The new DS 4 and Honda HR-V have scored well in the latest Euro NCAP tests, but the new Dacia Jogger scored just a one-star rating. 

The Jogger was seen to lack basic safety features that are the norm in most family cars

The Jogger, positioned by Dacia as a value-for-money MPV with seven seats as standard for the UK market, was seen to lack basic safety features that are the norm in most family cars. In addition, some of the ‘active’ safety technology fitted to the vehicle was considered sub-standard, unnecessarily increasing the collision risk for passengers.  

In the passive safety assessments, the Dacia Jogger’s results found the protection for the chest on the 10-year-old dummy was ‘weak’ and protection for front seat passengers in a collision was rated as ‘marginal’ or ‘adequate’, due to a sub-optimal seatbelt restraint. The Jogger was also penalised across many of the same categories as the Sandero Stepway, for example its AEB system can only detect other vehicles.  

While the Sandero Stepway previously scored two stars, the Dacia Jogger was downgraded due to the lack of increase in the provision of safety measures for rear-seated passengers in tandem with its increased capacity. There are no seat belt reminders for the new rear row of seats for drivers to ensure that children are appropriately buckled-up, while the side-curtain airbag does not extend far enough back to provide protection for those seated in the rear row, meaning they are far more vulnerable in the event of a side impact.  

Matthew Avery, chief research strategy officer at Euro NCAP member Thatcham Research, said: “For a family car this safety performance is disappointing. The vehicle may be more affordable than others in the same category, but in terms of safety it appears that you do get what you pay for.  

“In this case, not only is the Dacia Jogger lacking the active safety features that buyers expect as standard, but even some of its basic passive safety features are not up to the industry standard set by the vast majority of carmakers.” 

Meanwhile, the DS 4, which was originally a four-star car, has been re-tested with the optional safety pack and achieved a five-star rating, scoring highly across all assessment categories. Its ‘Safety Pack Plus’ improved the vehicle’s rating – and is an option that safety-conscious buyers should seriously consider, according to Thatcham.  

The hybrid Honda HRV also performed well, receiving a four-star rating with good protection seen for adult and child passengers.