The Dacia Jogger is a seven-seat estate with improbable luggage space

In recent years, the answer to idly being asked ‘which normal car should I buy?’ was ‘a Skoda’. For anyone not craving acceleration records or cornering g, the most appropriately sized Skoda to your budget and needs was probably The Right Answer.

But now it may be Dacia. The Czechs have edged their cars a little more upmarket while Renault’s Romanian cousin has piled more tech into its value aisle cars without swelling the prices. And now there’s a seven-seater.

Meet the Dacia Jogger. Sure, jogging may not be the most high-octane of hobbies to name a practical lifestyle-y car after, but perhaps – for most of us – it’s a nicely grounded, realistic one. It matches most of our aspirations – and Dacia’s general no-nonsense vibe – quite nicely.

Its maker describes it as “a family car that exists in a class of its own, delivering a price-to-spaciousness ratio that is unique to Dacia”. Indeed, this may be the sub-niche to end them all – an estate car with people carrier and SUV vibes baked in.

The roof rails hold 80kg and are wildly adjustable while the split/folding seats can apparently be configured in 60 different layouts. Luggage volume peaks at 1,819 litres – more than a Volvo V90 despite the Jogger being half a metre shorter, at 4.5m.

From its 2022 launch there’ll be a choice of petrol and bi-fuel powertrains, both with around 100bhp, while a hybrid offering – Dacia’s first – follows in 2023. We’re told it’ll be 40 per cent more efficient than a petrol equivalent without you having to adjust your driving style.

It’s also a nice comeback for that most Nineties of design features, the tall vertical taillight. Popularised by the Mk1 Fiat Punto and a glut of Volvos, it’s perhaps fallen out of favour in recent years. But somewhat inevitably Dacia’s brought it back for practical reasons. They “maximise the width of the tailgate making loading easier, particularly for bulky items”.

Yep, you won’t read about a more practical today. Or likely all year. But that just makes it all the easier to idly recommend…