Video review: Dacia Jogger

Dacia has proudly flown the super-budget flag in the UK for about 10 years now, with its Renault-derived vehicles being aimed at those who want a car that will simply get them from A to B.

Over those 10 years, the brand has rather successfully noodled around with almost every market segment, from the Duster SUV, to the Logan MCV estate, to the Sandero supermini. And the Jogger seven- seater might just make the most sense out of any vehicle it’s ever produced, being the cheapest seven-seater money can buy.

Let’s start by discussing what it’s not. It’s not sleek and sexy, it’s not jam- packed full of fancy kit, and it’s not particularly refined. But so what?

Although the interior feels more van than vogue, it’s certainly at the better end of budget. Dacia has clearly thought long and hard about how to mask any whiffs of cheapness, with fabric inserts and coloured highlights helping add some cosiness and car-like familiarity to the cabin.

Sure, there’s lots of dark, scratchy plastics, but for families, this will likely scream practical and durable more than anything else.

Kit levels are rather meticulously put together by Dacia, with the mid-range Expression model offering DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic air con, front and rear sensors, an 8-inch touchscreen and even a reversing camera. Given the price, we’d say that’s pretty impressive. It’s worth noting however that entry-level Joggers do feel significantly sparser when it comes to essential kit.

The rear seats of the Jogger aren’t anything special, but they do offer space for three adults side-by-side, a great view of the road ahead thanks to a jacked- up rear bench, and there’s enough head and leg room to sit and shuffle about comfortably.

These rear seats offer a surprisingly capable folding mechanism to access the rearmost seats in the boot too. Whereas many seven-seaters have a lean and slide configuration, the Jogger’s rear seats fold and roll forward, giving you plenty of space to climb in. And once you’re sitting in the rearmost seats, space is surprisingly impressive. Your knees don’t sit too high and there’s just enough room to extend your legs a little and take the strain off your knees. Head room is on point too.