Dacia Lodgy – seven-seater touts space on the cheap

Renault subsidiary Dacia has announced the arrival of the Lodgy, a seven-seater MPV that slots into the fold touting space and affordability as its trump cards. The people carrier, the seventh model in the company’s lineup, is also destined for shores beyond Europe and the EuroMed region – it’s slated for introduction in markets across the globe where the Renault group’s Entry/M0 range is sold.

The 4.5 metre-long vehicle – which will be made in Tangiers, Morocco – can be specified with either five or seven seats. The seven-seat variant comes with a removable third-row 60/40-split bench seat for two passengers, with the rearmost space offering best-in-class knee room (144mm) and head room (866mm).

Volume-wise, with five seats in place, the boot volume is 827 litres, extending to 2,617 litres with the rear bench seat removed, pretty cavernous. Going the seven-seat route brings the cargo space down to 207 litres with all the seats deployed, and 634 litres with the rear bench – which weighs in at only 18 kg – stored in a folded position.

At point of launch, two engines are available for the Lodgy, a petrol 1.6 MPI 85 and a diesel 1.5 dCi, the latter in a choice of two power outputs (90 or 110 hp) The new turbocharged 1.2 TCe 115, first seen under the bonnet of Renault Mégane and Scénic, is set to be added to the list. The engines will be mated to a five-speed manual transmission, with the 1.5 dCi 110 set to get a six-speed manual.

Despite the tip towards the entry-level scheme of things, the Lodgy will be relatively well equipped – kit includes an in-dash multimedia system with touchscreen display, speed limiter, rear parking sensors as well as AC/heater unit air channels to every row of seats.

There’s also ABS, EBD and BA as standard, with ESC available as an option, and the Lodgy comes with equipped with four airbags, these being front and lateral head/thorax units. French buyers will get to take their pick of the new ‘un from four equipment level specifications, with prices starting from 9,900 euros (RM39,900).