Renault Lodgy MPV: what to expect

The growing MPV segment in India just got its next promising member. The Renault Lodgy appears ready to take on Toyota’s Innova, and in a big way. Here’s what we know about Renault’s people-mover.

Dimensions and Design
The Lodgy measures 4,498mm long, 1,751mm wide and 1,682mm tall. It also gets a massive 2,810mm wheelbase. Cosmetically, it has some subtle design elements like the contours on the wheel arches which add form to the sides, and the dash of chrome on the doors, which although subdued, adds definition.

Cabin
Lot of elements on the inside are borrowed from the Duster. The steering wheel, front seats and the gear lever, and the controls hold a sense of familiarity. But the brown-beige tone of the dashboard with the glossy piano black centre console with silver accents is a step up from the Duster’s design. Overall, the cabin is quite spacious and practical.

Engines

Renault has given the Lodgy its staple 1.5-litre K9K diesel unit. The engine is used in two states of tune; the 84bhp variant with a five-speed manual gearbox, while the more powerful 108.5bhp variant is mated to a six-speed gearbox.

Features
The top-specced Lodgy gets a touchscreen unit with sat-nav, USB and aux-in, Bluetooth connectivity, rear-view camera and sensors, dual front airbags, and ABS with EBD.

Launch and Price
Couple of dealers we spoke to said that the launch of the Lodgy is likely to take place in the first week of April. We expect the MPV to be priced in the range of Rs 9-13 lakh (estimated, ex-showroom, Delhi).

Bookings
Renault dealers have started accepting bookings for the MPV at an amount of Rs 50,000. Customers who book first will be given a choice of trim and colour by the dealersupon launch. Speaking of which, in case you change your mind after the launch, and do not intend to buy the car, the Rs 50,000 token amount spent on booking will be refunded completely. Some dealers added that the MPV is generating decent interest, and confirmed to having received a reasonable number of bookings too.