Highlights
- Comfortable interior
- Extremely versatile
- Great value for money
- Extreme SE spec offers plenty of advanced tech
Introduction
Dacia's latest offering is great value for money, and no other new car comes close to matching its incredible versatility for such a low price.
You can use the Jogger as a full 7-seater or collapse the third row of seats to turn it into a large estate car, or go for massive space by just leaving the front row seats upright.
This car challenges the usual family car formula, and Dacia has just produced the biggest surprise of 2022.
It may not offer luxury or a premium badge, but it drives decently enough and offers good equipment levels throughout the three trim range.
Driving Experience
All versions are powered by Dacia’s new TCe 108bhp 1.0-litre 3-cylinder direct injection turbocharged petrol engine, mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.
The 1.0-litre petrol engine, which gives surprisingly strong performance, allows the car to cruise easily at motorway speed. With seven inside, it will obviously take a hit, but a hybrid model is expected to arrive in 2023 to provide more punch.
WLTP figures say the present model is good for 48mpg, and I found this to be very accurate over a week of mixed driving.
Design and Practicality
With all seats in place, the boot still offers a useful 213 litres of storage space, rising to 712 litres with the third-row seats folded.
Folding the second-row seats and removing the third row increases that to a staggering 1,819 litres.
It may look a little quirky, but the Jogger isn't ugly. It's also much lighter than any other 7-seater, and is certainly better to drive than most of the van-based opposition.
John Murdoch
Equipment and Technology
The Jogger 'Essential' is the starting point, and it includes manual air conditioning, cruise control with speed limiter, rear parking sensors, an adjustable steering wheel, automatic headlights, front fog lights, electric front windows, Automatic Emergency Braking System (AEBS), and Dacia’s Media Control that makes your smartphone responsible for the infotainment experience.
For slightly more, you get the Jogger 'Comfort' model which adds modular roof rails, body-colour door handles, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors with dark metal finish, automatic wipers, rear parking sensors with reversing camera, and 16-inch ‘Flex’ steel wheels that look like alloys but are more affordable and so help keep the price down.
Inside, the 'Comfort' model gets more equipment with a soft-feel steering wheel, satin chrome interior door handles, satin chrome and copper orange air vents, central armrest with storage, electric rear windows, electric parking brake, keyless entry, automatic air conditioning, blind spot warning, and Dacia’s 8-inch Media Display system with two USB ports and smartphone with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Topping the range is the limited edition special edition 'Extreme SE' model I sampled, and it introduces 16-inch black alloy wheels, and both front and rear parking sensors with reversing camera. The interior is boosted by heated front seats, floor and cargo mats, and Dacia’s Media Nav system with built-in navigation and wireless smartphone mirroring.
Summary
I really enjoyed the Jogger, and finding another new car that's so versatile and seats seven for anywhere near the price is impossible.
Clearly it's built to a price, but you could spend double this money and not get this much space or equipment, and in the current climate, this family and lifestyle vehicle may be the most relevant product on the road.
