Comparative test: the Dacia Jogger challenges the Dacia Duster

After the semi-failure of Lodgy, its manufacturer Dacia learned the lesson: aesthetics remains one of the major criteria in the purchase of a new car. The undeniable success of the Duster, whose robust SUV appearance has always appealed, proves it. The new Jogger MPV sports a new line that is infinitely more attractive than that of its predecessor, reminiscent of a Matra Rancho, a Volvo station wagon and the late Logan MCV all at the same time. Of course, with its very particular proportions marked by the length of its wheelbase, it cannot hide its family vocation, which is also that of the Duster. But this one plays at the same time another score in the Dacia range by being the only one to offer an automatic transmission, the 1.3 TCe engine and four-wheel drive.

However, in its GPL version, the Duster directly crosses swords with the newcomer, and this one does not only have its 21 cm more in length to argue. It is based on a much more modern platform, the CMF-B of the Renault Clio and the Sandero. The Duster, on the other hand, takes up the B-0 of its predecessor, which has proven itself but does not allow you to receive certain equipment. This is also why its replacement is already planned for 2024 by a model with the same base as the Jogger. It is indeed the confrontation of the old against the modern.

Dacia Jogger price

One of the main assets of the Jogger is undoubtedly to be available in 7 places. However, faced with the Duster, we naturally chose the 5-seater version, which saves €750. In the Comfort finish, it is billed at €16,700, or €650 less than the SUV. And this differential is further amplified by the equipment it receives as standard, such as modular roof bars and dark-tinted rear windows, simply unavailable on the SUV. The catalog of options also includes equipment for subscribers absent from its rival, starting with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, included in the €300 navigation. On the other hand, you have to make an effort of 500 € to take advantage of the reversing camera, which must be delivered with the blind spot warning and the front sensor.

Dacia Duster price

It is rare to observe such slight price differences, but the Duster retains the Dacia top-of-the-range title well by being displayed at €17,350 in the Comfort finish. In addition to the Jogger, it only offers alloy wheels and aesthetic frills that further mark its belonging to the SUV category, such as the more massive plastic front protections or its double light signature in the headlight against only one for the Jogger. Note that our Duster featured the full range of accessories available in dealerships, such as running boards (€600), an Offroad pack with side protection (€700) or even the retractable hitch (€730). Another mark of its vocation as an adventurer: the Jogger also offers a multitude of options, but they are above all intended for the family. On the other hand, the older design of the Duster’s platform requires it to skip wireless Android Auto. So you have to go through a good old cable to plug in each time to access Waze, in particular.

To drive

Although the Jogger is not an SUV, it is only 2 cm less in height than the Duster, and its tracks are significantly narrower. As for its ground clearance, it is certainly lower, but the difference is only 17 mm. Same observation on the side of the mass: the MPV is the lightest, but only 56 kg. If it is not officially an SUV, it therefore does not leave with such a decisive advantage in terms of road behavior over the Duster… Except that it benefits from a much more modern platform. In fact, the Jogger appears to be the most pleasant Dacia to drive since the brand’s inception. The merit goes first to the well-calibrated steering, while the long wheelbase of the vehicle benefits comfort, even if it can be improved at low speed, which is surprising given the height of the sidewall of the tires.

It is therefore only at these speeds that the Duster finds itself at an advantage, because it mistreats its passengers less. On the road, however, its somewhat less responsive steering and slightly clumsier front end make it less fun to drive. But he remains in absolute terms very competent. In terms of soundproofing, the Jogger seemed to us to suffer less from aerodynamic noise, even if this area is undoubtedly the one where the Dacias make their entry-level positioning the most felt.

If the SUV claims its ease in any way thanks to its short wheelbase, its even higher tires (65 against 60 for the Jogger) and its raised ground clearance, the MPV is nevertheless capable of venturing outside the paved roads without difficulty. Our two Dacias benefit from a fairly short transmission, which makes it possible to get the most out of the small Eco-G 100 engine. In this little game, it is however the Jogger which wins thanks to its lower mass, its efficient and with slightly shorter first gears.

It therefore displays superior performance to that of the Duster, with in particular a 0 to 100 km / h reached in 1.5 s better, which is considerable. On the consumption side, we must be particularly cautious here, our two copies not displaying the same mileage at all. As LPG consumption is very sensitive to running-in, our 5,000 km Duster proved to be the most economical with an average of 8.9 l/100 km at the end of this test against 9.3 l/100 km for the 1,500 km Jogger. But there is no doubt that the curves are reversed with kilometers, the latter also displaying the lowest normalized values.

To live

It is obviously in terms of interior layout that the Duster has the most to fear from its new enemy brother. The grimace soup begins for him at the front, where the Jogger benefits from the much more modern dashboard of the Sandero. The “tablet” screen, higher, is much better placed, and its steering wheel accommodates a very practical button dedicated to the display of the on-board computer. Not to mention the USB connector used to add a phone or a driving assistant near the dashboard. Finally, the finish is adorned with fabric inserts a little more cheerful than the raw plastics of the Duster. Despite a slightly higher driving position which may appeal to some, the SUV can only lag behind.

At the rear, the Jogger takes full advantage of its extra centimeters and the clean cut of its tailgate, which allows no liter of cargo to be lost. Its huge doors offer much easier access to much more welcoming places. Even if we regret the absence of an optional passenger seat that folds down into a tablet, the modularity is much higher here thanks to a bench seat that can tilt in two parts. Certainly, the seats do not disappear under the floor as in a Citroën Berlingo and the released loading surface is a little quirky, but the useful volume is gigantic.

So the Duster just can’t fight with its simple folding backrests, its limited legroom, its less accessible rear seats and its 478 l boot. Nevertheless, it can claim a more regular and easy to use loading surface. He too would have benefited from a folding passenger seat into a tablet, which would have allowed him to compensate for his shorter length.

Find the results of the match and the technical sheets compared on the next page…