantly surprised” by pricing for Dacia’s eagerly anticipated family SUV
News
23 Dec 2024
New Dacia Bigster is the antidote to the confusion of modern car tech, says brand’s boss
Dacia Bigster - reveal front

New Dacia Bigster is the antidote to the confusion of modern car tech, says brand’s boss

And value brand’s approach is working, as it lures in customers from more expensive rival companies
News
17 Oct 2024

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: handsome, sporty Mazda CX-5 dips under £250 per month
Mazda CX-5

Car Deal of the Day: handsome, sporty Mazda CX-5 dips under £250 per month

The Mazda CX-5 is fun to drive, features a driver-focused, premium interior and is our Deal of the Day for 9 February
News
9 Feb 2025
New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options
Renault Clio design render - front

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options

Renault’s sixth-generation Clio hatchback will get a clean look and hi-tech kit, and our exclusive images show what it could look like
News
12 Feb 2025
New Renault Trafic unveiled alongside Goelette and Estafette commercials
Renault Trafic - front

New Renault Trafic unveiled alongside Goelette and Estafette commercials

All three Renault vans will be all-electric - sitting on a new architecture developed by Ampere
News
10 Feb 2025

Find a car with the experts