Driven: The Dacia Jogger 1.0 TCe LPG Is Your Budget-Friendly Family Hauler

In a world the place reasonably priced household automobiles are an endangered species, Dacia took benefit of Renault Group’s elements bin, creating one of many most cost-effective seven-seaters in Europe. Surprisingly, the Dacia Jogger is just not an LCV-based minivan however extra a extra fashionable crossover station wagon that’s accessible with petrol, LPG, and hybrid powertrains. We not too long ago obtained the keys to the bi-fuel model, to be able to take a look at its practicality and value-for-money credentials.

Dacia launched the Jogger in 2021, however up to date it with its new branding in 2022 alongside the remainder of the lineup. The Jogger we’re driving left the manufacturing unit earlier than the early facelift, which explains the previous grille and emblem. No less than it’s the full-spec Excessive Restricted Version with all of the goodies. Thoughts you, the recognition of flagship trims prompted Dacia to reintroduce the Excessive with barely completely different coloration mixtures for 2023, and broaden it to extra fashions.

Lengthy As A Wagon And Excessive As A Crossover

When checked out from the entrance, the Jogger might be simply mistaken for a Sandero Stepway, because the mechanically-related fashions share the identical facial options. Nevertheless, a glimpse on the profile reveals that the Jogger is considerably longer and barely taller than the Sandero, making it clear we’re speaking a couple of standalone mannequin and never a bodystyle variant. That is much more evident on the again, the place the Volvo-style taillights seem like no different Dacia and the practically vertical minimize of the big tailgate communicates its give attention to practicality.

Fortunately, the Jogger doesn’t have the hearse-style look of some station wagons, as a lot of the further size goes into the stretched wheelbase and never within the rear overhang. The truth is, the two,897 mm (114 inches) wheelbase is a full 293 mm (11.5 inches) longer than the Sandero, whereas the size of 4,547 mm (179 inches) is 206 mm (8.1 inches) longer than the Duster. This makes the Jogger the brand new king of the Dacia vary by way of footprint, at the very least till the Bigster flagship SUV arrives subsequent 12 months. Moreover, the plastic cladding together with the modular roof rails and the beneficiant 200 mm (7.8 inches) floor clearance improve the crossover stance of the FWD-only mannequin, whereas the latter makes it more durable for its stomach to scrape on delicate off-roading programs.

Roomy And Modular Cabin

Shifting inside, the stretched wheelbase instantly exhibits its deserves because it allowed Dacia designers so as to add three properly-sized seats on the rear bench which is considerably wider than the one within the Sandero / Logan. This was made attainable by shifting the rear wheels additional to the again and positively provides practicality factors to the mannequin. The identical applies to the taller roof which ends up in heaps of headroom for the rear passengers that sit greater than these within the entrance, enhancing the visibility and the ethereal feeling of the cabin.

Usually talking, practicality is near that of conventional minivans, with fold-out tables on the seatbacks, cupholders for all passengers, and 20.1 lt (0.7 cubic toes) of in-cabin storage. Nevertheless, the spotlight of the Jogger is the optionally accessible seven-seater structure (2+3+2). The 2 further seats on the boot are foldable and simply detachable so shopping for the three-row Jogger doesn’t imply it’s a must to completely compromise boot house.

Entry to the third row proved to be simpler than I anticipated and the house again there’s greater than ample for an average-sized grownup. I’m 6.04 ft tall and I had sufficient headroom, barely restricted legroom, and nice visibility because of the generously-sized rear home windows. Those that need the utmost accessible legroom can fold the second row and rework the Jogger right into a budget-friendly four-seater limo (extra about that in a separate story).

Dacia says there are greater than 60 mixtures by way of seating layouts, prioritizing passenger or cargo house in response to your wants. Throughout my time with the Jogger, I loved the modularity of the cabin, and the way simple it was to create the specified structure for the event. The ample house allowed me to take my prolonged household on a 30-minute journey, carrying a driver, 5 adults, a child on its devoted seat, and some small baggage of bags with none issues or complaints.

The one draw back is the tiny boot of 160 lt (5.7 cubic toes) when all seven seats are in place, which means {that a} household of seven will want a roof field for longer journeys. Nonetheless, this was to be anticipated from a 4,547 mm (179 inches) lengthy car that’s primarily based on a supermini platform. One other factor is that whereas it’s simple to take away the third row, if you wish to hold them folded within the automobile there’s a huge hole with the boot ground, making all that house sort of impractical.

Nonetheless, should you take the additional step and go away your two further seats at dwelling, you get entry to a powerful 696 lt (24.6 cubic toes) of cargo house which is greater than most individuals would ever want in a passenger car. This makes it attainable to put in Dacia’s brand-new €1,490 ($1,589) Sleep Pack accent that converts the Jogger into an all-around camper, particularly should you mix it with the rear tent extension. Lastly, should you additionally fold the second row, the Jogger transforms into an LCV impersonator, providing an enormous 1,807 lt (63.8 cubic toes) of cargo house. Word that each one the aforementioned figures have been measured with the VDA technique.

Onerous Plastics, Important Gear

The dashboard appears to be like acquainted to Dacia followers as it’s carried over from the Sandero Stepway. This implies it has the identical arduous scratchy plastics, though it’s arduous to count on one thing completely different from such an reasonably priced providing. Entry-level fashions include a easy smartphone dock, however high-end variations just like the one we drove come customary with a free-standing 8-inch touchscreen for the fairly fundamental infotainment system which fortunately helps wi-fi Android Auto / Apple CarPlay. There may be additionally a barely squeaky built-in smartphone holder between the infotainment and the instrument cluster, and a useful USB-C charging port behind it for charging your system.

Different options within the Excessive trim embrace the auto local weather management with the extensively used Renault-sourced dials, a worse-than-average six-speaker audio system, and dashboard inserts that seem like the carpet of a ferry boat. Fortunately the latter has been changed by the wear-resistant and easy-to-clean MicroCloud materials within the 2023 mannequin. Don’t count on any fancy digital instrument cluster although since all Jogger trims get analog dials and a fundamental journey laptop from the ‘90s.

An vital draw back is the shortage of ADAS which resulted in a single-star EuroNCAP security score for the Jogger that may be a deal-breaker for some consumers. The Romanian automaker insists that its clients don’t need methods just like the lane departure warning, so that they saved cash by not providing them in any respect. The truth is, driving aids within the flagship trim are restricted to auto headlights/wipers, automated braking, parking sensors, hill-start help, a rear-view digicam, and an non-obligatory blind spot warning. Personally, whereas I perceive the necessity of preserving the value low, I’m extra appreciative of corporations like Toyota and Suzuki who supply a fairly beneficiant ADAS suite as customary in all trims independently of the phase.

Comfy Experience, Noisy Engine, Gradual When Loaded

The Dacia Jogger relies on the longest accessible model of Renault Group’s CMF-B structure. The experience is kind of comfy despite the fact that it lacks the refinement of the mechanically-related Renault Captur. The upper heart of gravity and elevated weight in comparison with the Sandero brings a wholesome quantity of physique roll though not sufficient to scare the driving force at any level. The steering is mild and doesn’t have a lot suggestions, however this isn’t a lot of an issue as the general setup is just not destined for attacking B-roads. Regardless of the absence of rear discs (all variants include rear drums), brakes proved to be adequate even when the automobile was loaded. Within the metropolis, the Jogger is less complicated to maneuver than you’d count on and feels extra like a supermini than a three-row crossover. The massive home windows supply wonderful visibility for all passengers, with the parking sensors and rear-view digicam of the flagship trim coming in useful when navigating in tight parking areas.

The tiny turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine below the bonnet is appropriate with each LPG (liquid petroleum fuel) and common petrol. Whereas the numbers recommend a distinction within the output and torque figures relying on the kind of gas used, that is barely noticeable when driving. The mill produces 99 hp (74 kW / 100 PS) and 170 Nm (125 lb-ft) of torque when working on LPG, or 90 hp (67 kW / 91 PS) and 160 Nm (118 lb-ft) when working on petrol. The heavier seven-seater variant wants 13 seconds (LPG) or 13.2 seconds (petrol) for the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) dash, however the brief gearing of the six-speed handbook gearbox and the low-end torque of the engine makes it really feel zippier in actual life and sluggish solely when totally loaded.

On the freeway, should you carry passengers you don’t have the arrogance of overtaking, however the powertrain is able to reaching and constantly sustaining speeds of 140 km/h (87 mph) with none issues. There’s a little bit of aerodynamic noise, however not sufficient to compromise the passenger’s well-being on longer journeys. The sound of the engine in greater revs might be irritating at occasions, because of the lack of insulation supplies, however fortunately you’ll be able to hold it quiet utilizing the final gear of the six-speed handbook transmission.

The not too long ago revealed Dacia Jogger Hybrid needs to be a greater possibility for these eager about efficiency figures because the quickest and strongest variant of the Jogger. Nonetheless, the additional value of electrification won’t be value it on this explicit kind of auto as it would definitely restrict its value-for-money credentials.

Cheaper To Run Than A Diesel

And now we coated its driving manners let’s discuss working prices. You may select the popular gas from a devoted button, however in actuality, you can be driving with LPG for as a lot as attainable since petrol is twice costlier, at the very least with the present costs. Thus, given that you’ve got entry to the LPG community, the Jogger might be each cheaper to run and cleaner than your common non-electrified automobile with vital advantages in the long run.

Filling up the 40-liter (10.6 gallons) LPG tank required round €32 ($34) in Greece, though should you reside in different nations it might be lower than €20 ($21.3). The LPG vary we obtained was round 360 km (224 miles) with a median consumption of 11 lt/100 km (21.1 mpg) primarily on the freeway, though we might go additional than that with a extra cautious use of the fuel pedal. Dacia’s claimed common WLTP consumption of seven.8 lt/100 km (30 mpg) could be arduous to realize, although, particularly in a car that’s usually loaded.

When the LPG tank is empty, you’ll be able to depend on the regular-sized 50-liter (13.2 gallons) fuel tank which required round €90 ($95.8) to refill with the present costs in Greece. Once more, gas consumption is greater than your typical 1.0-liter supermini because of the heavier physique of the Jogger, so I might count on one thing nearer to eight.5 lt/100 km (27.7 mpg) in on a regular basis life fairly than the marketed WLTP determine of 5.7 lt/100 km (41.20 mpg). In any case and relying on the driving type, the mixed petrol and LPG vary might be 900-1,000 km (560-621 miles) for individuals who don’t like refueling stops.

Pricing And Rivals

When it was initially launched final 12 months, the Dacia Jogger LPG began from as little as €18,880 ($20,108) for the five-seater Important and went as much as €23,780 ($25,326) for the seven-seater Excessive making it a loopy deal for a household hauler. Sadly, the inflation within the automotive business led to a worth enhance for the marginally up to date Jogger which ranges from €23,930 ($25,486) for the five-seater Expression as much as €28,180 ($30,013) for the seven-seater Excessive flagship (for the bi-fuel powertrain).

Nonetheless, if we exclude LCV-based proposals, the Dacia Jogger is enjoying with none rivals by way of seven-seater functionality at this worth level. The closest competitor with an analogous bodystyle is the Fiat Tipo SW Cross though it’s costlier beginning at €35k ($37,2k) and solely comes with 5 seats. As for SUVs, the most affordable one that gives an non-obligatory seven-seater functionality is the Skoda Kodiaq which begins from €32.4k ($34.5k).

Alternatively, should you don’t actually care in regards to the crossover stance and simply want the utmost practicality, you should purchase an LCV-based minivan. Choices are restricted after Stellantis determined to discontinue their ICE variants and go EV-only in Europe, however there’s the seven-seater Toyota ProAce Metropolis ranging from as little as €22-23k ($23.4-24.5).

Verdict

The Dacia Jogger is a superb selection for individuals who need a sensible and reasonably priced household hauler with a great deal of inside house, a snug experience, and an adventurous stance.

The crossover station wagon bodystyle is extra interesting to most consumers than a typical LCV-based minivan which is the one various with an equal variety of seats on this worth vary. Certainly the seven-seater possibility is a significant promoting level for the Jogger, because the adult-friendly third row may compromise boot house however is definitely detachable. Aside from that, the spartan character of the cabin is just not a lot of a problem, though the shortage of ADAS is a downside by 2023 requirements.

The bi-fuel variant appears like one of the best match for the Jogger’s character, with the LPG providing half the working value in comparison with common petrol given you could have entry to a appropriate fuel station. Efficiency is ample normally, whereas the tiny turbocharged engine will wrestle and make noise solely when the automobile is totally loaded.

Pictures: Thanos Pappas for CarScoops