Renault India has launched the Lodgy, their first MPV for the Indian market, for a starting price of Rs 8.19 lakh. According to Renault, the Lodgy combines the performance and comfort of a sedan with the space and convenience of an MPV.
The Lodgy MPV is a huge vehicle unlike the compact MPVs launched in India recently. The car measures 4,498mm in length, 1,751mm in width and has a long wheelbase of 2,810mm. The Innova’s wheelbase is at 2750mm, while the Ertiga’s at 2740mm. The Lodgy has a massive on-road presence and oodles of space inside the cabin as well.
The cabin gets the beige dual-tone treatment, while the glossy piano black centre console with silver accents gives it a premium feel. The top-spec RxZ features a good amount of equipment and it even gets the touch screen system from the Duster. Other features include a USB port, Aux-in, satellite navigation, but there is no CD player. Nevertheless, the interior comes equipped with a rear-view camera and rear parking sensor.
The MPV gets a roof-mounted air-condition system which has been specially developed for India. There are dedicated air-con vents for the two rows at the rear as well. There are cup holders and 12V charging sockets in all three rows. It is only the top-end variant that gets small tray tables that fold up from the back of the front seats. Safety features in the top-of-the-line model include ABS, EBD, brake assist and driver and passenger airbags.
The Lodgy is powered by the 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine that is offered in two states of tune; 84bhp/200Nm and 109bhp/245Nm. The former comes mated to a five-speed manual gearbox and the latter is paired to a six-speed manual transmission. The ARAI fuel efficiency of the MPV is claimed to be 21.04kmpl for the 84bhp version and 19.98kmpl for the 109bhp model.
The MPV market in India is expanding quickly with different manufacturers planning to bring in new vehicles for the Indian market. Globally, the Lodgy is sold under Renault-owned Dacia brand; however, for the Indian market it is rebadged as the Renault Lodgy. The carmaker believes that it will redefine the segment as a complete multi-purpose vehicle and deliver best-in-segment performance. It competes with the Toyota Innova, Honda Mobilio and Maruti Suzuki Ertiga.
Renault Lodgy 85PS variant prices (ex-showroom Delhi)
Standard: Rs 8.19 lakh
RxE: Rs 8.99 lakh
RxL: Rs 9.59 lakh
RxZ: Rs 10.89 lakh
Renault Lodgy 110PS variant prices (ex-showroom Delhi)
RxL: Rs 10.09 lakh
RxZ: Rs 11.49 lakh (8-seater)
RxZ: Rs 11.79 lakh (7-seater)
