It wasn’t that long ago that you could buy a wagon based on the underpinnings of a smaller city hatchback from just about any brand. For not too much money you got a smaller but very practical car, with great interior space and high utility value. Nowadays, the ground has practically fallen out from under them, except for one brand, but that goes a bit Solomonic on it…
Not so long ago, Romanian brand Dacia launched the Jogger. Standing on a modified and extended Sandero chassis, it is a “smaller” crossover that actually crosses MPV, estate and takes inspiration from SUVs in terms of ground clearance. Immediately after its launch, sales took off in a big way and we’ll admit that one 7-seater company Jogger has been serving us for over a year now as well.
When you bought a Dacia a while back, it was probably because you wanted to save money. The design wasn’t sophisticated in any way and it was simply a “tin can” on wheels that was supposed to serve and not get ugly for cheap money. But that has changed radically in recent years.
The Dacia’s look truly out of this world, and their design, while simple, is modern. Nicely cut body shapes, dynamic-looking bonnets and interesting headlights with LED daytime running lights. That tail lights then are suspiciously reminiscent of older Volvo models! Never mind, because it’s apparently impossible to invent anything in automotive design today that doesn’t resemble it.
From the outside, the Jogger is very well styled and in Extreme trim, on black 17″ wheels and in Dusty Green, it looks great. The Jogger hides no resemblance to the Sandero at all, so there’s exactly the same radiator grille and the test car already has the new Dacia logo symbolising the letters DC. Otherwise, nothing has actually changed after the “redesign” and, following the example of the recently tested Sandera Stepway, we can therefore talk about a kind of generational mini-facelift
A very practical idea is modular roof rails, which can be modified by simply swapping them onto the transoms. They can hold up to 80 kilograms and the advantage is that you don’t have to store them somewhere, but carry them with you at all times. And, of course, the peripeteia of buying suitable and compatible aftermarket crossmembers is eliminated.
So from the outside, Jogger is not to be thrown away at all. You’ll know it’s the cheapest seven-seater on the market, especially inside. Savings have been made in several places, so once again there are no soft dashboard materials, the door panels are a single piece of plastic and the quality of the carpets is a little lower than the competition. But does this bother anyone? It doesn’t. Everything one needs to live in a car is here. Multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, automatic air conditioning, heated seats, navigation or Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, for example.
From an ergonomics point of view, everything is just right here. Nothing ultra-modern, but such an optimal combination of classic buttons and digital technology. The unconventionally placed USB input at the top of the dashboard, which is used for charging the phone in the original holder and interfacing with the infotainment system, is pleasing. Air conditioning is also classically controlled, radio volume on a special lever under the steering wheel (á la Renault), cruise control on the steering wheel. The central infotainment screen is, of course, touchscreen and has nice, updated and simple graphics.
At 4550mm in length, the Jogger is the longest vehicle in the brand’s range and, with a wheelbase of 2897mm, also the roomiest. As a result, up to seven seats can fit inside in three rows, all of which are full-size for an adult passenger. The seat backs in both the second and third rows can be folded down, or the entire seats can be folded forward. The two third-row seats can be individually removed, each weighing no more than ten pounds.
It’s to be commended that all seats in the second and third rows comfortably seat the average adult passenger. Yes, that includes the two seats in the very back, although getting into them is quite a wrench. In the second row, there are two flip-up stools with cup holders in front of the passenger, but they’re slightly unstable. In the third row, you can even easily open the flip-up windows, and there are also cup holders or a smaller storage compartment. On the other hand, there’s a complete lack of USB inputs for charging phones, but that’s at least somewhat made up for by ordinary 12V sockets.
So far, the Jogger’s powertrain has always been taken care of by litre three-cylinders, but if you want to wait, a hybrid version with up to 140bhp, taken from the Renault Arkana, is currently coming to market. In addition to the factory LPG-powered unit, which is rated at 74kW (100k), there may also be a TCe 110 petrol three-cylinder under the bonnet, offering a top output of 81kW (110k) and a maximum torque of 200Nm (200Nm).
You probably can’t really expect any miracles from it in a car of this height and size. This seven-seat version gets to 60 in 11.2 seconds, and there’s a manual six-speed gearbox that moves with great ease in the scenery and has precise paths. Up to about 100km/h, or in the band up to about 2700 revs, the pull is quite smooth and solid, but after that the engine’s power gradually diminishes and the acoustic comfort also deteriorates, thanks to the lack of better soundproofing from the engine bay.
Depending on where you drive and at what speed, or how heavily loaded your car is, consumption will vary from approx. 5.5 to 8 litres. It’s not bad, but you’ll still get more out of an LPG drive and you won’t lose too much momentum. Feeling-wise I found the cars to be exactly the same, the difference was only slight and that was when the Jogger was occupied by all 7 passengers.
The Jogger’s chassis is reasonably comfortable and quite stable, with only the occasional series of minor bumps or a run over a major pothole to throw it off. It’s also not very sensitive to crosswinds and behaves quite predictably in corners. Just like the engine – it’s not really designed for sporty driving.
Ono, in general, we still need to keep in mind what category the Jogger actually falls into and what we can expect from it. We have to remember that, unlike some manufacturers, there’s a fine line as to where Dacia vehicles fall in the automotive market. When we consider that for a price of just over 19 thousand Euros we are getting a vehicle with the ability to carry up to seven passengers, we have to be more than satisfied.
Tested piece in Extreme trim and with extras Media Nav package (Navigation package with map coverage, smartphone mirroring, front tweeters), Extreme Technology package (el. Park. Brake, centre armrest, blind-spot monitoring, front sensors, driver’s seat without armrest), Reserve, Heated front seats and additionally the optional Dusty Green paintwork, is priced at €21,280.
The Dacia Jogger with the TCe 110 petrol engine and in seven-seater version is a very likeable little car. In some respects, though, it doesn’t deny that it’s a cheap car, but on the whole it’s a successful machine. It drives well, there’s plenty of space and it gets decent fuel economy. What more could one want from a 7 seater family car with this price tag!
