In terms of performance, the Lodgy will not set a land speed record, but for the curious mind here are a few numbers. The Lodgy does the 0-100 km/h sprint in 11.91 seconds, probably the fastest MPV in its segment. It also managed to achieve a true top speed of 169.620 km/h before we ran out of empty road. Quite a decent performance considering it weighs 1.3 tonnes. Fuel-efficiency wasn’t bad either: 11.5 km/l in the city and 18.0 km/l on the highway.
The Lodgy’s performance is good thanks to a capable diesel unit and thanks to the monocoque chassis it also impresses with its ride and handling. Suspension-wise, the Lodgy does not get the same set-up as the Duster. Instead, the suspension is on the softer side which, considering that it is a people mover, aids ride quality. It smooths out bumps and potholes quite well and even on bad roads the Lodgy never loses its composure. Although there is an audible thud when you go over big bumps and potholes, it is not disconcerting at all.
Driving the Lodgy with a bit more enthusiasm than an average driver, I found that it tends to wallow a bit on a bumpy surface. In the corners its tall stance does remind you about body-roll, though it is not bothersome. The steering is quite direct although a little more feel and feedback would have been welcome. Brakes work just fine but I felt that the feel could have been better.
Overall, Renault have an MPV that promises a lot, and practicality and function are the key highlights of the Lodgy, and with its prices starting at Rs 8.19 lakh (ex-Delhi) it seems to be an attractive proposition. The car we tested was the top-of-the-line RxZ variant (Rs 11.49 lakh, ex-Delhi), which comes with the aforementioned equipment. This seems a fairly decent price for a practical MPV that will satisfy most of your needs. We can’t really say whether it will turn the tables in Renault’s favour in India as the competition is fierce and the Lodgy has a lot to deliver. Nevertheless, it surely is a value-for-money proposition.
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