Why bother with an MPV?
Most people don’t think they want or need an MPV. They think it’ll be a large box that’s difficult to drive and worse to park. They think it won’t be fun, refined and is best used as a taxi if you want to be uncomfortable while travelling long distances by road. That may have been true over a decade ago, but of late, this segment has received many upgrades. MPVs have become practical, reliable, comfortable and easy to drive which makes managing their bulk, a lot easier. Maybe that’s why this segment has become packed with options. Despite the fact that they’re all people carriers, they are a varied bunch of vehicles and each brings something unique to the mix. MPVs are also being considered good family vehicles today because they have a massive amount of space, and aren’t as expensive as SUVs. As Indians, we do like to carry our world with us. On Indian roads, where the size of your vehicle determines how you are treated by others on the road, the MPV has become a practical choice. It looks like manufacturers have noticed this and today, you get MPVs across the price and size range. Now, though, there’s a new kid on the block. One that cannot be dismissed as just another option. This one comes from the very people who invented the MPV segment about 30 years ago, Renault. And it is based on their last big ticket product — the Duster. But can it repeat the Duster’s success? Let’s take a detailed look at this newcomer, the Renault Lodgy, because on all counts, it looks like a serious contender. Let’s find out more.
117 years of automobile revolution
Yes, Renault did invent the MPV segment. But that’s not the only way it revolutionised the automobile industry. It did so by delivering comfortable, stylish and efficient cars. And of course, there are its inventions, like the gearbox, the turbocharger, the sedan and the hatchback. Renault has literally changed the way the world looks at automobiles. It has even seen fantastic success in the crucible of motorsport. Including the arena considered the pinnacle of motorsport technology, Formula One.
