“The Jogger has the best in each category: the length of a van, the space of a people carrier and the look of an SUV”. That's how those responsible for Dacia introduced us to the jogger , a family crossover that is available with five and seven seats.
This is the fourth key model for the Renault Group's Romanian brand strategy, after the Sandero, Duster and Spring, Dacia's first 100% electric. By 2025 the brand has already confirmed that it intends to launch two more new models.
But while that doesn't happen, the "next man" is really this Jogger, who according to those responsible for Dacia was named with a name that evokes "sports, outdoors and positive energy" and that reflects "robustness and versatility".
jogger the crossover
And if there's one thing this Dacia Jogger appears to be, it's precisely robust and versatile. We've already seen it live and were impressed by the proportions of a model that comes to replace the Logan MCV and Lodgy.
Halfway between a “rolled up pants” van and an SUV, this crossover — which uses the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance's CMF-B platform, ie, the same as the Dacia Sandero — is 4.55 m long, which makes it the biggest model in the Dacia range (at least until the production version of the even bigger Bigster)
At the front, the similarities to the Sandero are obvious, with a very wide grille extending to the headlamps, which feature LED technology and a “Y” signature. The hood, on the other hand, has two very pronounced creases that help to reinforce the feeling of robustness of this model.
At the rear, the highlight goes to the vertical taillights (we're not the only ones to find similarities with the Volvo XC90, right?), which allowed, according to those responsible for Dacia, to offer a very wide tailgate and reinforce the feeling of width of this Jogger.
Already in profile, and so that this Jogger wasn't just a stretched Sandero, the Romanian manufacturer's designers and engineers found two solutions: flared panels on the rear wheel arches, helping to create a more muscular shoulder line, and a break in the upper frame of the windows, above the B pillar, which has a (positive) difference of 40 mm.
This not only allowed for a distinct profile to be created, but also allowed for a gain in headroom for those traveling in the rear seat. But there we go…
In profile, the wheels stand out, which in the version we saw live were 16'' and filled the wheel arches relatively well, for the plastic protections that help reinforce the adventurous character of this model and, of course, for the bars modular roof racks that can support up to 80 kg.
Space to give and sell
Moving into the cabin, it's hard to find differences for the Sandero, which isn't even bad news, or it wouldn't have been one of the fields where the Sandero evolved the most.
In the more equipped versions, it has a fabric strip that extends over the dashboard and is very pleasant to look at and touch and features, like the Sandero, three multimedia options: Media Control, in which our smartphone becomes the multimedia center from Jogger, thanks to an application developed by Dacia and which has a very interesting interface; Media Display, with an 8’’ central touchscreen and allows integration (wired) with the smartphone through the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay systems; and Media Nav, which maintains the 8’’ screen, but allows connection to the smartphone (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) wirelessly.
But inside this Jogger what stands out the most is the space on board. In the second row of benches, where we are treated to two tables with cup holders (plane type), I was impressed with the available head space and the ease of access, compliments that can be extended — and this is what is most notable … — to the third row of benches.
The two third row rear seats (the version we saw was configured for seven seats) of the Jogger is a far cry from being just for kids. I am 1.83 m and I was able to sit comfortably in the back. And contrary to what happens with these types of proposals, I didn't get my knees too high.
Neither in the second row of seats nor in the third there are USB outputs, however, and since in these two places we find 12 V sockets, it is a gap something that can be very easily solved with an adapter. On the other hand, we are treated to two small windows that can open slightly in step and with two cup holders.
With the seven seats in position, the Dacia Jogger has 160 liters of load capacity in the trunk, a figure that rises to 708 liters with two rows of seats, and can be expanded to 1819 liters with the second row folded down and the third removed.
And whenever the two rear seats aren't needed, know that it's very easy (and quick) to remove them. I did this process twice during this first live contact with Jogger and I can assure you that it didn't take me more than 15 seconds to remove each of the seats.
In addition to this, we also have 24 liters of storage spread throughout the cabin, which allow us to store almost everything. Each of the front doors can hold a bottle of up to one liter, the center console has a capacity of 1.3 l and there are six cup holders in the cabin. The glove compartment has seven liters.
‘Extreme’ Jogger, even more adventurous
The Jogger will be available with a limited series — called “Extreme” — which has an even more pronounced off road inspiration.
It has an exclusive “Terracotta Brown” finish – the model's launch color – and features several details in glossy black, from the rims to the roof bars, via the antenna (fin-type), the rear-view mirrors the sides and the stickers on the sides.
In the passenger compartment, the red seams, the specific mats for this version and the rear parking camera stand out.
And the engines?
The new Dacia Jogger is “in service” with the 1.0l and three-cylinder petrol TCe block that produces 110 hp and 200 Nm, which is associated with a six-speed manual gearbox, and with a bi-fuel (petrol) version and GPL) that we have already praised so much at Sandero.
In the bi-fuel version, called ECO-G, the Jogger loses 10 hp compared to the TCe 110 — it stays at 100 hp and 170 Nm — but Dacia promises consumption on average 10% lower than the equivalent of gasoline, with thanks to the two fuel tanks, the maximum autonomy is around 1000 km.
Hybrid only in 2023
As expected, the Jogger will receive, in the future, the hybrid system that we already know, for example, the Renault Clio E-Tech, which combines a 1.6 l gasoline engine with two electric motors and a 1-inch battery. .2 kWh.
The result of all this will be a maximum combined power of 140 hp, which will make this the most powerful version in the Jogger range. The transmission will be in charge — as in the Clio E-Tech — of an evolved multi-speed automatic gearbox, with technology inherited from Formula 1.
When does it arrive and how much will it cost?
The new Dacia Jogger will only reach the Portuguese market in 2022, more specifically in March, so prices for our country are not yet known.
Even so, Dacia has already confirmed that the entry price into central Europe (in France, for example) will be around 15,000 euros and that the seven-seater variant will represent around 50% of the model's total sales.