The family Dacia has arrived. No more sophisticated and hardly more expensive than other models, but more adventurous and, undoubtedly, also more profitable. First foray of the Renault group’s “low-cost” brand into the category of fairly large models, the Jogger (4.54 meters), whose deliveries begin in March, opens a new chapter for the Romanian manufacturer. Dacia wants to remain the mark of purchasing power, but rid of the image of cars that are chosen above all for their price, that is to say by default.
The arrival of this model, which replaces both the Logan MCV station wagon and the Lodgy minivan, both belonging to outdated fashion categories, coincides with the adoption of a new logo on a khaki green background, an exterior sign intended to give the brand a more modern “outdoor leisure” colour. On the very buoyant family segment of this size (Peugeot 3008 or future Renault Austral), the Jogger, which presents itself as a raised station wagon vaguely crossbred with an SUV, a mix of genres very in tune with the times, wants to pose as a “cool” proposal, even offbeat, while remaining the cheapest on the market.
Subliminal evocation
The front end echoes that of the Sandero saloon and the generous ground clearance, the deliberately massive look, the domed fenders, the bonnet sculpted like the breadth of the glass surfaces create a slightly adventurous look. A furrow already dug, but in a less systematic way, by the Duster. The profile and the rear part are somewhat reminiscent of the 1990s, in particular the tailgate with large vertical lights, a subliminal evocation of the Volvo V70 station wagon.
The family vocation of the Jogger is underlined by the presence of a seven-seater version, an option appreciated, among others, by blended households, but until then reserved for vehicles available at much higher prices. On the two removable and folding seats housed in the third row can settle without difficulty of tall passengers. In this configuration, which did not require the Jogger to marry the silhouette of a van, it will be necessary to be satisfied with a trunk with reduced volume (160 cubic decimeters against nearly 600 liters with five seats). It remains possible to install up to 80 kilos of additional load on the modular roof bars.
The manufacturer hopes to sell half of its production thanks to this seven-seater version, invoiced with a supplement of 750 euros, while the price starts at 14,990 euros. The real price at which the Jogger will be sold should however be around 18,000 euros, or 2,000 euros above the “average basket” of the brand in France. Almost exclusively made up of individuals, Dacia customers generally choose the best equipped versions without approaching the 30,000 euros, floor price charged by most models in the category.
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