Renault Lodgy Long Term Report 1

The Renault Lodgy was introduced to the Indian market last year to take the competition squarely to the segment leader - Toyota Innova. Like its competitor, the new MPV puts forth an interesting proposition of both - a big family car and a comfortable taxi operator. Though we won't be able to use it exactly for the latter part, we will surely check how effectively it does the former part.

We've welcomed the seven-seater 110PS RxZ trim as a part of our long term fleet. And since we've recently had a short stint (we drove to the Auto Expo from Mumbai to Delhi and back) with the Stepway edition of the Lodgy, I'm looking forward to see what this variant can offer in everyday conditions. Especially, this one that is powered by the standard four-cylinder 1,461cc diesel motor, but comes in a more powerful state of tune. And, it’s not just the 110bhp on display but the car also claims an ARAI-certified fuel economy of 19.98kmpl! We'll see how it performs when we put it to the daily grind.

I have never liked the boxy appearance of MPVs. And, the Lodgy is no different. So, I decided to look beyond the van-like profile and quadratic dimensions, which still gives it the typical 'box on wheels' aspect. The sole reason being oodles of space inside the cabin and a comfy driver’s seat, where I will be spending most of my time. I like the roomy interior, which is ergonomically packed with a multitude of features, my favourite being the touch screen infotainment system with navigation and rear camera. I’ve also got a good feeling from the cabin as the two-tone leather upholstery has good finish and the plastic quality isn't tacky. There are plenty of utility spaces, which indicate its practicality and I'm also hoping to make utmost use of the highly customisable luggage space.

In these three months we will find out whether the Lodgy has really upped the game in the MUV/MPV market or not. More importantly, we will tell you how much potential the vehicle actually has in the city and on the highway through our monthly reports.

Photography by Kapil Angane