I also appreciate the fact that Renault thought of and employed the removal of the third-row seats as it liberates enough space to throw in a decent-sized refrigerator. Moreover, you can also fold the second row of seats to free up a little more space.
In terms of features, there are a few flourishes such as the gloss black centre console, which reminded me so much of the Duster. The round air-con vents with chrome rims and a huge touchscreen infotainment system with basic connectivity options add a bit of flair to the overall subtleness of the cabin. The steering wheel, though it looks dated, comes with buttons for cruise control settings; quite a novelty for an MPV in India.
The reason for this mention of the Duster is that the Lodgy is based on the same platform as the Duster. Like any other automobile company, Renault took a tried and tested platform, one which has worked so well for them, made a few changes and created the Lodgy. The monocoque construction of the frame is the same as in the Duster, though for the Lodgy, the Renault engineers stretched the wheelbase by 137 mm to enhance practicality and to fit a third row of seats. Having a monocoque chassis also increases the agility of a vehicle and I clearly felt it while driving the Lodgy in the city.
Since the Lodgy shares its platform with the Duster, it was natural for the company to equip it with the same K9K 1.5-litre in-line four motor that serves the Duster. Renault are offering the Lodgy only with this engine option since there is no petrol variant on sale in India. We drove the 110 PS/ 250 Nm version (there is a 85 PS/200 Nm version as well) and, honestly, I did not find it to be much different from the Duster. It still has the very distinct diesel clatter if you are standing outside the car, but once you step inside and shut the door, you can hardly hear it. Good work on sound dampening, Renault.
The 1,461-cc motor puts down power in a very civilised manner, but poor bottom-end does bother a little bit. Besides, turbo lag also makes itself evident but the power is not unleashed like a hound from hell when the turbo finally kicks in. Everything happens smoothly and in a very linear way. The six-speed gearbox also comes from the Duster, but the ratios are modified to suit the MPV nature of the Lodgy. The first three ratios are geared lower for better driveability in city traffic conditions, whereas the fourth, fifth and sixth gears are taller for better fuel-efficiency and highway driving. It is smooth and the shifts are quite precise.
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