Renault Lodgy World Edition Travelogue

Just the other day, our correspondent Manoj Thawani had been keen to trek to Lohgad. This isn’t too far from Mumbai and is a good location, especially it is a bunch of young guys wanting a one-day trip. I wanted to make his daily work into something fun. So, I arranged for more boys and got us a MPV. Renault’s Lodgy World Edition has been in news for a while. What is better to check on space and comfort for an MPV, unless all large size people sit in it? 

What does the Lodgy World Edition have on offer? It gets a bold, jewel-studded front grille enhanced by striking fog lamps with chrome satin garnish. The two-tone aerodynamic bumper complemented by R15 Nepta finish alloy wheels with black wheel-arch cladding raises the style quotient. There are body graphics, dual-tone roof rails with chrome satin finish, black & chrome body side moulding, printed matte & textured B&C pillar stripping and a rear spoiler.

Step inside and you will see the dashboard centre with chrome trims and chrome door handles lend a classy edge to the cabin. The interiors are further enhanced by a glossy black foam steering wheel with two-toned world edition badge, new upholstery with anodized orange lining. The AC vents  and instrument binnacle’s dials have anodized orange  surrounds. The cabin looks appealing.

Six of us, all were seated comfortably in the Lodgy. The bolster support on the seats offered unparalleled comfort. I haven’t ever seen the third row passengers so comfortable. This was occupied by two six-footers. The Lodgy doesn’t just offer good space but even comfortable seats too. As we headed from Mumbai, the orange smug began to turn yellow. The temperature was rising and traffic was growing. This didn’t affect us. Lodgy has AC vents for all the three rows. This kept us comfortable. I sat in the third row and I did feel comfortable at the back. I have sat in multiple MPVs at the back and it hasn’t been so pleasant ever.

As we crossed into Navi Mumbai, the dense traffic began to reduce. The roads became wider. Boys being boys! We did get hungry and decided to halt at burger chain joint for brunch. This apparently was a newly opened place and at 11:30am, we were the biggest gang. Soon we headed back to the Lodgy, with me taking the steering wheel this time. Then once again we hopped in the Lodgy and hit the Expressway. The three lane road meant we were cruising at 80km/hr. This wasn’t just comfortable, but economical too. The sixth gear meant lesser stress on the engine and better mileage too. The cabin of the Lodgy is silent and it didn’t leave like a noisy diesel engine at any time.

We headed on to the ghats. Now, I wasn’t certain if an MPV will perform well on twisties. The Duster does well, but is the Lodgy also equally good? It was indeed. The chassis was well-balanced and it did perform well. Despite a 1.5-litre engine, it wasn’t short on power. We had loaded the Lodgy, AC was on, temperature was boring and so was the road inclines. It did not hesitate even a bit. This is what makes it a good option to consider.

Soon, we reached the foothills to Lohgad. It is a 45 minute walk to the top. This was a Fort that was last used by the Marathas to keep their treasury. Initially it is a walk on a climb and later there are footsteps. The scenic view from the top is worth a visit in the monsoons. Soon, we walked down and headed back into Mumbai.

The Lodgy World Edition did a lot better what we expected. Power, mileage, space, comfort, practicality, utility were the departments were it did well. This doesn’t drive comfortably on the highway but even in the city it is light. For those who like to head out with family and friends, this is an ideal pick. There are SUVs and MPVs under INR 12 lakhs but they aren’t very spacious in all the rows. This is our pick and recommendations for buyers in this segment.

It was a one day trip, and we returned back by late evening. The Lodgy is an extremely practical MPV. This makes it a good option to consider in its segment. The World Edition variant’s front grille just makes it look so stylish.

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