How Renault and Dacia’s new offerings are giving a real bang for their buck

It has been a controversial week in the Irish motor industry with news that Hyundai Ireland has decided to pull out of the Irish Car of the Year awards for the foreseeable future.

Thankfully for me, I stepped away from being a jury member a few years back and no longer carry a vote in the awards.

Although my fellow Motormouth, Daragh, does hold a vote on the jury, I prefer to do my own version of the Car of the Year awards at the end of December. I find it’s less controversial.

Last year, two cars stood head and shoulders above the rest for me – the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6 – when it came to my awards.

I remember writing at the time that I couldn’t choose one over the other, and I would honestly have to flip a coin to call the outright winner.

But the fairest thing for me to do was to share the award between the two – especially because they are both built on the same platform and share the same Korean stable.

Meanwhile, over in the Medium Crossover/SUV section, the Hyundai Tucson was short-listed alongside the CUPRA Formentor, Nissan Qashqai, Renault Arkana and the Subaru Outback.

For the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, winning this category would probably make very little difference to the sales of an absolutely brilliant SUV that practically sells itself.

I have raved about how good it is on this pages before and my opinion hasn’t changed about it one bit despite it losing out in the awards.

It is already Ireland’s best-selling car this year with close to 3,000 models delivered to new proud owners at the time of writing.

However, for the likes of the Renault Arkana, which scooped the coveted gong in this category, it does make a huge difference.

Last week I got behind the wheel of the all-new Renault Arkana and, although in my opinion it may not reach the high standards set by the Tucson, it represents excellent value for money in the Medium Crossover/SUV market.

For example, prices for the new Arkana start at €30,340 for the entry-level model. Prices for the new entry-level Tucson start at €31,780, but you would have to upgrade to the Executive model in the range (€37,795) to get similar levels of equipment.

That’s a saving of more than €6k at a time when Irish families are tightening their purse strings.

The new Arkana is one of the most spacious SUVs I have driven of late and it is absolutely perfect as a family car.

Even the entry-level model comes loaded with some of the latest technology and safety features that you’d normally pay a lot more for in more expensive brands.

On the road, it is as good as anything I have driven lately and the reliable French engines have become the envy of even some of the premium German brands.

Putting its award aside, the new Renault Arkana represents superb value for money for a massive family SUV.

Meanwhile, the eagerly awaited All-New Dacia Jogger is here and already demand for this great value for money seven-seater is high with interested customers advised to order now.

Dacia is bringing its famed fresh thinking and value-for-money approach to the seven-seat family car sector with the launch of the All-New Dacia Jogger which will be available to Irish motorists on the road from just €7 per day.

Offering superb versatility by blending the practicality of an estate car with the spaciousness of an MPV and the styling of an SUV, the All-New Dacia Jogger exists in a class of its own.

With a name that embodies the brand’s outdoor spirit, its positive energy and sense of adventure, the All-New Dacia Jogger is a life-long companion, ideally suited to the daily lives of families whether navigating urban environments or looking to get away into the great outdoors.

Generous proportions and rugged styling ensure the All-New Jogger is always ready for adventure, backed up by a series of clever touches and smart thinking, from the ingenious modular roof rails to the innovative Media Control system that places the smartphone at the centre of the car’s multimedia experience.

The All-New Jogger is powered by Dacia’s brand new TCe 110 turbocharged petrol engine, delivering both willing performance, excellent fuel economy and reduced emissions thanks to several technical innovations.

The All-New Jogger seven-seater is available in three trim levels – Essential, Comfort, and Extreme SE. All versions are generously equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, and rear parking sensors as standard across the range.

Customers have already been registering their interest in All-New Jogger and can secure their All-New Jogger with just a €99 deposit at dacia.ie