Dacia Jogger 1.0 TCe 110 Seven-seater, from £15k

TESTED 10.3. 2 2 , WA R W I C K S H I R E ON SA LE M AY DACIA JOGGER 1.0 TCe 110

Whenthecostoflivingisontheup,Daciahashalvedthepriceofanewseven-seater

With the UK launch of the new Jogger, Dacia has confirmed the numbers that matter the most. They are £14,995 (the seven-seat MPV’s scarcely believable starting price) and £195 (the monthly fee that will get you one on finance, after a deposit of… wait for it… £195).

In a market in which the compact MPV has faded into obscurity, this car stands to do rather well at that money – especially since it is almost impossible to find a seven-seat rival that doesn’t cost twice as much.

A car in such a position doesn’t need to be especially well packaged, refined, versatile or nice to drive in order to find a receptive market – it just needs to exist. The Jogger, however, does better than that.

It is ostensibly a 4.5m-long, seven-seat family car on a supermini platform, which is why Dacia can make the numbers for it add up.

It is sold as part of a very simple showroom offering: there’s one engine and gearbox (although a hybrid version is coming in 2023), three trim levels and six colours. The only option is a spare wheel.

Its design is part MPV, part SUV, which is only sensible given current market tastes – and it’s a pretty cheery, appealing-looking car.

Interior space is just about adultappropriate in the second row and fit for kids in row three (although there are no Isofix points back there).

Dacia adds versatility by making the third row fully removable and the second one fold and pivot forwards around the leading edge of the seat bases to open up a really big, useful cargo area of more than 1800 litres.

The Jogger escapes feeling cheap by a distance in some ways but less successfully in others. The 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine is quite refined, makes a surprisingly useful amount of mid-range torque and does 50mpg on a run pretty easily, thanks to some long ratios. That it delivers its torque in a bit of an unseemly surge makes it feel rough-hewn at times, though; and the inconsistently weighted steering, busy and occasionally clunky ride, weedy-sounding stereo and slightly tinny clang of the doors as they close all in turn do likewise.

The handling is perfectly competent, though, rounding off a convincing picture for a car that’s genuinely versatile, superfunctional, really likeable and sensationally good value with it. MATT SAUNDERS

DACIA JOGGER 1.0 TCe 110 COMFORT

The best reason yet for families on a budget to flock to Dacia showrooms. A bit basic to drive but very versatile AAAAB

Price £16,595 Engine 3 cyls, 999cc, turbo, petrol Power 109bhp at 5000-5200rpm Torque 148lb ft at 2900-3500rpm Gearbox 6-spd manual, FWD Kerb weight 1205kg 0-62mph 11.2sec Top speed 114mph Economy 47.1-49.6mpg CO2, tax band 130-131g/km, 31% RIVALS Skoda Karoq, Suzuki S-Cross