Review: Dacia refuses to compromise with hybrid version of seven-seat Jogger

Published on 1 March, 2023

Overview

There was hardly enough time for dust to gather in the Dacia awards cabinet, but already the Jogger line-up has been treated to a re-branding facelift and the addition of an all-new hybrid model.

Just four months after scooping AA Ireland Car of the Year, the seven-seat MPV now comes with a self-charging combo that promises to see 80pc of all journeys driven in pure electric.

With hybrids though, there’s always a compromise. In the vast majority of cases that comes in the shape of space – or lack of it – mainly in the boot where the battery pack resides.

Other times it’s the performance which suffers because of the extra weight and the use of under-powered engines.

Not the case here as Dacia have drawn on the technological expertise of parent company Renault.

They have twinned an existing 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine (same as the one used in the Arkana) two electric motors and a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Between them they generate 140bhp – hence the Hybrid 140 name – while reducing CO2 emissions to 108g/km and returning almost 60mpg (4.8 litres/100kms).

It has exactly the same interior space as the regular Jogger with 212 litres of luggage with all seven seats in situ, expanding to 699 litres with the third row folded and a cavernous 2,085 with all pews folded flat.

Unlike the entry level ICE model, the Hybrid is a little bit swankier, coming in two trims – Expression and Extreme SE.

Both come with new logo emblazoned across the steering wheel and feature an eight-inch colour touchscren which is home to Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The SE comes with a seven-inch digital instrument cluster (again straight out of the Arkana) and thanks to the automatic gearbox a space-saving electronic handbrake.

Standard kit is generous too with automatic air con, cruise control, rear parking sensors and colour camera, automatic headlights and wipers, blind spot warning and keyless entry. All models come with the clever roof rails which can filp from vertical to horizontal with the flick of a switch.

The new grille, sporting the DC logo finished in brilliant white that bleeds into the distinctive LED lights, gives the Jogger Hybrid a fresh, modern look while the black alloys twinned to new Shadow Grey paint adds a touch of sportiness.

Drive-wise, the Jogger Hybrid does exactly what it says on the tin and a bit more. Like all its rivals it’s most at home in city traffic, where you’ll waft along in pure EV mode. Thanks to a sat-nav glitch we spent more time trying to get onto the magnificent Vasco da Gama bridge than we’d have liked.

Once on the six-lane Lisbon highway, the peppy engine kicked in and we cruised at 120kph effortlessly for the 12.3km jaunt.

From there we headed to the far coast which took us over a mix of mountain and B-roads.

It was here that the Jogger really started to impress and the expected lag in power never materialised. Gear changes, especially kickdowns were seamless while the ride and handling proved supremely comfortable.

We covered well in excess of 300kms and when we arrived back at the airport the gauge told us we still has 500kms in the tank. That’s impressive.

All in all Dacia have hit the mark for economy, versatility and family-friendly. They just need to pitch it at the right price.

Better make room in that cabinet!

Prices will be confirmed closer to its summer launch.

BMW puts hydrogen power into its new iX5

BMW has teamed up with Toyota to produce its first hydrogen vehicle.
The iX5 – which is based on the X5 SUV – is one of 100 which will be deployed internationally to gauge the public’s reaction.

For those not familiar with the technology, here’s how it works: fuel cell cars are powered by compressed hydrogen gas that feeds into an onboard fuel cell or stack that doesn’t burn the gas, but instead transforms the fuel’s chemical energy into electrical energy.

This electricity then powers the car’s motors, which produce zero emissions – the only waste produced is water.
In the case of the iX5 (below), the onboard motor generates the equivalent of 170bhp, which is twinned to a high-powered battery that boosts the grunt to 401bhp.

That will see this machine, which weighs around two-and-a-half tonnes, sprint from 0-100kph in less than six seconds.

With both combined, the unique powertrain has a claimed range of 505km and can be refuelled in three to four minutes.
Design-wise, it looks like a regular i version of the X5 – the only giveaway is the tweaked front bumper featuring blue accents and the special edition 22in aero alloys.
Inside, it’s pretty much identical to the pre-face-lifted X5, with a big comfy cabin that will deal with any growing family.

No word yet as to whether any of the 100 motors are coming to Ireland. Watch this space.

Renault 5 stunning design scoops EV award

The super sexy Renault 5 electromod has scooped the ‘Prototype of the Year’ gong at the Electric GQ Car Awards.

The category, which was updated to include pure electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, saw the forthcoming French EV take the silverware.

First seen in at last year’s Festival of Speed, the stunning hatchback (who said the humble hatch was dead) takes styling cues from the epic Renault 5 Turbo with its flared rear-wheel arches, gargantuan rims and more spoilers than you can shake a stick at.

Crafty design elements cleverly incorporate modern features, such as the hood vent that now conceals the charging cable socket, the tail lamps that sport aerodynamic baffles, and the front bumper fog lights that have been replaced with LED daytime running lamps.

Volkswagen’s I.D Buzz picked up the Trippiest road-tripper gong while the up-coming Hyundai IONIQ6 won the Saloon of the Year.