When Dacia is mentioned, it’s often, somewhat disrespectfully, referred to as Renault’s cheap Romanian subsidiary. But honestly, does the Dacia Jogger released in 2022 look cheap? We don’t think so.
Inherited from the Dacia Sandero Stepway, the front, LED headlights and plastic-coated fenders and aprons, as well as the specified lower guard, look modern and stylish in combination with the new emblem on the radiator grille. The angular rear part reminds us a bit of Volvo’s VW Caddy with vertical taillights. Practical van with a modern crossover at the front, a wide tailgate at the rear and a pleasantly low loading sill.
Okay, in the cockpit it becomes more obvious where Dacia has saved. It was taken from Sandero almost unchanged and dominated by a lot of hard plastic. The embroidery looks solid and the fabric inserts provide a homely atmosphere. And in addition to the many practical storage compartments, there is a holder for the smartphone that turns into an infotainment system with the integration of standard onboard computers, cruise control and Dacia app. Options include seat heating, automatic air conditioning, rain sensor, reversing camera and two infotainment variants with eight-inch touchscreens. Not bad for a supposedly cheap brand.
Up to 2085 liters of space in the trunk
What moms and dads should appreciate most in the family car: there’s almost endless space in the Dacia Jogger Hybrid, whether it’s five or seven seats. At the front, we sit in more comfortable seats with better lateral support. But adults also feel comfortable in the second and third rows. Access through the wide side doors is child’s play thanks to the simple folding mechanisms of the seats. The 4.55-metre-long five-seater has room in the trunk of between 829 and 2094 liters. Luggage volume in seven seats of the same length varies between 212 and 2085 liters, depending on the seat configuration. Hybrid technology does not restrict luggage size.
So far, the Jogger has stayed with us as a one-liter three-cylinder petrol engine with 110 horsepower. Now there is a hybrid variant with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine and a combined electric motor and electric starter with a total 140 hp that not only makes the family car a little livelier, but also more economical. . The well-known hybrid technology comes from Renault Clio E-Tech and is combined with a 6-speed automatic transmission in the almost 1.5-ton Dacia Jogger.
Too much electric driving in the city
No surprises while driving: the systems blend well with each other. Only automatics can’t always decide when they want to upshift. Sometimes it takes longer, sometimes shorter, sometimes you need more, sometimes less. Of course, the combined drive from the combustion engine and electric motor doesn’t make the runner a sports car. But performance figures are acceptable for a cheap family car (0-100 km/h 9.8 h, top 167 km/h) and consumption figures are impressive.
With a WLTP consumption of 5.1 liters per 100 kilometers, the Jogger Hybrid 140 is exactly 0.8 liters below its petrol counterpart, the TCe 110. And: Dacia promises to be all-electric in city traffic up to 80 percent of the time. Unfortunately, our test route barely passed through the city – but the value is still good, even if it’s only half the time you’d ride with an electric walker.
4800 francs more for hybrid and automatic
But probably most interesting, how much does the more economical and more powerful hybrid technology in the Dacia Jogger cost? The basic version of the five-seat TCe 110 with a petrol engine and manual 6-speed gearbox is available starting at CHF 19,690 or CHF 20,690 with seven seats. The five-seater Hybrid 140 with petrol/electric and 6-speed automatic transmission starts at CHF 24,490 in the base version or CHF 25,390 in the seven-seater.
In our opinion, 4800 francs, which is a good investment for the more modern and economical drive variant. Dacia Switzerland also assumes that from September when the first Jogger Hybrid 140 will be delivered, around 40 percent of all Jogger buyers will opt for this model.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
