Dacia Bigster, in the Final of the Prestigious Car of the Year 2026 Award in Europe

Romanian SUV in the European Elite: Bigster, on the shortlist for the Car of the Year 2026 title

Dacia Bigster, the Romanian manufacturer’s newest C-segment SUV, achieved a remarkable performance, being included on the shortlist of the seven finalists that will compete for the coveted title of Car of the Year 2026 in Europe. The nomination confirms the rise of the Dacia brand on the European market and underlines the success of its strategy of offering an unbeatable price-performance ratio.

The Bigster model will duel for the grand prize with six other newly launched models, selected from an initial list of 35 candidates. The jury, made up of 60 automotive journalists from 23 European countries, decided that the Romanian SUV deserves to be part of the year’s elite.

The 7 Finalists for the 2026 Car of the Year

Here is the list of the seven models that will fight for the ultimate title, in alphabetical order:

1. Citroën C5 Aircross
2. Dacia Bigster
3. Fiat Grande Panda
4. Kia EV4
5. Mercedes-Benz CLA
6. Renault 4
7. Škoda Elroq

Dacia Bigster: The Strengths of a Finalist

The Bigster marks Dacia's entry into the C-SUV segment with a vehicle that promises to be as pragmatic and robust as its predecessors, but with a superior technological and space offer.

The Dacia Bigster's nomination is based on a series of features appreciated by the jury:

• Price-Performance Ratio: The model is designed to offer "the essentials at the next level" at an affordable price, being a major factor that convinced the COTY jury.
• Space and Versatility: Being a generously sized SUV, the Bigster offers a spacious interior and a roomy trunk, making it an excellent choice for families.
• Electrified Engines: Built on the CMF-B platform, the Bigster benefits from state-of-the-art engines, including the Hybrid 155 version (full hybrid, allowing up to 80% electric driving in urban environments) and the Mild hybrid 140 (48V).
• European recognition: The Bigster has already achieved important distinctions, being named "Family Car of the Year 2025 in the UK" and "Car of the Year 2026" in Germany (in the car section under 25,000 euros).

This is the second consecutive presence of the Dacia brand in the COTY final, after the previous generation Duster reached the final last year, taking 5th place.

Winner Announcement

In the following period, the jurors will test the seven finalist models in detail, including through a joint test on the Parc Motor Castellolí track in Spain.

The winner of the 2026 European Car of the Year award will be officially announced on January 9, 2026, at the Brussels International Motor Show.