• Jogger shares dashboard with Sandero
• Looks and feels basic, actually very comfy
• Acceptable tech levels for a budget model

How is the quality and layout?

User-friendliness, simplicity and sturdy build quality are the key points of the Dacia Jogger’s interior. Luxurious it isn’t. It’s not an expensive car, nor does it pretend to be, but like most Dacia models it’s reassuringly honest and doesn’t feel bargain-basement.

The dashboard is shared with the latest Sandero Stepway and features a fabric strip across the facia that lifts the ambiance a bit, and feels quite pleasant. Clear instrumentation and an array of physical buttons, switches and knobs are good to see as more and more cars move towards all-touchscreen interiors. Yes, it looks unfashionably old-school, but it works.

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Base-model Essential trim feels a bit spartan, having a plastic steering wheel and no infotainment system display. Mid-spec Expression and top-grade Extreme have more equipment and feel a bit plusher – which buyers evidently appreciate, as they massively out-sell the base model.  

Infotainment and tech

Three infotainment set ups are available in the Jogger. Base-spec Essential trim does without a touchscreen. Instead you get a sturdy phone mount intended to be used with a dedicated smartphone app or your phone’s own Car Mode. A handy USB port sits next to it to keep your phone charged up – we found long cables daggle awkwardly in front of the centre console.

Mid-spec Expression has an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and top-spec Extreme adds satnav to the set-up. It’s not the most crisp or responsive of displays, but the menus are easy to navigate.

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Other tech is rather minimal – no swoopy digital dashboards to be found here. But you do at least get aircon, front electric windows, central locking and rear parking sensors on all models.

Hybrid models have a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster that displays data such as fuel economy, remaining battery capacity and speed. There’s also a little graphic that shows you the powertrain switching between petrol and electric power.

Comfort

• Seats are rather flat
• Light-filled, airy interior
• All seven passengers should be comfy

The Jogger’s driver is reasonably well looked-after. The driver’s seat only has basic fore/aft, backrest and height adjustment, but it’s got a lot of range for drivers of all sizes. The steering wheel also moves up and down, and in and out.

The back seats are also rather basic, lacking back and under-thigh support, but they’re soft and fairly comfortable for all but very long trips. They’re set up theatre-style, with the third row set higher than the second, and the second set higher than the first. That ensures all passengers can see out of the front. Indeed, everyone has a fantastic view out through huge windows. Third-row passengers have retro-style pop-out windows for a bit of fresh air – sorely needed when fully laden, we suspect, as there are no climate control vents back there. 

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