Even if the entry-level Dacias are far from being the most requested, they represent the very essence of the Romanian brand. We therefore wanted to put the Jogger Essentiel, the cheapest family model on the market, to the test in its access version equipped with the 1.0 GPL engine.
Car tested: Dacia Jogger 1.0 ECO-G 100 hp Essential 5 seats
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From€14,990
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Since the €7,000 Logan, Dacia has had to adapt to the various regulations that have forced it to modernize the engines and technologies of its models. Its cars are therefore less minimalist and more expensive than before, but the low price remains the key to entry into the Romanian brand. Dacia therefore pays particular attention to access versions when other brands only see it as a means of displaying a low price on their advertisements with the famous mention “from…” The new Jogger is proof of this. It is based on the very current CMF platform of the Alliance, but is offered at a price of 14,990 € in Essential finish, which makes it very far the most accessible family vehicle on the market. So, good deal?
Dacia Jogger Essential price
For €14,990, you can only claim a 5-seater Jogger. It is indeed necessary to add 760 € to take advantage of the Essential 7 places. But the lack of competition is then even more abysmal. This floor price is far from being artificial, since you still have to add €1,710 to taste the higher Comfort level. And the list of equipment which the Essential gives up is far from negligible. It is thus devoid of air conditioning, cruise control, touch screen, tinted and electric rear windows, rain sensor and modular roof bars.
Externally, this first-price Jogger is quickly recognized by its hubcaps, which leave nothing unnoticed by the black paint of its rims, and its plastic-colored door handles. Nevertheless, it does not push asceticism as far as the first entry-level Dacias. The shields remain in body color, and it retains some very current details such as the light signature in the headlights or the Dacia inscriptions in the headlights and front optics.
But, above all, this access tariff entitles you to LPG installation without supplement, which provides access to fuel at €0.94 (price in March 2022). Contrary to Dacia first price of yesteryear equipped with greedy and winded engines, the Jogger Essentiel is therefore economical to the end. Especially since its gray card is free in certain regions. Finally, let’s add that the catalog of options makes it possible to improve the ordinary: difficult to ignore the Comfort pack at 200 €, which includes the reversing sensor, the cruise control and the depth-adjustable steering wheel. On the other hand, choosing air conditioning at €900 clearly compromises the financial interest of this version.
Driving
When you get out of a Comfort Jogger to get on board an Essential, the first thing that strikes you is the plastic of the steering wheel, which has given up its split leather, which is more pleasant to the touch. This is indeed the only perceptible difference when driving since this Essential GPL Jogger behaves exactly like any other, offering the same dynamic qualities. We were particularly surprised by the vigor of the three-cylinder of our copy, much more nervous than on a Duster. The featherweight of the Jogger and its more efficient aerodynamics work wonders. On the road, and even on the highway, it offers effective reminders, although the picture may be different with the whole family and the luggage. However, we can legitimately wonder about the relevance of the 110 hp engine (not LPG), which certainly offers 30 Nm more torque… but available 900 rpm higher.
On the chassis side, the Jogger is the most pleasant model in the range to drive thanks to a recalibrated steering compared to the Sandero city car. Very natural, it even seems more pleasant to us than the hydraulically assisted units of the first Dacias. If the suspension is surprisingly dry at low speed, it becomes perfectly comfortable above 50 km / h and appears generally very effective, including on bad roads.
It is finally at the level of soundproofing that the Jogger makes its “cheap” vocation felt. Air noise appears clearly above 110 km / h, and the three-cylinder is present in load. Finally, do not rely on any driving aids to assist you. Even the cruise control is absent subscribers! On the consumption side, we noted an average of 9.3 liters of LPG over a 450 km route combining town, expressway and country road. But our model was not run in: therefore count a good liter less with a few thousand more kilometers on the clock.
On board
Competetion
As usual when talking about a Dacia – let alone a first price model – competitors are difficult or even impossible to find. Especially since the Jogger adopts a hybrid format halfway between the station wagon and the SUV. Since the Fiat Tipo SW mingled with being Cross and dropped its entry-level finishes, its prices happily exceed €20,000. We can therefore only put the Jogger in front of the SUV, starting with the Duster, offered at the same price in Eco-G 100 Essential finish but even less well equipped, less roomy, less efficient… but more statutory. To push the exercise to its limit, we can also mention the Citroën C3 Aircross. However, its small size and its price bordering on €19,850 make comparison difficult. The truth is that the Jogger evolves in its own world, free from any rival, even more than any other Dacia.
Find the results of the test, the technical sheet, the prices and the standard equipment on the following page.
