dacia launches the jogger as the successor to the lodgy – and offers seven seats. © dacia
With up to seven seats, the jogger model takes the dacia brand to new dimensions. But there are even more reasons why it could outstrip the previous bestseller sandero.
The term "cheap brand" is not what it used to be in the car world either. Thanks to the romanian manufacturer dacia, it has emancipated itself from the smell of inferior discount goods and cheekily celebrates the status symbol for those who think they don’t need one.
Comfort systems are now available in abundance, but radar and ultrasonic sensors are still considered dispensable. Customers, recently more than 50.000 in germany, still like to reach out.
Especially those who are looking for maximum value for their hard-earned money when buying a car and don’t have the option of deducting lease payments from their taxes as operating costs. Dacia is one of the brands with the highest share of private customers in europe. When the jogger arrives at dealerships in march, this share will almost certainly continue to grow.
Clio platform greatly stretched
Despite its contrasting color, the jogger looks rather unassuming, appearing a bit like a station wagon with increased ground clearance, but is only 4.55 meters long and has a distinctive bend in the roof line above the B-pillar. According to the manufacturer’s marketing prose, it wants to be a "family car with off-road feeling", thanks to its versatility "the swiss army knife among passenger cars". The jogger, whose technical basis is the CMF-B platform on which the Renault clio is also based, promises plenty of space and functionality
the dacia jogger leaves an acceptable impression in terms of quality impression. Photo: dacia
It may only have a wheelbase of 2.58 meters, but the jogger’s platform shows its versatility: the wheelbase of the dacia newcomer stretches to almost 2.90 meters, enough to accommodate three rows of seats under the 1.63-meter-high roof. At the same time, 200 millimeters of ground clearance allay excessive worries about risking damage to the exhaust system or suspension when leaving paved roads. Nevertheless, the jogger is not an off-road vehicle – it lacks more than just all-wheel drive.
Interior with little hard plastic
The interior is businesslike, but not too rakish. Textile upholstery has been used on many trims and surfaces, creating a certain homeliness. If you don’t think this is the latest chic, you should realize that the weave avoids large-scale hard plastic landscapes, which have now become rampant in lower-end cars.
another positive feature is that the doors are fitted with sturdy handles that can be used to overcome frozen rubber seals. With the narrow folding handles, as they are installed for example in the duster, this is hardly possible.
astonishingly comprehensive equipment
Despite the manageable exterior length, the space is quite respectable: at the front, passengers have a cabin width of 1.41 meters at their disposal, while the three-seater, divisible bench behind it is 1.37 meters wide. For the two occupants in row three, 1.28 meters is adequate – once you’re in there. squeezing through between the C-pillar and row two takes a certain amount of practice. The loading edge is a pleasingly low 68 centimeters, and the maximum loading volume after removing row three and folding down row two is 1820 liters.
The cabin also has plenty of storage and stowage compartments, which are said to add up to 23 liters. dacia offers three multimedia systems in the four different equipment lines. What a top jogger for not even 19.000 euros on board is impressive: electric windows all around, rain sensor, automatic air conditioning, electrically heated and adjustable exterior mirrors, rear view camera, cruise control, acoustic parking aid, blind spot warning, heated front seats, aluminum wheels and darkened rear side windows are not yet the complete list of features for which other manufacturers like to charge extra. However, height-adjustable seat belts are not available. the keyless entry system only works well if you haven’t forgotten the keycard, which can’t be attached to any bundle or trailer, in your clothes from the day before.
Up to 1000 kilometers range
Initially, the jogger will only be available with a three-cylinder engine and manual six-speed transmission. The power unit has 999 cubic centimeters and a turbocharger elicits 101 or 110 hp, depending on the version selected. The entry-level engine can alternatively be fueled with autogas (LPG), which is known to be the most economical automotive fuel for internal combustion engines. The two tanks are 40 and 50 liters in size, so that 1000 kilometers range is not wishful thinking.
dacia has announced a mild hybrid version for 2023; according to the manufacturer, PHEVs or pure electric models are not expected until the thumbscrews of the EU emissions regulations start to hurt.
Price from 13.990 euros
prices for the dacia jogger start at 14.000 euro. Photo: dacia
Even a turbo-fired one-liter engine is no torque giant, so the 170 newton meters (in the tce 100) are not really good for lively driving maneuvers, despite the comparatively low weight of 1300 kilograms. the jogger is a highly flexible utility car whose strengths lie not in the left-hand lane, but in its versatility and frugal handling. The tce 110 (200 newton meters of torque) is noticeably more agile, as long as you operate the gear lever skillfully. maximum torque is available from 2900 revs upwards. According to the WLTP standard, the various joggers should get by on between 5.7 and 7.6 liters of fuel per 100 km; on this test drive, between 5.9 (gasoline, highway) and nine liters (LPG, city traffic and highway) were logged.
dacia puts its price challenge to the competition at 13.990 euro. A fiat tipo station wagon for example starts at 7500 euro more. The dacia jogger "extreme +", which only has a special price option for the paint, costs 18 euros.790 euro.