The Renault Lodgy will be available in regular and the Stepway variant right from the launch with power coming from the 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine available in two outputs.
After making a number of appearances via spy shots, Renault finally unveiled the India spec Lodgy through an image last month while the upcoming MPV made its first public appearance at an event in the range-topping Stepway trim. With the Lodgy nearing its launch date scheduled sometime in April, the French automaker has updated its Indian website with the MPV which will be the company’s sixth product to go on sale in the country.
Based on the Duster platform, the Lodgy is expected to be the next big volume puller for Renault in India pitted against the Honda Mobilio, Maruti Ertiga and Toyota Innova in the segment. Renault already sells the Lodgy under the Dacia brand in Europe, but the Indian version incorporates certain changes including a new chrome induced grille, all-black bumper and mild updates to the interior to meet Indian customer requirements.
Renault will also be offering the top-of-the-line Stepway variant on the Lodgy right from the start that comes with brushed silver skid plates, black plastic cladding at the sides, 16-inch alloy wheels and ‘Stepway’ badging on the front fenders. On the inside, the MPV gets a touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity among other features that will be restricted to the higher trim levels. Holding the distinction of creating the MPV segment with the Espace three decades ago, the Lodgy is said to reflect Renault’s expertise in making MPVs offering best in class space and ride quality.
Speaking of performance, powering the 2015 Renault Lodgy will be the 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine under the hood available in two states of tune – 85 PS and 110 PS. The latter will be available for the higher variants paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox while the 85 PS output will be offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The 1.6-litre petrol engine from the Duster is also likely to be on offer. Prices for the Renault Lodgy are expected to start around Rs. 7 lakhs (ex-showroom) in the country.
