The Dacia Jogger Doesn't Really Have a Rival, Because Nobody Else Wants to Compete on Price Like This
All three reviews land on the same striking point: there simply isn't a genuinely comparable seven-seat new car at this price. Buyers wanting the same space and versatility elsewhere are pushed toward SUVs costing two or three times as much.
A Class of One, Almost by Default
Building a genuinely affordable seven-seater should be a crowded market. Reviewers keep noting it almost isn't — rivals have largely retreated upmarket, leaving the Jogger to fill a gap nobody else seems interested in contesting.
Specs at a Glance
| Body style | Seven-seat estate/MPV crossover |
|---|---|
| Engines | 1.0L turbo petrol (108bhp, manual), 1.8L full hybrid (153bhp, automatic) |
| Based on | Dacia Sandero / Renault Clio platform |
| Euro NCAP rating | 1 star (extrapolated from the related Sandero Stepway) |
| Price range (new) | From around £18,995 |
Full Review Summary
Top Gear
Top Gear confirmed the Jogger was Europe's second best-selling C-segment car in 2024 with over 94,000 sold, and praised the updated Hybrid 155's new 1.8-litre engine and twin electric motors for a genuine step up in usability over the outgoing 140bhp version. They rated pricing as remarkable, with the entry-level manual costing just £25 more than the outgoing model, and found no other seven-seater on sale in the UK comes close on price, with genuine rivals starting at more than double the money.
What Car?
What Car? praised the touchscreen as blissfully easy to use with clear, uncluttered icons, though found the entry Essential trim's phone-mirroring-only infotainment setup occasionally unpredictable to connect. They rated interior build quality as genuinely solid for the price, with materials that feel like they'll withstand years of family life and muddy boots, even if the plastics themselves are noticeably harder than pricier rivals.
Autocar
Autocar's road test of the new Hybrid 155 found the 0-60mph time dropping below nine seconds for the first time, a genuine step up in usability, though rated ride quality as still needing improvement to feel fully acceptable for a family car in 2026. They praised the redesigned 10-inch touchscreen and improved smartphone mirroring integration, while noting the hybrid system still has some rough edges that need ironing out.
Strengths
- Unmatched value for genuine seven-seat practicality
- Genuinely improved hybrid performance and efficiency for 2026
- Durable, family-life-proof interior materials
- Easy-to-use, uncluttered infotainment system
Weak points
- Only a one-star Euro NCAP safety rating
- Ride quality still needs improvement for family use
- Hybrid system retains some rough edges
- No four-wheel-drive option available
Who It Actually Suits
Buyers who need genuine seven-seat space and don't want to pay SUV prices to get it. The Hybrid 155 is worth the extra outlay across every review — a meaningfully better powertrain than the standard petrol, with the only automatic gearbox in the range.