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

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

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.