The only exhibits we were interested in at Dacia’s stall at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show were the Lodgy MPV and the Duster facelift. The Dacia Lodgy is expected to launch in India by March 2015 (though it will be called the Renault Lodgy here) and figured in our list of top 6 MPVs expected in India over the course of two years.
Based on the Logan’s platform, which is well localized in India for the Duster, the Lodgy shares many an interior part with the Duster such as the steering wheel, door trims, handles, etc, besides the chassis. It measures a substantial 4,498 mm in length, making it longer than the upcoming Honda Mobilio (4,400 mm), though its still much shorter than the Innova which measures 4,585 mm.
In Europe, the Lodgy is offered with petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol motors in question are the 1.2-liter turbocharged TCe engine (turbocharged engine) which makes 115 hp and a 1.6-liter naturally-aspirated engine producing a modest 85 hp. The diesel engine powering the Lodgy is the familiar 1.5-liter four-cylinder K9K motor found in the Duster as well. Like in the Duster, this engine is offered in two power states of 90 hp and 110 hp in the Lodgy.
The Lodgy may not look as stylish as competitors, and the interior cannot be termed luxurious either. However, we expect an aggressive pricing to make up for these shortcomings in an MPV which is otherwise spacious and comfortable.