Renault Logan Edge Connect 1.5 DLS
Maxabout Review
Affordable & Feature Rich
Thursday, March 05, 2009Mahindra Renault Logan was first car from Mahindra and Renault in India. Though the sales of Logan is diping day by day but Mahindra has been constantly working on the Logan. Recently, they introduced Logan Collection edition and Logan Edge. Now, they have come up with Logan Edge Connect. Following comfort and safety features are available in Logan Edge Connect:
- High end music system
- Hands-free telephony integrated via Bluetooth
- Sporty decals
- Leather upholstery
- Driver Information System (DIS)
- Reverse Parking Sensors
- ABS & EBD.
Logan edge connect is available in three new colours including the very popular Mystique Purple launched with the original Logan Edge. Fit and finish of the car is very good and it is the widest car in its segment. It's wider than a Toyota Corolla and headroom is massive as well. All three rear passengers also get headrests, to prove the point that three are comfortable at the back but it's good from a standpoint of safety as well.
The front seats are wide and seat travel is good, but the seats are a touch flat. The Logan is contemporary when it comes to crashworthiness. And the company has offered driver-side airbags as standard fitment for the top-end models. The power train felt indestructible too in a way traditional engines did. The gear ratios are suited for commuting and getting in and out of the car is easy and seats are good for three-hour stints.
The body structure is extremely stiff for good ride and handling and the use of a current platform also means crash survivability is of the highest order. It has single-piece; square-shaped dashboard is functional at best. The glove box isn't as big as it looks but there's a very useful cubbyhole above it in place of the front passenger airbag. The switchgear and circular air-con vents feel quite solid and operate well but the quality of plastics is not up to the mark. The five-speed gearbox fitted contributes to driving pleasure a fair bit. The action is light, it slots into gear easily and it is almost impossible to miss a shift.
Logan Edge Connect is available with three engine options:
- 1.4 litre Petrol - 65 Bhp/ 160 Nm
- 1.5 litre Diesel - 75 Bhp/110 Nm
- 1.6 litre Petrol - 85 Bhp/ 128 Nm
All the engines are good for economy and the gearbox for ratios but in terms of refinement and power delivery the power train does not excel. Mahindra Renault claims 26 kpl on the highway and around 18kpl in city for the diesel version.
Logan Edge Connect is available in five variants:
- Logan Edge Connect 1.4 GLX
- Logan Edge Connect 1.5 DLS
- Logan Edge Connect 1.5 DLSx
- Logan Edge Connect 1.6 GLSx
- Logan Edge Connect 1.6 GLS
Logan offers airbag for driver as a standard fitment in top models and with honeycomb dashboard it protects you in case of front impact and cross member at the rear protects you in case of rear impact. The top models of Logan come with all the bells and whistles like power steering, power windows, remote central locking and remote fuel lid opener. But the absence of an internal boot release is extremely impractical and annoying too.
The ergonomics too seem to have been compromised. The side mirrors are too small and the left-side one is partially obstructed by the A-pillar cladding. The low-placed switches on the centre console, which taper away from the driver, are not within easy line of sight. It is available in six colors, namely Toreador Red, Fiery Black, Sahara Beige, Mist Silver, Turf Green and Diamond White. Overall it is a good car which is technically sound and has a solid built quality but when it comes to design, styling and features; it is far behind than its rivals like Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Verna.