Renault, the company that pioneered the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment, has launched its first MPV in the country and we recently took it out for a drive to see how it feels on Indian roads
Photogrpahy: Rommel Albuquerque
MPVs and Indians go hand in hand because we love the practicality on offer at a reasonable price. Many MPVs are available in India, which cater to various budgets and needs, thus making it a very lucrative segment for many car-makers. The latest to join the MPV brigade in India are Renault. They started the segment some 30 years ago with the Escape MPV and today, looking at the potential in India, the company has launched its first MPV offering in India in form of the Lodgy. Now, don’t get all worked up and expect to see a stunner here because of its cheeky name, for so far as this new MPV is concerned, function takes centre-stage and form is something that is stowed away in the boot. We recently got our hands on the top-of-the-line Lodgy, and we took it out for a spin to see whether this MPV from the innovators in the segment has what it takes to make it big for the company in India.
As mentioned earlier, form stays out of the equation in the Lodgy because it is primarily a people mover and it is clearly depicted in the design of the Lodgy. Boxy proportions and non-exciting elements all around give it a very generic look, but it doesn’t look drab at all. Just take a look at the front end. To make the Lodgy a contemporary and relevant MPV to 2015, Renault designers have given it a modern-looking face. I appreciate the fact that the front end has a big, chrome-splashed grille that looks interesting. And those swept-back headlamps also add a bit of modernity to the fascia. Apart from that, the rest of the exterior design is pretty much generic and didn’t really excite me much.
However, that is what an MPV is meant to look like. A fair example of how function dominates form in respect of the Lodgy is clearly visible inside as well. The cabin, even though it looks decent, lacks the touch of elegance. Grey and black plastic is the highlight inside the cabin and since it is a boxy MPV, there is a lot of space on offer. Leg and knee-room are available in abundance in the first two rows, though the third row is strictly limited to children. Being a tall MPV, the Lodgy has more than adequate headroom in all the three rows. Seating is comfortable with ample support and there are a lot of small storage spaces and cubbyholes to store knick-knacks.
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