MPV and SUV tropes fuse with a compact seven-seater of likeably humble aspect
The new Dacia Jogger is a seven-seat, C-segment MPV – on the face of it, the kind of car that a great many European car makers once made (think Ford Grand C-Max, Renault Grand Scénic and Vauxhall Zafira) but whose place in the market has lately been usurped by the crossover SUV.However, this isn’t a classic monocab MPV – and nor is it Dacia’s first MPV, although the UK market never saw either of its predecessors (the Moroccan-built Lodgy and Dokker). From its styling to its platform to its interior layout, the Jogger ploughs a new furrow.Mixing crossover and MPV design cues, the Jogger is nothing more or less than Europe’s cheapest seven-seat passenger car, but its versatility goes further than even that would imply. In fact, we think it’s one of the best MPVs you can buy today. Removable second- and third-row seats give the car van-like cargo capacity when needed; while standard roof bars that can be converted to form their own simple take on a roof rack make for even greater carrying potential.The Jogger comes to the UK market with an entry-level price that doesn’t just make it cheap – something you would expect of a Dacia – but that also gives it a relative pecuniary advantage worth more than £10,000 compared with some seven-seat MPV rivals.The Dacia Jogger line-up at a glanceThe Jogger comes with a choice of two engines with a couple of transmission options and only three equipment levels.Two engines are offered in the car: firstly Renault’s turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol, which makes 109bhp and a healthy 148lb ft of torque and drives through a six-speed manual gearbox.A 1.6-litre full-hybrid petrol-electric option, also currently powering the Renault Clio E-Tech, provides the Jogger’s only two-pedal powertrain option.Entry-level Essential has no infotainment system, although it does have stereo speakers through which your smartphone can play music or digital radio. It also comes with manual air conditioning and manual cruise control, as well as automatic headlights and an AEB crash-avoidance system as standard.Comfort cars add modular roof rails, automatic wipers, a reversing camera and touchscreen infotainment, while Extreme SE models get factory-fit sat-nav, wireless smartphone mirroring, alloy wheels and heated seats.EnginesPowerFrom1.0 TCe109bhp£16,9551.6 hybrid (auto)138bhp£22,415
