Auto Express

Dacia Jogger: long-term test review


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In terms of value for money, our Jogger is a five-star car that shines all day long. My only reservations are small compromises to keep things affordable. I love my music and want to hear it through the best system I can afford.

  • Mileage: 2,900
  • Economy: 43.1mpg

When you start running a new car from the Auto Express team and the first serious journey you take is to drive the car to our annual New car award Take a photo, you know you’re a winner – literally! The Runner contact Best Family Car Award for 2022, and it even comes out with shouts of full use New car of the year gongs, only to be beaten by Nissan Ariya.

It’s easy to see why Dacia disputed; it impressed me from day one. I knew about the great, flexible seat, tested an example in March. I can fit seven into the car if needed, and I’m not talking about squeezing them in either; I’m six feet tall and could easily sit in one of the two back seats. The terraced roofline and sculptural ceiling really help here, and the legroom is decent enough as well. However, getting there wasn’t the most graceful procedure as I needed to fold the rear bench forward and then wriggle into the rear area.

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Both third-row seats can fully unfold, but there’s little point in removing them, as both can fold forward to sit against the backs of the middle row. This added versatility means I can ride like a regular five-seater hatchback and transfer larger loads in the boot or choose to carry six people with enough space for a stroller. All very smart.

It’s also good to drive, if not spectacular. I found the Dacia’s suspension a bit bumpy over potholes and urban speed bumps, but was impressed with the steering and handling. It’s more like a small car when driving around town, than a SUV or asset. The 1.0 liter engine sounds a bit industrial, especially after driving EV for the past six months, but I’ve forgotten how much I like a manual transmission.

Our Jogger’s six gears make it great for the highway, although most of my rides are on the city. I’m currently hitting 43.1mpg with little effort – not bad considering the very heavy lifting of the aircon has been done recently.

But the main way the Jogger has won me over is with its standard kit. I like to play a game where I lift up family or friends and chat with them about the gadgets in the car, then let them guess the overall price.

So far, estimates range from £24,000 to £36,000 – almost double the actual figure of £17,840 (including £895 options). Passengers were surprised. To be fair, these conjectures come from friends who aren’t car enthusiasts, but the truth is there isn’t too much in the cabin to suggest that Dacia is a budget brand. The majority of switchgear comes from sister brands Renaultwith some of them like in Clio supermini.

Dacia has been clever in choosing only the key tech buyers really want, which keeps it cheap. I was pleasantly surprised to see that our Jogger comes with front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, cruise control, active braking and blind spot warning. The remote lock activates when you step into the car, which is handy when carrying the baby or shopping (both of which are on my weekly to-do list). The steering wheel has controls that let you switch to a digital speedometer – easier to see than old-school dials – plus mpg indicators on the infotainment screen.

This mid-level Comfort trim – the closest equivalent is now Expression after range adjustment – misses out on built-in navigation. You get it in Extreme SE, but when Apple CarPlay As standard, I don’t think the extra £800 for the top trim is worth it.

So is there any downside? Well, with all things in life, you get what you pay for. Lucky to drive new cars all the time, I’m used to a certain level of technology, and the Dacia’s sound system is a bit small, while the DAB radio can lose signal. If not, I’m very happy. I’ve always preferred to shop for ingredients in Aldi over Waitrose – what you do with them matters.

Model:

Dacia Jogger Comfort TCe 110

On the fleet since:

June 2022

New price:

£16,495

Engine:

1.0 liter 3-cylinder, turbo petrol, 108bhp

CO2 / tax:

131g/km / £165

Option:

Metallic paint (£595), Spare wheel (£300)

Insurance*:

Group: 15 Quotes: £362

Mileage:

2,900

Economy:

43.1mpg

Any problems?

Far-out

* Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42 year old in Banbury, Oxon, for three points



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