Photo: SB-Medien
Rumors of its demise were unfounded. The Dacia Dokker will survive to see another generation, as the appeal of a super-cheap new van is too good for European to resist.
Various reports talked about Dacia stopping production of the Dokker and Lodgy, which would give them more money to develop crossovers. However, vans don't work like normal cars; you can't easily replace them with SUVs when cargo capacity and fuel consumption are way more important than looks.
To be fair, the Dokker has a rugged thing going on. The version we tested had the Stepway package, which not only beefed up the bodywork but also prepared the suspension for rough roads. And even when you order it with seats in the back, the model is still capable of carrying a standard pallet.
The testing of this new Dokker is directly related to the Renault Kangoo, which we showed you a few weeks ago. By sharing a lot of parts between the two, the automaker is able to save some money, which hopefully goes towards interior quality. At the front, the designers have at least played with the headlights. But you can tell the hood of the Dokker is actually designed around the pointy Renault diamond logo, not the Dacia shield. Meanwhile, towards the back, only the taillight graphics can set them apart.
So why buy a Kangoo over a much cheaper Dokker? Good question. We don't know, but it could be a combination of the engines and features you get as standard. Many vans are bought as-is, not built to order. We can already see how the Dacia wheels have four bolts compared to the five of its sister model.
The interior of the Dokker will use no soft-touch materials, while the switches and dials will probably be the same as the Duster. Meanwhile, the Kangoo could have more safety systems and that cool infotainment we saw on the Clio.
We believe the two main engines for the Dokker Van will be the 1.5 dCi with between 75 and 95 HP, as well as the 1.3 TCe turbo with up to 130 HP. Don't be surprised to see a CVT or Easy-R popping up on the options list.
To be fair, the Dokker has a rugged thing going on. The version we tested had the Stepway package, which not only beefed up the bodywork but also prepared the suspension for rough roads. And even when you order it with seats in the back, the model is still capable of carrying a standard pallet.
The testing of this new Dokker is directly related to the Renault Kangoo, which we showed you a few weeks ago. By sharing a lot of parts between the two, the automaker is able to save some money, which hopefully goes towards interior quality. At the front, the designers have at least played with the headlights. But you can tell the hood of the Dokker is actually designed around the pointy Renault diamond logo, not the Dacia shield. Meanwhile, towards the back, only the taillight graphics can set them apart.
So why buy a Kangoo over a much cheaper Dokker? Good question. We don't know, but it could be a combination of the engines and features you get as standard. Many vans are bought as-is, not built to order. We can already see how the Dacia wheels have four bolts compared to the five of its sister model.
The interior of the Dokker will use no soft-touch materials, while the switches and dials will probably be the same as the Duster. Meanwhile, the Kangoo could have more safety systems and that cool infotainment we saw on the Clio.
We believe the two main engines for the Dokker Van will be the 1.5 dCi with between 75 and 95 HP, as well as the 1.3 TCe turbo with up to 130 HP. Don't be surprised to see a CVT or Easy-R popping up on the options list.
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