ASLEEP ON THE JOG
We’ve seen its creation, now it’s time to put the Sleep Pack to the test to see if the Jogger can double as a mini-motorhome
THE tone is one of mild disbelief: “You’re sleeping? In that? You’re mad.” I’d expected nothing less from seasoned campers, but even so, the reaction to the sight of a humble Dacia Jogger occupying a full eight-metre pitch in the middle of a Sussex campsite is one of brutal bemusement. “How will you actually doze off?” they ask. “Simple,” I reply. “I intend to drink the best part of a bottle of red – purely as a precaution, you understand – and then lie down.”
This real-world test of Dacia’s Sleep Pack is taking place only hours after the final version was revealed, and it wasn’t part of the original plan. But when chatting to execs like Lionel Jaillet at the preview of the kit in a French barn, it became clear that they might be willing to allow us to try a prototype in the wild. And journalistic curiosity did the rest.
Even so, as the sun sets on a February evening, the temperature begins to drop rapidly enough for me to wonder how wise an activity this might be. Granted, we’ve come to Concierge Camping near Chichester, which borders on glamping, but the fact remains that while there are power sockets on every pitch, the Jogger is a car with a bed, not a motorhome with an auxiliary heater. If I want to keep the chill off, my best bet might be to just sit there with the engine running.
Still, I’m not about to back out just yet – so with a little daylight remaining, I set about converting our Jogger into overnight quarters. The kit in our vehicle, imported from France just days earlier, is the ‘middle prototype’ outlined on page 54. It looks familiar enough, but there’s a total absence of instructions.
I rack my brains to recall how François Aupierre and Pauline Doublet unfolded the box and its contents, and in 10 minutes I have something that looks like what we were shown in France, and only a couple of spare (mystery) bits of wood. I send a pic of these to Dacia’s UK rep asking for clarification on their importance. The reply? “Your guess is as good as mine.”
There’s not a great deal of space left in the Jogger in which to spend the evening – you need to shove the front seats forward a bit to make room for the frame – but fortunately Concierge has a) an excellent, warm bar and b) a pop-up food takeaway next door selling hearty Asian curries and the like. A glass (or two) of Merlot and a decent beef rendang later, I’m ready for bed.
But is the Dacia? It feels properly cold as I walk back to the car, so I elect to pre-warm the cabin first with the engine running. After barely 10 minutes it’s toasty in there, and I’ve also managed to hang a power cable through a slightly open window, and hooked up a domestic electric blanket. A quick change into sleeping attire, and I clamber aboard in a fairly ungainly fashion.
Once I’m in, the first feeling is that I’ve slept on many a motorhome bed that’s not as supportive as the Sleep Pack; it feels solid and the mattress is doing a good job. The prototype hasn’t got the optional window blinds, so I don an eye mask and lie down. The World Tonight is starting on the BBC app on my phone, yet I can’t recall anything but the headlines; I’m asleep within minutes.
I wake at 4am; the electric blanket has timed out, so I’m exposed to the freezing temperatures. I flick on my thermal assistance again and before I know it, the duvet is snug again. And I’m asleep once more.
My alarm clock goes off; it’s approaching 7am and daylight has flooded the cabin. It’s time to get up
anyway; snapper Otis Clay is already en route to take the pictures you see here (we’ve spared you the sight of me in PJs, you’ll be pleased to hear). When he arrives, I fold down the Dacia’s table (which takes a mere 10 seconds) and plug in a travel kettle for a couple of cups of tea. It’s not luxury, but it’s functional.
What has Dacia created with the Sleep Pack, then? It’s not a rival to a motorhome. But assuming that the UK’s still-unconfirmed pricing gets vaguely close to the European total (around £1,300 when ordered with a vehicle, and a little more as an aftermarket accessory), then what you have here is a kit that allows you to convert your Jogger into a temporary bedroom, with exceptional value and a surprising amount of comfort, but no added frippery. It might seem a strange option for the company to offer, but in pretty much every way, it’s also absolutely on brand.
“Guess what? Once I’m in, I’m comfortable. My first feeling is that I’ve slept on many a motorhome bed that’s not as supportive as the Sleep Pack”
“You can’t miss that logo, you can’t miss the signage. It’s great that Dacia is so visible in a busy area” ELINA KARPPINEN RENAULT UK’S RETAIL GROUP MARKETING DIRECTOR