What is it?

It’s Dacia bringing its famed value-for-money approach to the 7-seater family car sector  and the Jogger adds to the brand’s model line up in the UK which now includes the Sandero, Sandero Stepway and Duster.

What it brings to the 7-seater sector is something for larger families at a more affordable price, offering the length and practicality of an estate car, the spaciousness of an MPV, and the styling of an SUV all packaged up in a price-to-spaciousness ratio that is unique to Dacia.

Smart thinking and clever touches feature heavily in the Jogger, from the ingenious modular roof rails to the innovative Media Control system that places the smartphone at the centre of the car’s multimedia system – more on that a little later.

There are two engines including the  TCe 110 turbocharged petrol while Dacia remains the only manufacturer to offer a full range of bi-fuel models, a commitment the All-New Jogger continues with the availability of the LPG TCe 100 Bi-Fuel engine. Joining the range this year is Dacia’s first hybrid powertrain option.

Launched in the UK in late 2021, the Jogger is based on the company’s modular CMF-B platform that also lies at the heart of the new Sandero. In the Jogger, a unique rear module extends the car’s length to just over 4.5m, making it the longest model in Dacia’s range. This extra length is key to the Jogger’s spaciousness, allowing it to deliver the same level of versatility as many larger models from the segment above.

The body structure has been reinforced in key areas to protect against the shocks that are a natural part of an active life, while a generous 200mm of ground clearance (unladen) ensures the Jogger will be more than up to the challenge of a family adventure.

The roof rails (depending on model) use an ingenious patented system that transforms them in just a few simple steps to accept anything from skis to mountain bikes, complete with a generous 80kg carrying capacity.

In line with Dacia’s brand ethos of offering customer-driven essentials all for unbeatable value, the Jogger is available in a choice of three well-equipped trim levels – Essential, Expression and Extreme.

Priced from just £18,295, the Jogger Essential includes manual air conditioning, cruise control with speed limiter, rear parking sensors, height- and reach-adjustable steering wheel, automatic headlights, electric front windows, Automatic Emergency Braking System (AEBS), and Dacia’s clever Media Control that places the smartphone at the centre of the infotainment experience.

From only £19,595, the Jogger Expression adds Dacia’s innovative modular roof rails, dark tinted rear windows, body-colour door handles, body-colour electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, automatic wipers, front fog lights, front and rear parking sensors with reversing camera, and clever 16-inch ‘Flex’ steel wheels that, although styled to replicate the appearance of alloy wheels, are more robust and affordable should they need to be replaced.

Also included is upgraded interior trim with Satin Grey door handles and a soft-feel steering wheel, keyless entry, electric parking brake, high central armrest with storage, automatic air conditioning, and Dacia’s 8-inch Media Display infotainment system with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Topping out of the range at £20,595, the Jogger Extreme gains a unique outdoor-themed exterior design with Copper Brown door mirrors, Copper Brown highlights on the roof bars and front fog light surrounds, a gloss black shark fin antenna, topographical pattern on the snorkel and lower doors, plus 16-inch black alloy wheels with Copper Brown Dacia logo on the centre caps.

What do we think?

Thanks to its 4.5m length and 2.9m wheelbase, the Dacia Jogger offers unrivalled interior space for a family of seven. With three full rows of seating, the Jogger can easily accommodate up to seven adults in comfort or, with the split-folding seats arranged into almost 60 possible configurations, up to 2,085 litres of cargo space.

The second-row seats offer plenty of seat height, similar to those in the front, together with generous foot- and knee-room. A simple tipping mechanism provides access to the third-row seats, made easier by longer rear doors, while an impressive 855mm of headroom and 127mm of knee-room allows two adults to sit in comfort.

With all seats in place, the boot offers a useful 212-litres of storage space, rising to 699-litres with the third-row seats folded and measured to the top of the backrest. Folding the second-row seats and removing the third-row increases that further to an impressive maximum 2,085 litres, while the long boot floor (2,000mm) can easily accommodate a pram or a child’s bike without disassembly.

Dacia’s ingenious design ensures the available space can be used in any number of ways, with four lashing rings, three load hooks, and elastic straps to hold loads safely and securely. With a 12V socket and ISOFIX child-seat mounts for the outer second-row seats, the Jogger offers maximum versatility.

Fold-down tray tables (standard on Extreme) and cup holders for the second-row seats ensure all occupants are kept entertained, while even those in the third row have their own armrests and tilt-opening windows.

There is 23 litres of storage space spread conveniently throughout the cabin. A generously sized 7-litre glove box is joined by front and rear door pockets capable of holding a 1-litre bottle, with a 1.3-litre lidded storage bin within the centre console and six cup-holders.

Three advanced multimedia and infotainment systems are available in the Jogger, each with a range of powerful connected features. Dacia’s Media Control system revolves around a smartphone docking station integrated into the dashboard. By using the screen that we carry with us every day – our smartphones – Dacia has created a way of maximising usability and familiarity, while also solving the problems caused by aftermarket windscreen mounts and charging cables.

Once the smartphone is held securely within the universal slot, the free Dacia Media Control app places the phone at the heart of the connected experience. Navigation, radio, music, telephone, and vehicle information are all now at the driver’s fingertips, accessed through the phone’s own voice recognition function or via the steering wheel-mounted controls. Music and navigation instructions are channelled through the car’s speakers thanks to the Bluetooth connection, while a conveniently located USB port handles charging duties.

If you bypass the docking station and just use the USB port, you’ll initially get Apple CarPlay on screen but it then disintegrates after a couple of minutes – or at least it did in our test vehicle.

Media Display upgrades the audio experience with four speakers, while an 8-inch touchscreen mounted high on the dashboard and angled towards the driver for maximum visibility takes over from the Media Control docking station. The system boasts both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while a new ‘Car’ tab gives access to various ADAS and vehicle settings.

Media Nav builds upon the Media Display system with the addition of smartphone replication for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a full in-car navigation function, and an upgraded audio system with six speakers and two USB ports.

Under the bonnet the TCe 110 1.0-litre three-cylinder direct injection turbocharged petrol engine develops 109hp and 200Nm of torque at 2,900rpm. It uses technical innovations such as variable valve timing, a variable displacement oil pump, an integrated exhaust manifold, and a particulate filter to achieve impressive performance while reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. It does struggle on the hills however, especially when fully loaded with people.

Coupled to a low friction six-speed manual transmission this powertrain delivers low CO₂ emissions (130g/km) and impressive fuel economy (48.7mpg WLTP combined).

Featuring the Dacia brand’s first hybrid petrol-electric powertrain, the Jogger HYBRID 140 boasts all the advantages of the rest of the Jogger range without compromising either cabin space or storage capacity, with the traction battery easily accommodated under the floor in place of the spare wheel.

Well tested within the Renault Group, the proven set-up sees a 1.6-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors – a 49hp traction motor and a smaller HSG (High-voltage Starter Generator) – plus an innovative multi-mode clutch-less gearbox that optimises gear changes and ensures a smooth power delivery.

During normal driving, the system automatically chooses the best combination of petrol or electric power to suit the prevailing conditions, and switches between them unobtrusively. Whether that calls for zero fuel consumption driving on electric power alone, rapid acceleration with the petrol engine and electric motor working together or using the engine to both drive the wheels and recharge the battery, Dacia’s hybrid system takes care of it all. The system can even use the electric motor to help fill-in the gaps in acceleration that naturally occur when changing gears, leading to exceptionally smooth power delivery and comfortable performance for everyone.

Power for the electric motor comes from a compact 1.2kWh 230V battery tucked away under the floor. It is recharged whenever the driver lifts their foot off the accelerator, but by shifting the drive selector into ‘B’ mode, the driver can choose to recuperate more energy, recharging the battery faster and increasing the braking effect.

This recovery of energy makes for an incredibly efficient drive. In fact, the Jogger HYBRID 140 can spend up to 80% of its time on city roads in full-electric mode, which equates to 40% fuel savings compared to a pure petrol model on the urban cycle.

All Dacia Jogger models feature six airbags, including curtain and side airbags to protect the abdomen, chest and head, as well as a range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

• Automatic Emergency Braking System (AEBS) is standard across the range and uses front-mounted radar to measure the distance to the vehicles in front and warn the driver should a risk of collision be detected. If the driver fails to take avoiding action, the system can amplify or apply the brakes automatically.
• Blind Spot Warning illuminates an LED within the door mirror to warn the driver if another vehicle may be concealed from view.
• Park Assist comprises ultrasonic rear sensors matched with a rear-view camera to provide both audible and visual assistance during parking manoeuvres.
• Hill Start Assist prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards on a hill by holding the brakes for a period of two seconds after the driver releases their foot from the pedal.

Electronic Stability Control, automatic headlights, cruise control with speed limiter, and emergency E-call are standard across the range, with an electric parking brake, blind spot warning, and reversing camera available on selected trim levels.

Extreme models also benefit from Extended Grip as standard. This clever feature, activated via a button on the centre console, adjusts the electronic stability control (ESC) settings to maximise the available traction on loose surfaces, helping drivers venture further off the beaten track.