At the MotorOctane HQ, every opportunity to spend time on the road (and even off it) is welcomed with hoots of joy! So when the fun folks at Leela Palace/Renault asked if we’d be able to come down to Goa for the weekend, the bags were being packed even before we’d hung up the phone! The plan was to join some of the most accomplished bloggers in the country and experience Renault India’s promising MUV – the Lodgy.

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The excitement switched to a higher rpm, as Twitter & other social media platforms came alive with a flurry of tweets & updates in the countdown to the weekend. The Rain Gods though had some plans of their own and were steadfast in their determination to give us Mumbaikars a soaking that we’d remember. The clouds that had opened up and stayed that way all through Thursday. The next morning, the entire city was at a standstill & there was not a soul who wasn’t doubting their ability to make it on time for their flight. But we made it and comfortably at that, as not even the heaviest of downpours was going to stop us from boarding our flight.

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Everyone was in the holiday mood and the excitement was evident everywhere. The super sweet BlogAdda team was there to welcome us all, as we landed, making sure that everyone had gotten off to a great start. As we made our way to the Leela, Goa in Mobor, the greenery & the idyllic vibe of Goa had us in smiles all around. An hour and a half later, we disembarked into the lap of luxury. The Leela Hotel is an uber-luxurious holiday retreat, spread over five acres of beautifully landscaped surroundings & kitted out with everything that a bunch of bloggers could ask for.

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Having checked into our oh-so-comfortable rooms, we made it back in time for the impromptu introduction session and some much appreciated refreshments. BlogAdda had paired four of us to a car & each ‘Team’ had to have a name. It was an absolute creative scramble with teams such as Lodgystics, CarToosh, LodgyCool (that was us) making their Debut at the event. Soon, it was time for the Renault India Team to take the stage. Manish Gaadhe, Marketing Manager, Renault India took the opportunity to introduce their latest MUV offering – the Renault Lodgy & gave us a detailed lowdown on its strengths versus the competition. As the presentation wound down, it was evident that we were all set to take the #LiveLodgycal philosophy to the extreme!

Opening the windows, the next morning, we knew we were in trouble – for when you have a view that’s as breathtaking as this, who’d want to budge?

2 - View from the room
View from Leela Palace Room

But the lure of the open road & the excitement of spending some time in the Lodgy won us over & a scrumptious breakfast later it was time for the flag-off!

3 - Lodgy Line Up

The BlogAdda team had even set certain tasks for us, that ranged from striking different poses, along with the Lodgy, to clicking team selfies & uploading funny videos across social media platforms. Needless to say, the hashtag #LiveLodgycal really set the social space ablaze!

LodgyLove:

4 - View from the Cockpit

It was time to get on the road and, the large cabin space was immediately evident as we got into the car for the flag-off. Turning the key, we knew immediately that Renault India had done a great job with the NVH levels on the Lodgy. The engine isn’t whisper quiet, but is silent enough to get quite a few to double check the cockpit console for confirmation

We really were a bunch of happy troopers as we made our way to Hotel Lalit in Cancolim. There’s ample space for everyone, thanks to the 60:40 split ratio of the second row seats and the 50:50 split ratio of the ones out in third row. What’s more, the latter can either be folded flat and away or be removed completely, thereby liberating enough space for that weekend road-trip with family or friends. So pack away to your heart’s content, for there’s always place to accommodate it all.

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The Dual AC system with vents along the roof for the second & third row of passengers is another hit according to us. While the Goa Monsoons aren’t the best of times to test the efficiency, the very fact that even the last row of seats gets AC controls, means the entire car stays cool and happy. The fully-kitted out MediaNAV system had the full host of connectivity options together with Map updates for three years. Thus, you always have a destination guide, every time the mood strikes and you’ve got to break free.

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The Lodgy may be a proper sized MPV but it shines through in the ride and handling department. On the road, the car stayed well planted into corners at highway speeds, even with the Rain Gods playing merry. Even when we hit a few rough stretches, the ride quality was such that we could motor on, where some of the competition would have had to slow down to a crawl. The braking too was mighty commendable & Renault India claims that the Lodgy is the quickest stopper in the segment. We got to witness this first-hand, when a bovine beauty suddenly decided to step out into our path. As we weighed in the anchors, the Lodgy simply blew us away by stopping a good ten meters shorter than our expected stopping point!

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On the whole, the Lodgy is an MPV that enough going for it to keep a wide range of people happy. The 83bhp, five speed gearbox version is the one for those who do a lot of trips within the city while the 108bhp, six speed gearbox version is for those who prefer the long distance runs. The flexible seating & luggage combinations means that you always have space for everyone and their belongings. On the other hand, the mature driving dynamics make it an easy car to live with, for everyone from the B to the D segment buyers.

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Renault Lodgy interior

 

Looking back , the Lodgy is a great choice for those looking at a handsome MUV that comes packed with features and at a price point that offers a lot of value for your hard-earned money. So if you’re in the market for a MUV, go on and take a test drive. The only tough choice would be selecting the colour of the car to bring home.

6 - Looking Back

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