There are certain automakers that we are alienated from, but make quite wholesome and practical cars in other parts of the world. Dacia is one such manufacturer, which has quite the repo for no-frills practical and cheap cars in Europe. Dacia is one of those bread-and-butter makers that locks horns with Skoda most of the time.
And this time around, Dacia might have an ace up its sleeve to surpass Skoda's supremacy in Europe, thanks to the all-new Dacia Jogger. The name might sound uninspiring, but this MPV/ estate is a whole new level of affordability, practicality, and accessibility. In short, this car is the all-rounder you will ever need. Things are looking quite good for Dacia since they have signed up Ex-Aston Martin design direction -Miles Nurnberger as well.
So, expect similar and better cool-looking cars in the future. The fusion of muscular and sharp looks: SUV-ish potential, and an interior that can be sorted out in 60 different layouts, makes the Dacia Jogger a steal for its proposed 15,000 Euros (the equivalent of below $18,000). That's insane value and space for the money! But the catch here is that Dacia Jogger is only for the European market.
The Dacia Jogger is dirt-cheap for a car that looks sharp, has beefy SUV credentials, gets 7 spacious seats, and dials up our love for estates.
A Brief On Renault's Romanian Cousin: Dacia
Dacia is the bread-and-butter maker in Europe. They have been building cheap no-nonsense cars that have been disrupting the well-versed likes of Skodas and Volkswagens, which are considered to be the best first-time purchase among cars. Dacia is owned by Renault and many of its cars are rebranded and sold across the world like the Dacia Duster and Lodgy.
The cooler new Dacia Jogger is a successor to the boring Lodgy, Dokker, and Logan estates, and what a transformation it is! In fact, Dacia's portfolio has been revamped with an all-new design language that makes its cars look beefier and more upmarket.
Cheap Estates Are Gonna Be Way Cooler Now
Estates were once the coolest modes of transport, even desirable than 2-seater sports cars. This was because estates beautifully fused sportiness and downright practicality without a fuss. Audi RS2 was an icon that showed us that family-hauling can be wickedly fast. Well, the all-new Dacia Jogger isn't fast, but it puts forth a handsome face, that puts a smashing value on what it offers.
The First-Ever Hybrid Dacia Will Be A Jogger
At launch later this year, the Dacia Jogger will be offered in two engine options - a 1.0-liter turbo inline-4 gasoline and a bi-fuel version of the same; both of which churn out around 100 HP. Dacia will for the first time offer a hybrid motor ever in its history, with the Jogger later on in 2023.
This will be a 1.6-liter petrol motor coupled to two electric motors and a 1.2 kWh battery pack. It will be offered only with FWD configuration despite its "off-roading" appeal. Its performance graph is quite wholesome for the price and helps it be an all-rounder without breaking a sweat.
Dacia Jogger Interior Has 7 Seats And 60 Layouts
On the inside, things have changed for the better and the new Jogger has one of the most versatile and practical interior layouts in its class. The extended wheelbase truly helps in providing a comfortable experience in all 3 rows. This 7-seater MPV can be adjusted in 60 different layouts with the second row also being foldable in a 60:40 ratio manner.
The boot space with all 3 rows up is a healthy 160 liters which go up to a whopping 708 liters if the 3rd row is removed. Yes, none of them fold flat, and the only way to maximize cargo space is by removing the third row and vertically strapping the second row behind the first. The dashboard is clean and has a floating infotainment layout.
Nothing plush here, but neither is the quality sub-par. As for the technology front, it gets an 8-inch touchscreen unit with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, onboard navigation, and 4 or 6 speakers. You can seat 7 occupants comfortably, or convert the Jogger into your perfect travel companion, anywhere!
Dacia Jogger Looks Beefy For An MPV
We are clearly digging Dacia's new design language. It's refreshing, nostalgic, and makes the Jogger look quite upmarket. The muscular lines around the hood and side profile clearly put forth its SUV-ish vibe well. The tall LED taillamp layout is from a bygone era. Practicality and versatility are given much importance here and that is exactly why the taller lights are back, as it allows for a wider tailgate design.
The design is inspired by the Bigster SUV concept and the Jogger is based on the CMF-B platform that it also shares with the all-new Sandero as well. It gets 200 mm (7.8 in.) of ground clearance, the wheelbase is longer than Samdero by 300 mm (11.8 in.), and has a length of 4537 mm (178.6 in.) (making it the longest Dacia yet). The cool-looking roof rails are quite functional and these adjustable ones can hold up to 80 kgs (176 pounds) in weight.
Dacia Jogger Will Be The Cheapest 3-Row MPV
Dacia has slated the Jogger to launch in select European countries in 2022 with production starting from November 2021. But if the Dacia Jogger starts from 15,000 Euros as proposed, then this will be the cheapest 4-row MPV/ estate in all of Europe and that is going to upset Skoda and Volkswagen. There are no chances of us getting this versatile offering, as it doesn't have the target audience out there. Sure, it can do a lot of things but is too dull on the performance front to make much sense.
Sources: Media.dacia.com, Topgear.com, Autocar.co.uk