Review: Dacia Jogger Extreme SE TCE 110 (2023)

As tested: €28,740

Kids, they happen. When that moment comes around that you suddenly realise you need 7 seats, you will find out 7 seaters are now ludicrously expensive. Is the shockingly affordable Dacia Jogger the answer to your prayers or should you save up or by used?

The Looks

The Jogger, especially in this “Extreme” trim attempts to straddle the line between MPV and SUV with its chunky plastic fenders, decals, roof racks and lower door protectors. For once, I don’t hate the black wheels that come with this trim, finding they complement the “Terracotta” this car is painted in nicely. I wouldn’t describe it as pretty or handsome, but it is a smart inoffensive design especially from the front. Ultimately this is vehicle is a tool, and it just has to look good enough to not look bad. In that way I think it succeeds.

The Function over Form Interior

As you sit into the Jogger, you will be met with lots of hard, scratchy plastic. To some it will be too much, but it could be argued that it is easy to wipe down and clean, perfect for families. It is practically identical to the interior in the Dacia Sandero, which is one of, if not the cheapest new car on sale and looking around the interior you can tell how they got to that price point. The centre console is really the worst offender to me, it is far too low down, especially in Joggers not optioned with the centre arm rest. The air vents feel flimsy and just as in the cars made by Dacia’s parent company, Renault, your steering wheel volume controls are off to the right on a stalk for some reason, except somehow the Dacia version feels even cheaper. My last criticism is the rev counter. I know no one is redlining a 7-seater MPV but a bit of colour to show the redline would have been nice. The “Extreme” tries to spruce things up with a fabric design that runs along the dash and along the arm rests. It does lift the cabin, even if it can feel harsh to the touch.  The 8" Media display is basic but very usable and includes wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. I appreciate the phone holder next to said screen, located right above a USB-A port, and this trim even includes heated seats, a surprising luxury. 

The second row is basic but roomy, even offering tray tables to eat or to place an IPad on. The third row is rather tight, and access is limited, only really being suitable for children or very short trips for adults. With the third row in place, boot space is slim to none and as the seats don’t fold into the floor, they will eat up space even when stowed. Mercifully, the boot load lip is very low, meaning you don’t have to lift very far to put larger objects into it.

The Disappointing Drive 

This, in my opinion is where the Jogger really does fall down. The "110" in the trim name denotes the power output, 110hp from a 0.9 litre 3-cylinder petrol. Unladen, it is acceptable but with cargo and passengers it does feel overwhelmed. It makes a raspy noise and has a rather sharp and nonlinear power band, feeling like the power is delivered in one big lump at 2.5rpm. This could be forgiven but sadly it’s what is attached to the engine that ruins the drive. The 6-speed manual gearbox is woeful, truly one of if not the worst manual gearbox I’ve ever used. It also features alongside the 0.9 TCE engine in the Sandero, Duster, Renault Clio and Captur and is just as bad there. It feels loose and brittle while simultaneously being hard to put into gear when it feels like it. It’s jumpy and lurches between gear shifts no matter what you do. I’ve tried all sorts of methods to try and make it smoother, but I’m convinced not even Lewis Hamilton would be able to go from first to second without snapping his head backwards, let alone you as you take the kids to school on a cold Wednesday morning. It gets slightly better once you get moving but from first to forth you will wince every time you have to change up. It’s a true deal breaker in my eyes so I recommend looking for a Jogger optioned with the 140hp hybrid automatic powertrain instead. 

When it comes to steering, the Jogger is never going to be a star, but just like its styling, it’s able to be good enough to be forgettable. I did find myself sometimes misjudging the amount of steering lock needed at low speeds, maybe because the Sandero interior tricked me into thinking I was in something smaller. The suspension set up is a bit rough. Think of it like a van with rather hard rear springs that are made to be able to take all a lot of weight. It’s still acceptable but I wouldn’t describe it as cushy. 

Now, with all that said, you have to keep that stunningly cheap €28,740 price tag in your mind. For example, one of the next cheapest, widely available, “new” 7-seater, the Seat Tarraco (Which is to be discontinued at the end of 2024) has an average price of €42,950 on DoneDeal. In that context, if (and it’s a very, very large if) you can live with that gearbox then I think you should overlook the hard plastics and embrace the rough but functional design the Jogger offers.