The Dacia Jogger aims to bridge gaps and attract customers who need plenty of space and are looking for a little bit of SUV feeling. In the test: The Hybrid 140 in the Extreme trim.
Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140 Extreme
Stephanie Gratzer
The Dacia Jogger is intended to be a large estate car, minivan, and a bit of an SUV, appealing to a whole range of users who need plenty of space. The interior space is indeed generous, with a maximum load capacity of over 1,800 liters, a load length of over 1.90 meters (with the second row folded down), and two additional seats in the trunk. Fold-down tables are integrated into the backrests of the front row. The fabric seats are sufficiently comfortable, although a little more lateral support would be desirable in a sporty vehicle. The rear seat of our five-seater test car can be folded down in a 2/3-1/3 split, but the resulting load compartment is not flat and there is a loading sill to negotiate. The folded seats also do not lock in the upper position. Typical for Dacia, most surfaces are made of washable hard plastic, and the rubber floor mats contribute to the robust ambience.
Driver's Seat with Few Frills
In the first row, the occupants are surrounded by a rather restrained variety of elements. The speedometer is digital, and there is a comparatively clear 8-inch central screen on the dashboard, next to which there is another USB port. Its purpose only becomes clear when you look at the equipment list: You can clip a smartphone holder onto the screen or use the plug for a dashcam. Steering wheel buttons allow you to change the speedometer display and operate the cruise control, while the audio controls are located in the right-hand steering column, as is typical for Renault. The most important button is located on the left below the steering wheel, which can be used to silence the warning assistants. The fabrics, materials, and surfaces are perfectly acceptable.
Hybrid for Everyone
The top model of the Jogger is the Hybrid 140, a full hybrid with 104 kW (141 hp). The powertrain consists of a transversely mounted 1,598 cc gasoline engine, a starter generator with 15 kW (20 hp) and an electric motor with 36 kW (49 hp) integrated into the transmission. Of the six gears, two are available to the electric motor and four are reserved for the gasoline engine. Gear changes are made without a clutch via the electric motor. The starter generator is used to engage the combustion engine smoothly. Thanks to the electric motor's torque of 205 Nm, the Jogger can theoretically reach speeds of up to 70 km/h in pure electric mode, although the capacity of the 1.2 kWh lithium-ion battery is only sufficient for short periods of purely electric driving. Shifting is always electric. The electric motor provides assistance at speeds of up to 160 km/h, depending on the available charge, and the Jogger's top speed is limited to 167 km/h.
High Proportion of Electric Driving in City Traffic
To maximize the proportion of electric driving, the recuperation power can be increased in B mode of the automatic transmission. Although the braking power of the electric motor is not sufficient for one-pedal driving, it is possible to provide most of the deceleration required during operation. This means that a high proportion of electric driving can be achieved, especially in city traffic. What detracts somewhat from the otherwise positive impression are driving situations in which the electric motor reaches its performance limit at low speeds, such as in 30 km/h zones with inclines, and requires support from the combustion engine. The pedal position signals high power demand, so the engine kicks in at a relatively high speed in a low gear. If you don't take your foot off the accelerator to allow the transmission to shift up, you end up rolling through the traffic-calmed zone at high revs and feeling rather embarrassed. The transition between the regenerative and service brakes is not always perfectly coordinated, but to be honest, even significantly more expensive hybrids don't always do this any better.
Long-Distance Suitability
The Jogger's fuel tank holds 50 liters. In the best-case scenario, i.e., the standard consumption of 4.8 liters determined by WLTP, this is enough for 1,041 km. During our test drives, consumption settled at 5.2 liters, but we did not demand any sporty performance from the Dacia and drove at a leisurely pace on the highway. Basically, the Jogger always performed well. We can and must criticize the wind noise around the A-pillar and exterior mirrors, as well as the dry rolling on short bumps, which can sometimes be clearly felt by the passengers.
Pricing
Looking at the equipment list for our Jogger Extreme, with a base price of € 25,490, there is hardly anything left to be desired. Our test car was also equipped with the City Package (front parking sensor and blind spot assistant for € 300), heated seats (€ 290), metallic paint (€ 700), navigation (€ 400), induction charging tray (€ 57), and luggage net (€ 38). For € 27,275, you get a spacious station wagon with SUV looks and hybrid drive. That's € 4,500 more than for the similarly equipped TCe 110 gasoline model with manual six-speed transmission.
Conclusion Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140
Not having to make a decision seems to be the Jogger's motto. You get an enormous amount of space, a slightly rugged look without any significant benefits, combined with a well-functioning full hybrid drive for well under € 30,000. Especially considering the amount of space on offer, this is definitely a bargain, but one where you don't really have to sacrifice much. Those days are over, even at Dacia.
This is a partly automated translation of this German article.
