The Renault Lodgy has been launched in India in the range of Rs 8.19 – 11.79 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), and with this latest offering, the carmaker is looking to capture a considerable chunk of the promising MPV segment. Renault had previously hit the jackpot with its Duster range, and if it hopes to repeat that kind of success, the Lodgy will have to dethrone the segment leader – the Toyota Innova. On paper, the Lodgy looks very promising, with just the right ingredients to take the fight to Innova. Here's how the two heavyweights stack up.
Under the hood
| Lodgy vs Innova - engine comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Renault Lodgy | Toyota Innova |
| Cubic capacity | 1461cc | 2494cc |
| Power | 108.5bhp | 100.6bhp |
| Torque | 25.3kgm | 20.4kgm |
Both the Renault Lodgy and Toyota Innova come only in the diesel guise. The engine in the Lodgy is available in two states of tune (83.8bhp and 108.5bhp), but for this comparison, we'll consider the more powerful version. Although the Lodgy has a smaller engine, it makes 8bhp power and 5kgm of torque more that the Innova. While the 8bhp power advantage may not seem like much, it's the 5kgm extra torque that makes the difference. People movers like these two here, are generally used to carry quite a lot of people or luggage, and in that case, more torque is always better. The Lodgy (108.5bhp version) also gets an extra gear over the Innova; the sixth gear could imply that the Renault is better suited to cruising on the highway and returning better fuel economy than the Toyota.
Space on offer
| Dimension Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Renault Lodgy | Toyota Innova | |
| Wheelbase | 2810mm | 2750mm |
| Length | 4498mm | 4585mm |
| Width | 1751mm | 1760mm |
| Height | 1682mm | 1760mm |
MPVs are all about practicality and space; lots of space. Talking purely about dimensions, the Lodgy has a wheelbase that is slightly longer than the Innova’s, but it's the Japanese car that has the advantage in terms of overall length, and although not too much, in terms of width and height as well. So, while legroom could be a bit of an edge in the Renault, the Toyota is likely to be more comfortable for taller people.
Equipment and safety
Both MPVs are well equipped, and in the top spec avatars, boast features like AC vents for all three rows, USB, aux-in and Bluetooth connectivity, touchscreen, rear-view camera and rear parking sensors. In terms of safety, both get ABS and dual airbags. Where Toyota does well, is to provide airbags even on the base trim.
Pricing
Monetarily speaking, here’s how the Renault Lodgy compares to the Innova -
Renault has priced the Lodgy in the range of Rs 8.19 – 10.89 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the 84bhp version, and Rs 10.09 – 11.79 lakh for the 108.5bhp version. The Innova, on the other hand, is way more expensive, starting at Rs 12.54 lakh, and going up to Rs 15.81 lakh.
At the bottom of the model range, the Lodgy Standard which is available only in the 84bhp guise, is priced at Rs 8.19 lakh. The Toyota Innova’s base G trim costs Rs 12.54 lakh for the seven-seater version, and Rs 12.58 lakh for the eight-seater. Moving on, the Lodgy RxE too comes only in the 84bhp avatar, and is priced at Rs 8.99 lakh. In comparison, the Toyota Innova GX can be had for Rs 13.10 lakh (seven-seater) or Rs 13.15 lakh (eight-seater).
Renault has priced the middle RxL trim at Rs 9.59 lakh (84bhp) and Rs 10.09 lakh (108.5bhp). In contrast, Toyata sells the Innova VX at Rs 15.12 lakh (seven-seater) and Rs 15.17 lakh (eight-seater).
At the top of the pyramid are the fully-loaded Lodgy RxZ and the Innova ZX models. While the Toyota, which is a seven-seater in this trim, will set you back by Rs 15.81 lakh, the Renault is a lot more affordable at Rs 11.49 lakh (eight-seater) and Rs 11.79 lakh (seven-seater).
It looks like Renault has nailed it with the Lodgy’s pricing. The French car is around Rs 2-4 lakh less expensive than the Toyota (varies as per trims). At least on paper, Renault seems well on its way to recreate the Duster-like success.