Dacia Jogger Sleep Pack review

What is it?

A no-frills, hugely practical seven-seater which is… no longer a seven-seater. That is because this Jogger’s rearmost row has been removed and replaced by an unusual box-shaped unit that unfolds into a bed.

Dacia’s ‘Sleep Pack’ does cost you some space – and perhaps a little dignity while clambering inside – but, at £1,350 or more depending on the options, could it be another effective bargain for well-travelled campers?

There was only one way to find out: a 1,400-mile return journey from bruising East London to the beautiful Isle of Skye. Properly thorough, eh?

Wait, what exactly do you get with the Sleep Pack?

Available for every Jogger variant, the Sleep Pack includes a mattress measuring 190cm long and 130cm wide, extra cushions to fill the awkward gaps by the doors, and blackout window blinds.

The complete assembly weighs 50kg, just 30 kilos more than the two seats it takes the place of, meaning the extra weight is minimal and should not ruin fuel economy. You can take the box out whenever you are not camping too, so you are not condemned to carrying a bed around for 365 days a year.

Remove the Sleep Pack and the boot offers a useful 696 litres; leave it in place and that falls to... 220, thanks to the storage cubby beneath the mattress. Naturally, you can still stack belongings on top. With the Sleep Pack installed, the Jogger drives no differently: it feels solidly made and sturdy, without irritating squeaks or rattles.

For another £600, you can fit a tent attachment, which connects to the rear of the car using straps secured to the wheels. In total, you are looking at roughly two grand’s worth of kit.

Is the bed easy to set up?

Setting it up can require as little as five minutes or as much as 30, depending on your patience and practical abilities. Push the front and middle rows as far forward as they will go, fold them down, then open the bed box in several stages following the supplied instructions. It can be speedy and straightforward, although the amount of luggage you have brought along also makes a difference.

Gotcha. How much does the interior space suffer?

Unfolding the bed effectively takes away the car’s interior storage. Unless you want barbecue supplies and firewood scattered all over the campsite, expect to play a considerable game of 3D Tetris while assembling it. That might prove inconvenient when you are in Scotland and the weather is… unpredictable.

After the bed has been put together, only the front-seat area remains for storage, apart from the pockets below and around the bed. Otherwise, you must sacrifice part of your sleeping space to bags and boxes. Not ideal. Camping in the Jogger therefore depends heavily on how lightly you are willing to travel.

Is there a way to gain more room?

Yes. To solve this issue properly, you need the £600 tent, chiefly as a place to put all your clobber, but also somewhere in which you can stand upright and stretch your legs.

Even then, however, it is not entirely straightforward. The tent is pleasant once it is erected – nicely insulated and comfortable for relaxing in – but constructing it demands time and mental effort that you may not have left after a long drive.

Its instructions are not as clear-cut as the bed’s either. Miss a stage or lose one of the connecting clips, and Scotland’s elements will find a route inside. Yep, this is one manual you should not throw away.

Is it comfy to sleep in, at least?

In short: yes. The mattress is sufficiently comfortable, and you can add your own extra bedding if you think it needs it. Following a full day behind the wheel in the Highlands, though, we did not feel it was necessary.

The large Dacia is impressively effective at muting outside noise and keeping the weather at bay. One weakness is the blinds, which are fitted by slotting them into the gaps around the window panels. If any come loose, plenty of light will enter at daybreak. That is fine for early birds, but less so for anyone hoping for a lie-in.

You will also appreciate just how broad the Jogger is, with ample room for two adults and a child. Yet because the bed sits above the floor, there is only around 60cm of headroom. Your back will begin to hurt as your game of Monopoly reaches its third hour, if not before.

Better bring a table and chairs, then retreat to the tent.

Come on then, is it worth the money?

We already know the Jogger represents strong value as an economical, tough recreational vehicle. The real question, then, is... does the Sleep Pack represent good value?

At around £2k – and £22k all in – there is nothing quite comparable at this price point. It is a niche idea, though, innit? Manufacturers rarely create a bespoke answer like this: Skoda tried something similar with the Enyaq a couple of years ago, but it never reached production. Realistically, then, the Jogger’s rivals are probably... any car with roof bars capable of carrying a third-party roof tent. Hmm.

You are almost certainly not weighing it up against a full camper. The VW California, Ford Transit Custom Nugget or an ID. Buzz conversion all occupy a completely different price bracket. No, this is not a five-star suite.

So what’s the verdict?

The Jogger gives you a huge amount of car for the money, and its low price means you will not be scared to take it wherever your adventures lead. However, if you want an outdoor lifestyle on a budget, we would recommend buying a standard Jogger and using the Sleep Pack money on a genuinely high-quality tent and camping equipment instead. Dull but sensible advice, sorry.

That leaves the car’s generous space reserves intact, while preserving the option of seven seats whenever you need them. You also avoid the hassle of disconnecting from the tent every time you want to leave the campsite. Much as pretending to be an astronaut leaving the ISS is entertaining...

A brave effort from Dacia, but in the ‘get it cheaper with us’ stakes, this goes a little too far.