Renault Lodgy: Top 5 reasons to buy the MPV

With the runaway success of the Renault Duster, Renault has become one of the fastest growing automobile brands in India and easily the most commonly sighted European car marque on Indian roads.

Now the French car manufacturer is set to debut in the lucrative MPV segment with the new Renault Lodgy, hoping for similar success. 

We list down top 5 reasons which could make the new Renault Lodgy a worthy competitor to established MPV models like the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Honda Mobilio.

Eight Seats

Renault has employed its over 30 years of experience in manufacturing MPVs, on its latest model the Renault Lodgy. Along with attractive design and packaging, the Lodgy will also offer practical 7 and 8 seating options so that the grand Indian family can always travel together. 

Thanks to its long 2810mm wheelbase, the Renault Lodgy can accommodate up to eight people with its three rows of seats. And to increase passenger comfort the Lodgy gets captain seats in the second row, in the 7 seat configuration, along with dual air-conditioning with second and third row vents to make Indian summers more bearable.

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Flexibility of Space

Besides accommodating family members of various shapes and sizes the Renault Lodgy also offer flexible storage space to make room for equally diverse sizes of luggage. In fact there are 56 different seat configurations giving it great storage versatility.

The split 2nd and 3rd rows give the seats of the Renault Lodgy the flexibility to be folded independently. For example, the 3rd row can be tumbled and rolled over or even be removed completely to carve out more storage space, when needed.

With all three rows in place it has an impressive 207-litres of luggage space, 589-litres with 3rd row folded, 759-litres if you remove the 3rd row, and with the 3rd row extracted and the 2nd row tumbled over you get an impressive 1,861-litres! After all, we love to carry our world with us.

Proven engine

Powering the Renault Lodgy is a 1.5-litre dCi common rail, direct ignition diesel engine which is also sported on various successful car models already available in India, including the Renault Duster. And over the years the motors has proved its reliability and fuel efficiency.

On the Renault Lodgy the diesel motor will be offered in two variants, the more powerful churning out 110PS of maximum power and 245Nm of peak torque which comes mated to the segment first 6-speed manual gearbox. And the detuned-for-efficiency version, with power rating of 85PS and 200Nm of torque. Giving thee buyers the option to pick the variant which suits their need the best.

Fuel Efficiency

We’ve already had a taste of Renault’s dependable 1.5-litre dCi which also powers a range of cars available in India apart from the Duster, such as the Renault Pulse and Scala and even various Nissan cars including the Micra, Sunny and Terrano in different states of tune.

Both the 110PS version and the tuned-for-efficiency 85PS version have had a great track record in terms of fuel efficiency, with the later claiming an ARAI certified 21kmpl while the more powerful variant uses its 6-speed transmission to return a claimed 19.98kmpl.

Unique Proposition

Renault claims to have pioneered the MPV segment about three decades ago and has used this experience on the new Renault Lodgy giving it a driveability of a sedan and space of a MPV. And going by our experience with the Renault Duster, we can be sure that Lodgy like its sibling will have an equally pliant ride quality and robust driving dynamics. Add to that a spacious cabin and smart three rows of seats, and the Renault Lodgy gets an extraordinary on-paper charisma like no other in its segment.

Renault India is planning to the new Renault Lodgy in Aplril 2015, to go up against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Honda Mobilio and the Chevrolet Enjoy and is expected to be priced between Rs 8-12 lakh.