How different will the Bigster feel to my old Citroen?
I am presently driving a 2011 Citroen C4 Picasso seven-seater. What obvious difference will I experience/notice driving the Dacia Bigster Expression 1.2 140? E.g steering, road handling, suspension and noise.
Thank you
McGlinchey (Brittany )Jul 2025 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Stephen,
To be honest, there'll be a huge gulf between the cars because they're 14 years apart. Your Citroen's suspension and bushings etc will be quite worn, no matter how much work it has had done, while the Dacia will feel tight, rattle-free and sharp to drive (in a good way). The Bigster will have far superior road holding where the Citroen feels 'loose', though the latter could mean more comfort in some circumstances.
The Bigster's steering will feel more responsive, as will the brakes and the engine. The Bigster should have superior wind and road noise suppression and with brand-new tyres it should be better in wet weather as well.
Finally, the Bigster has all the latest driver assistance technology that is vastly superior to that of your Citroen, in theory making it a safer car.
What to replace my Renault Scenic with?
I have an ageing Renault Scenic petrol automatic. Apart from poor mpg, it is brilliant - comfortable (I've fitted cruise control) with very good options for load carrying. What do I replace it with?
John Wiloughby (Stroud)Jan 2018 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi John,
Well, there are lots of good options. If you still like MPVs and like Renaults then the new Scenic is a bit of a cracker. Very comfy, and you can get it with an impressive 115hp 1.2 petrol turbocharged engine that should be rather more economical than what you’ve been used to. And it comes with cruise control as standard now.
Other, similar models worth considering are the Citroen C4 Picasso/Grand Picasso, VW Touran, Kia Carens or the Toyota Verso. Here are our relevant reviews:
Will I go for a new Kia Carens?
I currently have a 141 Kia Carens [up on DoneDeal, no phonecalls]. I require a car that will fit three highback boosters across the middle row and two pop up seats for car pooling. I like the style of the Kia and of course the seven-year warranty. I want to know what to expect to pay to upgrade to a 171 model or should I look at other cars? Do certain seven-seat cars have better resale value?
Bgt Ryan Kiely (Tipperary,)Jun 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Ryan,
Your Carens is going to be worth in the region of €16,000 to €18,000 as a trade in, and the cheapest new Carens is €28,000, so you’re looking at finding or financing €10-12k to trade up.
Generally speaking, all seven-seaters hold their value pretty well, not least because we’re still going through something of a baby boom at the moment and families are keen to trade-up to cars that can handle multiple child car seats. The best for resale are the Volkswagen Touran, Toyota Verso, Citroen C4 Picasso and your Carens.
If you like it, I’d stick with it for your new car — the Carens is one of the best compact seven-seaters around.
Which is the best new seven-seater around?
Hi, I was looking for a seven-seater; which is the best one? Price, space and technology are important to me. I am looking to buy a new one.
Jinesh Sebastian (Athenry, Galway)Nov 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Jinesh,
It depends on what kind of size you need. If it’s a compact seven seater, then the best on the market are the Volkswagen Touran, the Toyota Verso and the Kia Carens, but it’s worth looking at the Citroen C4 Picasso too, and maybe even the new Renault Scenic, which goes on sale in the New Year.
If it’s a larger car you need, then the two best choices, by far, are the Ford S-Max and the SEAT Alhambra.
Here are our reviews to help you decide:
What €20,000 MPVs would you recommend?
Hello, we have an 18-month old and have twins due next year. We need a car to fit all the baby seats plus all their buggies and paraphenalia. Will be used for local trips plus for weekend trips back to Cork (from Dublin). Our budget is €20k. What models would you recommend? Imported my current car (Peugeot 407 SW), so not a problem if I need to do that again.
Dan O'Connell (Dublin)Nov 2016 Filed under: family car
Expert answer
Hi Dan,
I think you’ll probably need to upgrade to an MPV with all those kids and all the kit you’ll need to carry around with you. If you don’t fancy a seven-seater then there’s always five-seat versions such as the Volkswagen Golf SV or Citroen C4 Picasso. Have a look at the likes of a Volkswagen Touran, Kia Carens or Toyota Verso too.
Our reviews to help you decide:
What new MPV would you recommend for us?
Hi,
We are in the market for an MPV/SUV. We hope to buy by the end of March next year. We have a budget of €19-20k plus our 2010 2.0-litre Volkswagen Passat Highline. The car should have three full rear seats and a good size boot.
What would you recommend?
Des Wynne (Dundalk)Oct 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Des,
It depends on just how big a car you need, and if you need a full seven-seater. The Volkswagen Golf SV, for instance, has the space for three seats across the back, but doesn't have the folding seats in the boot of the bigger Touran. Both are excellent cars, but you'll save a considerable amount of money by going for the SV. Others worth considering are the Toyota Verso (available in both five- and seven-seat forms), Citroen C4 Picasso (ditto) and the Kia Carens (only a seven-seater).
Peugeot's 5008 and Ford's C-Max are also worth a look, but if you need something bigger, if basically boils down to two choices - Ford S-Max or SEAT Alhambra.
Which is the most comfy car on Irish roads?
1) Which is the most comfortable car on Irish roads considering seating, seat height, and road bumps (mainly interested in medium/large cars)?
2) Have you any reports on the Toyota Prius?
Pat Walsh (Claremorris, Mayo)Sep 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Pat,
Here’s our review of the new Toyota Prius.
And as you’ve mentioned Toyota, you could do worse than start with a current Auris or Avensis if you’re looking for something with a comfortable ride on Irish roads. Other good options are the Citroen C4 Picasso or, if you fancy something a little more premium, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Which compact MPV suits us best?
Hi,
My wife, daughter Daisy (four years old) and myself are thinking of updating our 2005 Ford Focus C-Max 1.6 with 105,000km in the next few months. We recently test drove a 2012 C-Max 1.6 diesel Titanium with about 40,000km on the clock. It was a nice car at €17,500 with a €2,000 trade in for our own so really €15,500. I said we were paying cash, but we could not get more discount. Do you think that’s a fair offer or do you think I could haggle more, as most websites say Ford will barter with you?
Second question. The Ford B-Max seems to be cheaper than the C-Max. Apart from the sliding doors and height of the cabin on the B-Max, is there any other difference? To a layman they both offer the same inside and out. I have read and seen reviews for both cars and there are no major negatives there.
Third Question. We are thinking of trading up and not spending more than €15,000. What is the best option realistically for us in your opinion? Should we consider a different vehicle altogether? We like the higher ride in these cars because it's easier for both adult and child to get in.
Regards,
Ben O’Connor
Ben O Connor (Dundrum, Dublin)Apr 2016 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Ben,
Well, you can always haggle more and if the dealer isn’t budging, then simply shop around. There are plenty of examples of the C-Max out there to choose from, so don’t get hung up on just the one car if you feel like you’re not getting a good deal. While that does seem like a fair enough price, €17k is top end for a 2012 C-Max, so it had better (a) be perfect, (b) have a full service history and (c) come with a decent warranty.
As for the B-Max, yes there’s quite a big difference. The B-Maxis based on the Fiesta, the C-Max on the Focus so you can see from just that fact that the levels of space on the inside and in the boot are significantly different. Plus the C-Max is a far more comfortable car on a long journey than the B-Max, which can also be sluggish to drive as those sliding doors are actually pretty heavy for such a small car.
As for other cars worth looking at (and I’m assuming you mean against the five-seat C-Max, not the seven-seat Grand C-Max), the Volkswagen Golf Plus offers lots of space and plenty of comfort, as does the five-seat version of the Citroen C4 Picasso.
Here are a few reviews to help you decide:
Should I go for the Citroen C4 Cactus?
I have three kids and like the Citroen C4 Cactus, but is it too small in the back I think. Would you recommend the Citroen C4 Cactus and if so which spec? Currently have 2004 Ford Focus C-Max so could do scrappage scheme.
Thanks
Donal ODea (Dublin)Feb 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Donal,
The Cactus is actually quite a small car, smaller than a Focus, so I think you'd struggle to get three kids in the back, on top of which the boot is quite small. If it's a roomy, kid-friendly Citroen you fancy you'll probably need to upgrade to the C4 Picasso MPV.
Relevant reviews:
What cars fit three child seats in back?
What cars take three full car seats in the back?
Anne Davis (Dublin)Dec 2015 Filed under: child or baby seats
Expert answer
Hi Anne,
Most MPVs will, so Citroen C4 Picasso, Renault Scenic, Ford C-Max, Peugeot 5008, Kia Carens and so on. The bigger ones too, of course, such as the Ford S-Max and Galaxy and the SEAT Alhambra. If you want something sleeker, such as a saloon, estate or SUV then it comes down to how bulky the child car seats are. Rule of thumb is to always bring the seats (and preferably the kids, even though I know how awkward that is) on a test drive to make sure that they'll all fit in comfortably.