The latest Dacia Jogger, like those that came before it, shows you don’t need an SUV to carry up to seven people in comfort. For one thing, it’s way cheaper to buy than most SUVs and those fitted with the hybrid powertrain help save some money at the pumps. The Jogger plays at being an outdoorsy ‘go-anywhere’ car with its unpainted wheel arches and plastic panels on the doors, but really it’s a big daily-use family car. A few new updates – including the new-look exterior – bring the Jogger into line with the look and feel of the smaller Sandero, which has also been updated. It still has the shape of a classic estate car, which won’t be to everyone’s taste, but the aesthetic upgrades give it a more modern look to match the comfortable feeling on the inside. It doesn’t feel like a sports car behind the wheel, but that’s why it’s good… it knows its lane and all you need to do is whack it in drive and go about your day. The Jogger IS a good family car and we’ve always rated it, but the latest version has a good shot winning more drivers over from the SUV and crossover crowd.
Renault Group (Dacia's owner) was joint-first with Polestar in getting its answers to our green-rating survey back to us. The Jogger we tested uses a petrol engine as part of its hybrid powertrains, meaning it does lose points for producing tailpipe emissions despite being highly efficient and returning up to 60 mpg. However, Renault Group demonstrates a clear policy on supply of cobalt from conflict-affected areas, and closed loops are active for the recycling of copper, polypropylene and precious metals extracted from end-of-life vehicles or production scrap metal. Suppliers for batteries, steel, aluminium, polymers, tyres, electronic components and glass are required to provide the Carbon Footprint Record of their parts (covering scopes 1, 2, 3) and to submit proposals for reduction of such footprint to the group.
Running costs for a Dacia Jogger
“The Jogger’s low purchase price is already competitive, especially when compared to most SUVs, and can be broken down further on finance or on a lease”
The hybrid Joggers return around 50-60 mpg, which is excellent, and those running only the petrol engine can return up to 49mpg. The Jogger’s low purchase price is already competitive, especially when compared to most SUVs out there, and can be broken down into more manageable chunks on a good finance or lease deal. The battery in the hybrid system also recharges itself, so you won’t need to shell out on charging it up or a wallbox for your house. True, it's not as friendly on things likeVED tax rates, but when we wrap up its efficiency and wallet-friendly purchase price the hybrid model is the one we’d choose. And remember, you can opt for the lower trim level if you want to keep more cash in your pocket.
Expert rating: 4/5
Reliability of a Dacia Jogger
“The three-year warranty is very industry standard, but can be extended if you want to pony up for some added peace of mind”
This car uses tried and tested Renault tech – including the hybrid powertrain – so you can rest assured it’s already proved itself elsewhere in the group’s range. The three-year warranty is very industry standard, but can be extended if you want to pony up for some added peace of mind. However, get a Jogger on a three-year lease and you’ll be covered if anything untoward does happen before it goes back, and chuck on a service or breakdown package if you want to be covered for ANY eventuality.
Expert rating: 5/5
Safety for a Dacia Jogger
“It has airbags, Isofix child seat mounts on the outer middle-row seats, and a structure that reportedly holds up well in a crash”
Okay, so the Jogger has a one-star Euro NCAP safety rating but, in fairness to Dacia, this score was extrapolated from the related Sandero Stepway for the fact the testing body considered them "practically identical", which seems a bit harsh. Especially when you consider it was only things like the absence of seatbelt reminders for the Jogger’s third row being a highlighted flaw against an overall pretty good safety assessment. After all, it has airbags, Isofix child seat mounts on the outer middle-row seats, and a structure that reportedly holds up well in a crash. Euro NCAP also said its standard automatic emergency braking system was good, and we’re quick to add that hybrid models get rear parking sensors and a reversing camera fitted as standard. While it might not have the certificate to show it, the Jogger feels safe to drive and there are enough systems working to keep you out of harm. Our rating here takes into account the low Euro NCAP score while adding points for our experience with it. That said, it’s about time the Jogger got its own NCAP test, right?
Expert rating: 3/5
How comfortable is the Dacia Jogger
“You get three proper seats in the middle row, plus a smaller third row in the boot space that can handle two actual humans”
The hybrid Jogger we tested carries more weight than the pure petrol version, but feels more grown-up and reassuringly planted on the roads because of it. It’s smooth, (mostly) quiet and the electric boost comes in handy when you need to give it some welly. Steering is light and the automatic gearbox makes it a comfy drive. Comparing notes with our previous Jogger reviews, it’s good to see that the new Jogger loses none of its major pros. You get three proper seats in the middle row, plus a smaller third row in the boot space that can handle two actual humans. Take those two seats out and your reward is a generous boot we managed to fit two big folding electric bikes. The cabin has everything you’d need with tasteful materials and surrounds that never feel ostentatious (even at the higher trim), a good infotainment screen, loads of storage and plenty of charging and connection sockets. We like the fact the Jogger isn't trying to follow fashion and present as an SUV style car - it's just a practical family wagon, and a very good one. Pack it with people and things, and go on holiday in it. It’s what it was made for.
Expert rating: 4/5
Features of the Dacia Jogger
“Down the sides you’ll notice the protective plastic panels made of a proprietary recycled plastic called ‘Starkle’ (perhaps our favourite brand name for plastic)”
The latest Jogger has a few aesthetic upgrades, including a new front end with cool headlights and ‘pixel’ grille affectations, which have sharpened the overall look of the car. Down the sides you’ll notice the protective plastic panels made of a proprietary recycled plastic called ‘Starkle’ (perhaps our favourite brand name for plastic); at the highest trim level these feature a stylish graphic of mountains drawn in relief like you’d see on a map… see what we mean about it playing at being a go-anywhere vehicle? The rear end also features a new bumper and light cluster. Combine all of that with all the tech and interior specification we’ve discussed already and you have a good package indeed.
Expert rating: 4/5
Power for a Dacia Jogger
“While the hybrid's switching between electric and petrol power is smooth, it can be a bit loud when it just uses the petrol engine”
The Jogger’s hybrid system has some clever engineering behind it, there’s no doubting how efficient and smooth it makes driving it. But we (and Renault) know what really matters: how easy it is to live with. Let’s be blunt – it’s as simple as sticking it in D and getting on with your day. The school run, supermarket dashes or a family day out won’t trouble it one bit. It’s true to say that it’s not the slickest hybrid out there, because while the switch between electric and petrol power is smooth enough it can be a bit loud when it switches to petrol power. It’s noticeable, but not a deal breaker by any stretch. On our test drives it glided along silently on electric when it could and gave us a handy nudge when needed at traffic lights. The hybrid models also feel more refined, which isn’t to say the standard petrol version is a bad drive but you really notice the difference. Finally, diesel-level fuel economy goes a long way to justifying the extra cost for the refinement of a hybrid Jogger, but a test drive of your own is a must.
