THE A TEAM

New Citroen C3 Aircross arrives to challenge Dacia Jogger's budget seven-seater crown

- By Otis Clay

CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS VS DACIA JOGGER

IF you wanted to move seven people cheaply, for many years there was only one option available: buy a secondhand car.

However, that all changed a few years ago when Dacia released the Jogger. It offered seven seats in a car that cost as little as a 10-year-old SUV, making it a no-brainer for many cost-conscious drivers.

For years, the Jogger hasn't really had a direct rival on the new-car market - but that all changes now, with the new Citroen C3 Aircross. Citroen doesn't quite aim for the bargain-basement market position of Dacia, but its cars are frequently priced competitively enough to step on the toes of its Romanian rival. That's the case with the new Aircross, which also manages to squeeze seven seats into an even more compact footprint than the Jogger - it's barely any longer or wider than a typical five-door family hatchback.

Then there's the draw of Citroen's quirky style, its quest for comfort and its range of powertrains - there's even an electric version if you sacrifice the sixth and seventh seats. But is the C3 Aircross credible enough to knock the Dacia off its perch? Or is the Jogger still the king of practicality on a budget?

ON THE ROAD

CITROEN’S signature soft ride is present, but on bumpier, more undulating roads, the shortage of body control relative to the firmer Dacia can make it feel more unruly. The Jogger feels more responsive and more compact than the C3 Aircross, too, except at low speeds, where its turning circle is poor. The Citroen is more refined, though - there's more wind and road noise at motorway speeds in the Jogger.

TECH HIGHLIGHTS