Tricky junctions and tight manoeuvres pose no problems in our glassy, feature-laden seven-seater
Max Edleston max.edleston@haymarket.com
Mileage 16,361 List price £22,595
Target Price na Price as tested £22,595 Test economy 44.4mpg
MY DACIA JOGGER is a bit like a gardener’s greenhouse – not in the way that it stores heat (although the heater is wonderfully effective), but because it contains a lot of glass. You see, because the Jogger is a large seven-seater with a fairly boxy body shape, it has tall and wide windows that let lots of light into the interior.
They give occupants a great view out, which is useful if you carry passengers who are prone to car sickness. And the fact that the second-row seats are mounted higher than the front pair allows people sitting in the former to see out over the heads of those ahead of them.
At least as importantly, though, the excellent visibility benefits me behind the wheel. In particular, it’s a boon at awkwardly angled junctions when I’m trying to merge with traffic.
Of course, there’s only so much the human eye can see at any one time, so I’m also thankful for the array of sensors that watch over the Jogger’s surroundings as I’m driving. The blindspot monitoring system, for example, warns me of the presence of cyclists and pedestrians when I’m in town, while on the motorway it has helped to alert me to other drivers who are hanging around just over my shoulder instead of briskly overtaking.
The assistance continues when I’m parking up, because the Jogger’s rear-view camera is more advanced than you might expect, given the car’s low price. The image that’s presented on the infotainment screen is of a high enough resolution for me to see things clearl
