Volkswagen Tiguan vs Dacia Bigster
Figures updated
The Dacia Bigster is a new rival to the Volkswagen Tiguan, one of the UK's most popular family SUVs. We compare the Mk3 (2024–) Tiguan and the Mk1 (2025–) Bigster on price, size, boot space, performance, safety, official economy and running costs.
The short answer
The Dacia Bigster comes out ahead, with the lower price, the bigger boot and lower fuel costs; the Volkswagen Tiguan is close on everything else.
- The Dacia Bigster is the cheapest to buy new: from £25,215, £14,165 less than the Volkswagen Tiguan.
- The Dacia Bigster has the biggest boot: 677 litres, 25 more than the Volkswagen Tiguan.
- Euro NCAP safety: Volkswagen Tiguan 5 stars (2024), Dacia Bigster 3 stars (2024). Ratings from different years aren't directly comparable, as the tests get tougher.
- No MOT reliability comparison yet: the Dacia Bigster is too new for MOT records (cars first take an MOT at three years old).
- The Dacia Bigster is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £227 a year less than the Volkswagen Tiguan at 7,500 miles a year.
| Figure | Volkswagen TiguanMk3 (2024–), 5-door SUV | Dacia BigsterMk1 (2025–), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £39,380 to £49,885October 2026 price list | £25,215 to £29,515July 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 652 litres / 1,650 | 677 litres / 1,937 (best) |
| Length | 4,539mm | 4,570mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,842mm | 1,813mm |
| Height | 1,658mm | 1,712mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 130–272 PS (best) | 140–158 PS |
| 0–62mph | up to 10.2 sec | 9.7–9.8 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2024) | ★★★★★ (2024) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Hybrid, Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 32.8–52.3 mpg | 46.3–61.4 mpg |
| CO2 | 9–195 g/km | 105–137 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.8p a litre, today's UK average | £1,347 (43.5 mpg) | £1,120 (52.3 mpg) (best) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,293 (52.3 mpg) | – |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,293 (diesel) | £1,120 (petrol) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 131Well above average | Too new for MOT data |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 18.2% | – |
| Failed at 3 years old | 11.0% | – |
| Failed at 5 years old | 12.6% | – |
| Failed at 10 years old | 26.6% | – |
| Most common MOT fault | Tread depth (2.6% of tests) | – |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | – |
| MOT tests analysed | 232,516 | – |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family SUV | Family SUV |
| Owners' average miles a year | 9,200 | – |
| On sale | 2024 on | 2025 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Dacia Bigster more reliable?
It's too early to say from MOT records: the Dacia Bigster is too new, as cars take their first MOT at three years old. The Volkswagen Tiguan has a reliability score of 131 (100 is average) from 232,516 MOT tests in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Dacia Bigster?
The Dacia Bigster is 31mm longer (4,570mm against 4,539mm). The Dacia Bigster has the bigger boot: 677 litres against 652.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Dacia Bigster?
The Dacia Bigster: new prices start at £25,215, £14,165 less than the Volkswagen Tiguan (from £39,380). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Dacia Bigster?
Comparing petrol versions, the Dacia Bigster costs about £227 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,120 against £1,347), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Dacia Bigster?
Euro NCAP gave the Volkswagen Tiguan 5 stars (2024) and the Dacia Bigster 3 stars (2024). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Dacia Bigster?
The Dacia Bigster comes out ahead, with the lower price, the bigger boot and lower fuel costs; the Volkswagen Tiguan is close on everything else. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.