► We live with a Dacia Jogger Hybrid
► This month: it nails the basics
► Read month 5 here
‘Good, aren’t they?’ whispers the middle-aged gent as I load the Jogger at the supermarket. He’s just pulled up in a Dacia Duster, and it feels like we both know the same secret.
During my six-month tenure with the Jogger I’ve generally come across two types of folk. If you’ve ever been in a Dacia you tend to admire them. Or there are those who have never given a Dacia a second glance. My most recent example of this worked at Stansted airport’s valet parking desk – someone who handles the keys for literally hundreds of different cars each week. ‘What on Earth’s a Jogger?’ she asked, so I opened up my phone’s camera roll to show her a photo, like a proud dad.
But what’s it like to live with? I cover a lot of miles, transport a lot of kit, work, eat and live out of my car, and it has to be able to go pretty much anywhere. With the two rear most seats removed the boot is cavernous (my garage less so, as it now has two extra seats in it). The ride is comfortable, helped by smaller wheels with actual sidewalls.
There’s enough power available and, thanks to the electric boost, torque is on tap right away. As it’s a mild hybrid, you never have to worry about range or plugging it in to charge.
There’s keyless entry and ignition that works well. You’ve got CarPlay/Android Auto, heated seats, climate control, cruise, parking sensors and a rear-facing camera – just enough tech. It’s not all good news.
At times it feels like keeping the battery topped up is more important to the hybrid system than delivering a pleasant driving experience – the auto ’box will hold onto a gear for far too long in order to add some juice to the EV system, making it sound like you’re doing 6000rpm in second gear on a dual carriageway and should surrender your licence immediately.
There can be a disconcerting step in braking pressure where the regeneration stops sapping energy and the brakes are allowed to do their thing. (These issues can be dealt with by opting for the cheaper 999cc three-cylinder turbocharged manual version.) And the traction control can be overbearing at times.
All things considered, if you’re in the market for a seven- seater, the Jogger has to be a leading contender. Heck, if you want a five-seater with a ridiculously large boot, and the flexibility to take two extra people, then it’s still a no-brainer – what else is there that does what the Jogger does, at this price point, and does it this well?
Logbook: Dacia Jogger Extreme TCe 140 Hybrid (Month 6)
Price £24,645 (£25,295 as tested)
Performance 1598cc four-cylinder, 140bhp, 10.0sec 0-62mph, 103mph
Efficiency 57.6mpg (official), 50.3mpg (tested), 109g/km CO2
Energy cost 13.8p per mile
Miles this month 1120
Total miles 7995
Count the cost
Price new £25,295
Part exchange £19,730
Cost per mile 13.8p
Cost per mile including depreciation 87.0p