The new Dacia Jogger.
The new Dacia Jogger.
Don’t get me started on the name of this car. It’s open to jokes, and I’m not even going to go there by deliberately adding a ‘D’ to the beginning of the moniker. Oops, I’ve kind of put that thought into your head now, haven’t I? Sorry.
Daft names aside, Dacia is going places – and has been for some time. The brand is moving in a successful direction, producing cars for people that don’t want to spend a fortune. It’s also manufacturing motors that are reliable, do what they say on the tin and come with a decent warranty.
Now Dacia's gone further by producing a car made for large families – or for the private hire cabbie – depending on how you look at a seven-seater. Hang on, did I say seven seats? Yes, I did. It’s not that seven chairs are unusual; what is remarkable is that Dacia has fashioned a car that blends estate car practicality with the roominess of an MPV and the design of an SUV.
Yep, I'm saying that the all-new Jogger exists in a category of its own. That's some feat, Dacia. Nice one.
Because you can’t quite define what the Jogger is, it makes the car interesting. Not in a Steve “interesting’ Davis snooker player way, but in a genuinely intriguing way.
When I told people I was going on the Dacia Jogger media launch, they weren’t that impressed. Some even joked about what a dull day it’d be. Instead, it was quite the opposite.
Why? Well, there’s something about an unpretentious underdog that makes you want to love it. It’s so refreshing going to a media event where you don’t get hours of tedious PR guff. You’re just told what the car’s about – you’re given the keys – and then you drive. It's simple – straightforward and bloomin' great, just like the Jogger.
Now, I’m writing from a father-of-three’s point of view. For me, the Jogger would be a perfect car for my family. As the kids get older, they often want me to give their friends a lift. And then there are the grandparents, the cousins etc. Basically, you can fit lots of people into the Jogger and become ‘Dad Taxi’ without much effort.
Speaking of taxis, I can honestly see bunches of cab firms queuing up to get their hands on a fleet of Joggers. And I bet it won't be long before we see legions of Dacia Joggers at Glasgow Airport and the like.
So, what’s this oddly named vehicle like to drive, then? Well, I could sum it up in one word: easy.
But, for the sake of this review, let me expand my driving impressions. Before I do, it’s important to say that there is a trio of grades available on the model.
The entry-level Jogger is called the Essential, then you get Comfort, and sitting at the top of the range is the Extreme SE. You only get one engine, though – and that’s a TCe 110. Fundamentally, it’s a turbo petrol propelled 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit – with 110 horses. Oh, and it’s hooked up to a jaunty little six-speed manual gearbox.
I took the keys to the middle ‘child’ – the Jogger Comfort. Off the line, it’s not slow. Indeed, on my own, the car felt nippy. So, the zero to 62mph time of 11.2 seconds on paper doesn’t reflect the sprightliness of the Dacia in reality. That said, if I’d had a full load of people and luggage, I suspect I might be wanting more ‘go’.
The Jogger is a light car, though, so it doesn’t need a massively powerful lump under the bonnet to make it feel energetic when it’s not packed to the brim with cargo. And the lightness is palpable.
Handling isn’t bad, either. The car is sticky in terms of traction in bends. I thought there’d be a heap of oversteer when exiting corners, but the Jogger’s lack of heft meant it kept going in the direction I wanted.
Naturally, despite its name, the Jogger is no athlete, but it's clear Dacia has spent time making sure this isn’t just a people-carrying brick on wheels.
You won’t have to reach into your pocket too far to run the Jogger, either. The TCe 110 powerplant returns around 47mpg and only releases 131g/km of CO2. But if you think you need something even more efficient, all you have to do is be patient. You see, Dacia’s initial hybrid option will be joining the Jogger line-up in 2023.
Inside, the Jogger’s cabin is well arranged with dark, plush surfaces and discreet flashes of silver around the steering wheel and the gearstick. You get air conditioning controlled from proper old-school dials rather than digital ones.
The infotainment screen on the Comfort model is user-friendly and boasts sharp graphics. The system is prepped to take Apple CarPlay/Android Auto so that you can use your phone’s mapping and navigation. Of course, you can also play music from your handset this way and legally make and receive calls/texts without touching your phone. Mind you, you don't get a screen at all if you select the basic Essential Jogger (you get a phone holder as a substitute), but satellite navigation is factory fitted into the flagship Extreme SE model.
Practicality is why you'll want this car, so it'll not surprise you that space is all around you in the Jogger. You won't lose any sleep finding a comfy driving position, either.
The Jogger’s central row of chairs is voluminous, and even the loftiest grown-ups will find they can chill out there. Adults will be easily housed in the rear-most third tier of seats, too - although this row is more for the kids.
What’s more, the Jogger’s seven seats can be taken out if required, and the middle row of chairs can be folded flush.
With all seats in position, the Jogger offers 212 litres of cargo space, but fold the middle seats down, and the size swells to 2,085-litres, which is extraordinary. It doesn’t stop there, though - there are around 60 configurations when positioning the middle and rear seats.
Safety-wise, Dacia’s latest product is yet to be put through the mincer by the crash-test specialists at Euro NCAP. But with airbags, advanced emergency braking and even rear parking sensors on all models, the Jogger is set up to protect its many occupants appropriately.
Overall, the Jogger surpassed my expectations. And I've told that to the people who were less than complimentary about what this Dacia would offer. It is commodious, level-headed, adaptable, well-furnished - and even pleasurable to drive. The Dacia Jogger is meant to be an inexpensive seven-up car that doesn’t feel bargain-basement. And, in that respect, Dacia has more than fulfilled its brief.
| Dacia Jogger Comfort TCe 110 (as tested) | |
|---|---|
| Max speed | 114 mph |
| Acceleration | 0-62mph in 11.2 secs |
| Combined MPG | 47.1 mpg (WLTP) |
| Engine layout | 1-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Max power | 110 PS |
| CO2 emissions | 131 g/km |
| Price | £16,595 |
