Dacia hits the big time

Like a Duster but larger, the Bigster is an adequate budget SUV, though the Longster’ might have been a more apt name for this somewhat noisy vehicle,

- Sean O’Grady

We live in informal times. “Pup play” fetishists in disturbing latex doggy masks in the streets, openly begging for equal rights. And treats. Young men and women drinking beer from bottles in expensive bars. The president of the United States of America dropping an f-bomb as casually as he might a 14-tonne “bunker buster" on an Iranian uranium enrichment facility. And, yes, car manufacturers, once so careful about their dignity, giving their cars nursery-room names. And, yes again, I am referring to the heavens - the Dacia... Bigster. They had other options, maybe, like the make itself, drawing on the Romanian-based brand's ancient culture or intriguing culture, though I guess "Dacia Vampire" might put some folk off (but not others).

Anyway, the Bigster is actually only sort-of big. Never having encountered one "in the metal" before, I eagerly awaited the delivery of the press sample. Immediately, I sensed it wasn't quite right, in a sense. This new budget SUV is certainly big - in most respects. It has a practical high-ride height for gentle country use (full-on four-wheel drive is a niche option), and there's more than enough space inside for five adults plus clobber (6771 of it, max, seats down, in point of fact).