Family Car of the Year 2023: Dacia Jogger
The Dacia Jogger is the 2023 Auto Express Family Car of the Year, with the Honda Civic and Peugeot 408 commended
Few cars at any price are as versatile and family-friendly as the Dacia Jogger, which takes back-to-back wins in this category. Its mix of seven-seat MPV practicality, SUV style, compact-hatchback running costs and estate-car space is compelling, but the fact that it’s also good to drive and now comes with a hybrid powertrain makes a second win inevitable.
Sitting on a stretched version of the CMF-B platform also used by the Sandero, this great-value model serves up seven-seat functionality at a supermini price. The third-row seats are surprisingly spacious, while the rest of the cabin is packed with thoughtful touches that suggest it’s been designed with families in mind. Not only are there numerous cup-holders and cubbies, there are also handy fold-down, aircraft-style picnic tables in the second row.
Its looks are driven by function over form, but the subtly raised ride height gives the Dacia a dash of go-anywhere style, while the brilliantly designed modular roof bars add to the car’s versatile appeal. Plus that boxy shape means plenty of space for squeezing in lots of luggage, offering a van-like 1,809 litres with all the rear seats folded away, so you’ll never have to leave the kitchen sink behind.
Both the 1.6-litre hybrid and 1.0-litre petrol turbo give peppy performance, while the handling is composed. And with its soft suspension and light controls, the Jogger is also comfortable and easy to drive. It has all of the bases covered.
With the cost of living crisis still biting, the Dacia continues to bring welcome relief for cash-strapped motorists who don’t want to compromise. On this form, the Jogger could make it a hat trick in 2024.
Our choice
Dacia Jogger TCe 110 Expression (£19,595)
In mid-range Expression guise, the Jogger comes crammed with all the kit you’ll need, including eight-inch touchscreen infotainment, climate control and those nifty roof bars. And although the hybrid edition offers fractionally greater pace and efficiency, we’d save £3,400 and plump for the thrummy three-cylinder petrol model.
Commended
Now in its 11th generation, the Civic is better than ever. On the surface, the Honda looks like a regular family hatchback, but it packs a smooth and efficient self-charging hybrid powertrain and a chassis that delivers crisp and entertaining handling. It’s also roomy, well equipped and solidly built.
If you want style and substance, then Peugeot’s sleek coupé-crossover should be just the ticket. Not only does it boast distinctive style and an interior that’s classy and surprisingly spacious, it also features plug-in hybrid engine options and is as good to drive as it is to look at.
You’ll find all the information on our New Car Awards 2023 winners and the reasons why we chose them on these pages. Just follow the links below to read more…
New Car Awards 2023: the winners
Special edition of Auto Express
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