Dacia Jogger - Interior, design and technology

Dacia’s design approach for the Jogger certainly makes a case for form following function, as the exterior doesn’t offer the swooping lines or intricate detailing often seen on more expensive rivals. If you’re in the market for the more imposing style of a full-blown, seven-seater SUV you’ll perhaps be better off exploring the competition from manufacturers such as Hyundai, Kia and Skoda.

The Jogger's overall look is a bit of a mixed bag; picture a budget version of a higher-riding estate like the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack or Audi A4 Allroad and you’ll start to get the idea, while the Jogger’s rear-end takes on a bland, MPV-like appearance. Some black body cladding around the wheel arches and a fake front skidplate do their best to encourage a sense of robustness.

It’s inside where the Jogger really shines. Space inside the cabin is excellent, while the dash layout is practical and user-friendly, with rotary controls for the heating and ventilation functions instead of an awkward touchscreen-based system. One difference between the petrol and hybrid Jogger models is the instrument dials. The regular version gets a basic set of analogue dials; all hybrids feature a seven-inch display that shows efficiency-related information, including the current state of ‘power flow’. It's not as customisable as other digital driver's displays, but it's crisp enough, at least.

The cabin trim is a bit dark, but Dacia has attempted to soften things up a bit with fabric inserts across the top of the dashboard and on the front door armrests. The large glasshouse means it shouldn’t feel too oppressive for passengers – even in the rearmost seats.

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Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

Dacia’s infotainment setup gives buyers a reason to move from one trim to the next. The base model encourages the use of a smartphone, combining a Dacia app with a dashboard mount, while top-of-the-range versions come with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with integrated sat-nav. 

The mid-range Expression (previously named Comfort) trim sits between the two, and comes with all you really need. There's no built-in sat-nav, but it does get you the eight-inch display, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can just plug your phone in and access your own apps.

Dacia’s infotainment system is basic, but it works fine. The home page is split into six large squares that let you access the key functions. It’s nothing special, and you occasionally need to tap the screen twice before it responds, but it gets the job done. 

One criticism we have is that the screen doesn’t automatically adjust for brightness. It needs to be turned up to be legible during the day, but it’s oppressively bright at night, so you need to dig into a sub menu and change it every time. Another minor gripe is the location of the USB socket on the dash. It’s mounted high to go with the dedicated mobile phone cradle but means you’ll need a long cable if you just want to connect your phone, but keep it in a cup holder.