owners on their budget MPV Autotest

The Dacia recipe hardly needs explanation. The models are built with proven Renault technology, with a pragmatic look. Where the current Duster and Sandero still strive to follow fashion trends, the Lodgy was developed according to the original philosophy: lots of space, little money. At first, a well-known 1.2-liter four-cylinder TCe 115 is housed under the hood. From 2019, the TCe 130 will take over: this is the at least as well-known 1.3 with also four cylinders. Wondering about the fuel consumption of a Lodgy? You can read more about it in this article.

Lodgy: spacious, but how spacious?

Users hardly need to point out that the Lodgy, with a trunk volume of 827 liters, is roomy. The driver of a 2012 example: “The interior of the Dacia Lodgy is extremely spacious. The car is not very wide, but it is tall and has a very long wheelbase. Three growing children fit perfectly in the rear seat (a little hard), behind which sit two more people in the third row. And they don’t have to be kids, even adults can still sit reasonably well in the back.

The owner is clear on the interior: “It’s pretty basic. Reminiscent of cars from the late 90s. Lots of hard plastic, a bit too sharp in places. Not very pretty, but functional and solid.

The driver of a 2013 Lodgy also shares his experience: “The six of us have now gone camping for a long weekend and luckily the luggage still fits in every nook and cranny. The roof box was not (yet) necessary,” explains the owner. He also has a tip for other Lodgy drivers: “Mount (if seven seats are used) a bungee net vertically to the rear of the luggage compartment. There is still plenty of room in the concavity of the tailgate! You can also stack the luggage, without everything dragging on the street when you open the tailgate…”

What’s the catch?

So there is plenty of space, but can this space also be used comfortably? “The front seats are sufficient, you don’t get bored, even on long journeys”, reports the owner who previously called the rear seats a bit hard, “but at the same time they are also a bit narrow and not super comfortable. Simply functional.

Another driver, who owns a five-seater, is a little harsher himself: “The seats in the front are not comfortable. The seats are too short and offer little lateral support. Longer journeys are tiring. On the other hand, you can sit well in the back. Plenty of leg room and a completely flat floor. One owner particularly praises his physique after a marathon: “My back endured 1,400 kilometers in one day in the mediocre saddle.

In 2017, the Dacia Lodgy received an update, the appearance and interior being revised. This significated good news for the Lodgy driver, according to the owner of such a model who is driving his third copy of this type today. “The seats clearly offer better support. I found them more than adequate in the previous Lodgy, but it’s a step up in terms of comfort.

Driving noise is felt less comfortably, especially at highway speeds, wind noise enters the cabin. “I took a star off for comfort, because of the noise in the cabin at 120-130 km/h. These make conversations with rear passengers more difficult. It doesn’t bother me myself, but colleagues notice it clearly, that’s why.

How do you live the driving experience?

Speaking of others’ opinions: “You won’t make the neighbors jealous with this,” writes the owner of a 2013 Dacia Lodgy Prestige. “Actually, I didn’t even like it. It was the test drive that convinced me. The Lodgy is quiet, much stronger than you’d expect from this 1200, and tows the caravan without any problems, even with six people in the car.

Another Lodgy TCe 115 driver is less convinced. “The driving is unfortunately not very good. Although the engine has sufficient power, the car does not always accelerate steadily. Sometimes you seem to suffer from turbo lag, but not always. Difficult if you want to accelerate quickly. The car is “seeker” in the steering wheel and does not brake properly. The brake point of the pedal always seems to be in a different place. Sometimes you think, ‘when will it finally brake’, sometimes you’re sitting with your nose to the windshield.

This inconsistent behavior is not approved by other users, but there is no doubt that the Lodgy takes some time to get used to and trust. “I now take corners as easily as with the Ford Focus. No problem with the handling, but of course the (high) car leans a little more,” says a Lodgy DCi driver. He also points out a disadvantage: ” Crosswind sensitivity in very strong winds/gusts You really have to be more alert, as the Focus always rolls stable whatever the weather.

This sensitivity to the wind is mentioned by several owners. It therefore happens more than once that auxiliary springs are fitted. “Because the car is quite sensitive to crosswinds and tends to lean back a lot when heavily loaded, I had helper springs fitted after advice, costing around 250 euros. I should have done it sooner. Riding with the wind is now much more comfortable and even a heavily loaded car, with six people for winter sports, sags much less,” said the owner of a Lodgy TCe 115 seven-seater from 2013. The conclusion is clear: you can also change the grip of the Lodgy to be determined according to the photos.

What is the sensitivity of the Dacia Lodgy?

It’s no secret that the Dacia Lodgy caters to a smaller budget, but is it still well put together? Well, if the owners are to be believed, it’s not disappointing. The biggest problem turned out to be a faulty timing chain from a TCe 115, which gave up the ghost after around 80,000 kilometres. “Long story short, the whole engine had to come out for a new set of chains. Luckily in leniency… 85% off. I was ready for around 300 euros,” said the owner who came to this.

Other problems – which have also not been mentioned structurally – relate to the ignition lock and the multimedia system. “After a year the ignition lock was blocked (not on the steering wheel lock) and after a year and a half the MediaNav. Both repaired under warranty. This driver proves that a Dacia Lodgy can also go very far with a minimum of accidents and at a lower cost: after 9.5 years and nearly 480,000 kilometres, he swapped his Lodgy 1.5 DCi 90. The only serious expense: a gearbox overhaul at 316,000 kilometres. Up to 300,000 kilometres, unforeseen costs were limited to 170 euros for a differential seal at the gearbox.

Judging by user experiences, it’s a shame that Dacia doesn’t give the Lodgy a second generation. Well, the new Jogger also has room for seven, but it can’t match the Lodgy in that regard. The fact that the handling is average and the furniture could be a bit better are properties that hardly affect the buyer. If we want to reduce the automobile phenomenon to its essence, the Dacia Lodgy seems to have succeeded.