Mahindra Renault Logan Play – Shiva Test Drives - With Actual Images

This is an independent review written by Shiva Shankar after his testdrive of the Mahindra Renault Logan Play.

Mahindra Renault has recently launched the Play variant within the Logan model range. For those people attracted by the performance of the Logan, but possibly wanting an exciting looking car, the answer from Mahindra Renault is the Logan Play. It also opens the door to reach a younger public than usual.

We conducted a test drive this week to know the actual experience of driving a Logan Play.

Introduction - Exteriors

While the ‘normal’ Logan is probably well known to everyone, the Play makes a surprising impact on sight.

The main thing one notices with the Logan Play are the body graphics and the alloy wheels which give a completely different kind of exteriors compared to older versions. While the Logan Play is available in white and black colour, the body graphics look bolder on the black coloured one. The alloy wheels in red, stand out as well.

At the back side of the car, we find an in-built spoiler which improves the rear side view of the car. The muffler cutter too has been changed, giving the car a more sporty look.

Of course, the general shape of the car has not been changed. Hence, though a different superficial look, one must still like the specific look of this sedan, to like the Play.

Technology 

The main consideration in engine design is the combination of performance, reliability and mileage.

The Logan’s engines have been built with technology that has been a success in European countries. This should provide some comfort to the reliability of the engine for long term usage.

The Logan gives a mileage with a mileage of 21KMPL in the diesel version and 14.4 KMPL in the petrol version. As for performance, there is a good ratio of power developed to the torque available. With a torque of 110NM at 3000 RPM (petrol), this gives a good practical torque, since generally the driving RPM in the city would be around 3000 RPM at which the car gives its maximum torque, ensuring better performance on road.

The Logan Play comes in a diesel and a petrol variant. The 1.4 GLX petrol is equipped with a 1390 cc engine, delivering 75BHP and 110NM torque. The 1.5 DLX Diesel comes with a 1461 cc, 65 BHP power and 160 NM torque. The torque is on the higher side compared to the competition

Interiors 

The Logan (Play) is quite a spacious car. Entering the car is quite easy and the sitting position can be adjusted easily and the height can be adjusted manually with the lever provided.

In the Play, there have been a number of changes internally. First of all, the fabric colours have been changed to a two-tone. The floor mats carry a red lining. Also, the Play carries an impressive music system.

The fine finishing of the flat console adds to the decent image of the interiors. The car comes with a driver information system that indicates that approximate distance that can be covered with the fuel available. It works quite well and reduces the stress on the driver during the critical period of the last level of fuel.

Other than that, the interiors are decent. There is sufficient space to sit comfortably, in the front and back. In fact, the Logan is touted as the broadest sedan in its class!

Body Style and engineering 

The Renault Logan has a typical European design, designed for space and practicality in terms of length and width. As such, this makes it a complete sedan .Much attention has been given to comfortable seating of three persons in the rear seat.

The main advantage of the Logan is an impressive build quality and engineering. The car has ‘galvanised rigid robust body’ which has been crafted with laser welding techniques. This should provide more safety and a longer life.

Important to note is that Renault offers 5 years anti-rust warranty on the Logan, apart from the two year warranty which itself suggest the reliability of body.

Still, the car has a certain look which the buyer must like. The Play imprints do distract a bit from that, so that the attraction improves.

 The Drive

I took a testdrive of the Logan 1.5 DLX diesel. While moving to the parking lot, I noticed the frontal design of the car which though simple makes a good sense of decent design with a bold impression of the Renault Logo. The car’s body graphics make it feel like a truly upgraded sporty looking car which is bound

to get noticed.

As I entered the car, I was welcomed by the new cushioning leather upholstery with new design and the name Logan embossed in it. The black leather upholstery matches well with the beige interiors.

After taking a seat, I gave a look to the interiors. The important things which give comfort are the comfortable seat with adjustable height and lumbar support. The rear seats are provided with head rest for 3. The dashboard is wide and neatly designed. The central console music system matches well with the interiors, though it was a bit surprising to see the good old, flat design of the same.

As I switched on the ignition, various information such as distance that can be covered with existing fuel, the tachometer, the LCD Display for digital clock, total km, en

gine temperature, door open warning light all sprang into motion. I noticed only a slight noise and vibrations from the engine, quite acceptable for the strong diesel engine.

Here, one point to note is that the side indicator control is provided on left side of the steering wheel, rather than on the right side as in conventional Indian cars. This is also for the wiper control. It indicates that the same design which is in other markets is being reapplied as per Indian norms.

As we took the vehicle out of the showroom we were welcomed by the ever increasing traffic of Bangalore’s ring road, where performance matters most - a mixture of heavy traffic, speed bumps, signals and free roads. The suitable positioning of rearview mirror, the cabin mirror and the broad rear glass, helped me to have a clear view of the vehicles behind the car.

We moved on and came across a narrow turning under a bridge. Turning was quite easy as the steering is really smooth – that was the first thing I noticed.

Later as we moved to the main road, there was not much need to change gears frequently, but whatever shifting I did was quite easy and smooth. However, the car does require careful handling while releasing the clutch, since the engine tended to stall a few times while I drove.

We drove the vehicle on the ring road - the pick up was quite good and the brakes too were quite responsive. We were able to traverse the various road humps comfortably as the suspension is quite good. It took me some time to get used to the smooth steering and fast pick up (compared to my old Esteem car) but finally I found the car quite easy to handle.

Abroad, French cars in general (and Renault specifically) are known for their comfortable seating. The Logan too has broad seats and the car can comfortably seat three in the back. I got a good view of the road in it.

As we drove back to the showroom, the parking was quite easy, thanks to the reverse parking sensors. Though, I did really need them, as the car is quite broad and parking without the sensors might be a challenge.

Pricing 

The Mahindra Renault Logan Play has an ex-showroom price of Rs 5.35 Lac for the petrol version ( Bangalore) and Rs 6.64 Lac for the diesel version.

The on road price of 1.4 GLX Petrol comes at Rs 6.5 lac and that of 1.5 DLX Diesel Rs 8.06 Lac including road tax, insurance, incidental charges, standard fitment, extended warranty for 3 rd and 4 th year.

The pricing makes it a bit more expensive than the equivalent ‘normal’ Logan.

Features, Specs and comparison with other Logan variants 

Standard features of Logan Play Petrol and Diesel include power windows, central locking, AC, power-steering, remote operated fuel tank lid, ORVM, rear door trim with fabric, rear head restraint, roof antenna and radio prewiring. The Logan Play comes in a single trim which compares to the higher trims in the standard Logan.

As we can see here, the Logan Play has all features of the top Logan variants. But, it also comes at a higher price, due to changes made in the car.

Hence, there is a trade-off for those interested in purchasing Play variant – the goodies come at a price!

Comparison with other cars 

In its segment – the entry level sedan - the Logan (Play) competes with a number of cars. The key competition can be described as the Tata Indigo CS, the Ford Ikon, the Ford Fiesta and the Maruti Swift Dzire.

At the same time, of course, we should keep in mind that the Play has a character of its own with its youthful design and speakers.

That being said, the below table compares the diesel versions of these cars on key parameters.

If we check out the various components, we can see that while the technical prowess of all the cars is similar, the Logan stands out in size (the largest width) and mileage (for which the Logan is quite well known).

At the same time, the Logan does come at the higher end of the pricing spectrum, especially in the case of the Logan Play.

Conclusion

With the Launch of Logan Play, Mahindra Renault attempts to bring spice to an otherwise decent and reliable car.

The car is a good combination of power, performance, interior quality, external features, and mileage. In fact, these are the exact features which have made the car attractive to the Taxi industry.

The adoption of the Logan by the Merus and other companies, confirms its quality and mileage. At the same time, it has also made the car somewhat less desirable in the eyes of the consumer – a paradox indeed!

Another point of debate can be the look of the car – it is hard to call the Logan a sleek or sexy looking car. It is indeed, a decent vehicle. The Play variant helps lend the car a sexier look which makes it clearly different from the existing Logans, and it is sure to catch an extra eye from anyone who sees it.

In conclusion, the Logan is a decent, value for money car. The Logan Play, which is a bit more expensive, lends a touch of uniqueness and difference to it. For those who had considered Logan but backed out, it will be a good reason to reconsider. For those, looking for a sedan with a difference, this may be it.