We've known for some time that both the Dacia Duster and Bigster were due to get a hybrid four-wheel-drive system, and we had blithely assumed that this would be simply a case of dropping an extra electric motor into the rear axle of the existing 1.6- and 1.8-litre hybrid models. But it's not. It's much more interesting than that...
An interesting hybrid? Whatever next?
Mock all you like, but the hybrid 4x4 system which will be introduced to the Duster and Bigster in the middle of next year genuinely is interesting, largely because it's not the same hybrid system we've seen for the front-wheel-drive models.
Instead, this new 'hybrid-G 150 4x4' powertrain is based around the 140hp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that's already on sale in mild-hybrid form in the front-wheel-drive versions of the Duster and Bigster, with a six-speed manual gearbox.
To turn that into a hybrid-G 150 4x4, Dacia has added a new six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and has retained the 0.8kWh 48-volt mild-hybrid battery that lives under the cars' front seats.
In hybrid-G form it also comes with an LPG-friendly setup, including a 50-litre LPG tank where the spare wheel would normally sit. With two full tanks - LPG and unleaded - Dacia says that these hybrid models can cover 1,500km before refuelling.
Now, the important thing to note here is that Ireland won't be getting the hybrid-G LPG versions, but fret not, as there is a non-LPG model, simply badged as Hybrid 150 4x4, and that will go on sale in mid-2026. Dacia hasn't confirmed performance figures yet, but we don't expect them to be much different to this hybrid-G LPG model's.
Of course, the most significant addition is a rear electric motor, which adds 31hp and 87Nm of torque to the party. Dacia hasn't just dropped a motor into the middle of the axle and chucked in some driveshafts, either, as this motor has its own dedicated two-speed gearbox. First gear is designed for instant acceleration and responsiveness, as well as low-speed off-roading. Second gear is designed for high-speed cruising.
How high a speed?
The Duster and Bigster hybrid-G 150 4x4 system will keep all wheels turning up to 140km/h, and after that will revert to front-wheel drive to save on mechanical wear and tear. Indeed, most of the time this system is front-wheel drive biased, as the rear motor and gearbox also have their own clutch system, which allows power to be disconnected and the wheels to freewheel in the interests of efficiency.
You can lock the cars into permanent four-wheel drive, at speeds of up to 70km/h, by using the rotary controller on the dashboard, and turning it to either Lock or Snow modes, but even in Auto mode, Dacia says that the response of the rear motor when it detects a loss of traction at the front is “instantaneous”.
Is this hybrid designed for economy? Or off-roading?
A bit of both, actually. In fact, this might be an effective way of having your rugged 4x4 cake and eating it. Dacia claims that the Duster, for instance, is the “best 4x4 that's not a specialist off-road vehicle” and backs that up with approach and departure angles of 31 degrees and 36 degrees, respectively, a breakover angle of 24 degrees and ground clearance of 208mm.
When you add the hybrid-G 150 4x4 system in, the Dacia engineers claim that, “thanks to the dual clutch gearbox, it contributes to a new customer experience by simplifying off-road driving for everyone, even the non-experts, because with an automatic transmission there's no stalling and it's always easy to drive.”
The longer, heavier Bigster probably won't be quite as agile as the Duster off-road, but it'll still get further than most customers will ever try to take it, not least because both of these new hybrid-G 150 4x4 models come with all-season tyres as standard.
That sounds more off-road-like...
Yes, but: although this is technically a mild-hybrid system, Dacia claims that, thanks to the quick charging times of the small battery, the Duster and Bigster can spend as much as 60 per cent of their urban journeys running on electric power, which is pretty close to full-hybrid performance levels.
Equally, this hybrid-G 150 4x4 system dramatically cuts the CO2 emissions of both the four-wheel-drive models - from 135g/km down to 117g/km for the Duster compared to the manual petrol model, and from 134g/km down to 115g/km for the equivalent Bigster.
Dacia's claim is that both models are around 30 per cent more fuel efficient than an equivalent C-segment 4x4 SUV, and indeed that both have lower overall running costs than most similarly sized front-wheel-drive SUVs.
What else is new about these hybrid models?
There are no dramatic visual changes to either the Duster nor the Bigster, just hybrid and 4x4 badges on the tailgate.
Inside, both models get gearshift paddles for manual gear control, which Dacia says is both for better control off-road, and also for a bit of driving enjoyment on twisty tarmac. Both models get a maximum towing weight of 1,500kg.
Irish pricing will be announced closer to the all-wheel-drive models' introduction in 2026.