7:00 am, April 8, 2013
BUDGET brand Dacia is set to add another no-nonsense model to its lineup: a capacious estate.
Badged the Logan MCV, it’s billed by the Renault-owned Romanian maker as having ‘Volvo V70-like’ boot space for the price of a city car – managing a seats-up boot capacity of 573 litres against the Volvo’s 575.
Tucking into the brand’s line-up between the Sandero supermini and Duster mini-SUV, the Logan MCV will start at £6,995 on-the-road – cheaper than even most city cars, Renault’s Twingo included.
It’s also cheaper, Dacia points out, than many of its ‘natural’ rivals – the Seat Ibiza ST and Skoda Fabia estate, both of which have smaller capacities for luggage.
However, the basic ‘Access’ model that gives the Logan its sub-£7,000 price tag may be a step too far for many buyers. There’s no radio, remote central locking or air conditioning, nor electric windows – and it sits on ‘rugged’ steel wheels without so much as plastic covers.
Much like buying patterns for the Sandero and Duster have demonstrated, though, Dacia expects the majority of sales to be for the top-end ‘Laureate’ model – arriving with more extensive equipment levels inside, and smarter 15-inch alloy wheels outside.
Also shared with the Sandero is the Logan’s range of engines – two petrols and a diesel. Entry-level cars get a 75bhp 1.2-litre petrol, while ‘Ambience’ trim levels upwards can opt for a 0.9-litre turbocharged petrol or a 1.5-litre diesel too – both of which develop 90bhp.
The Logan MCV is on sale now – available for order either through Dacia’s dealers, or on its website. Vehicles will be available for test drive from July, with deliveries likely to start soon after.
