Mahindra Renault Logan: A car that, within a couple of months of its introduction in the Indian market, has become the largest selling entry-level sedan.
Mahindra Renault Logan Hatchback: A car that, within a couple of months of its introduction in the Indian market, may become a runaway success!
No you do not have to adjust those spectacles or go for an eye check-up. You surely did read it as Mahindra Renault Logan Hatchback.
This car, Sandero, as called in the international market, has all the ingredients to make for a nice offering in our country. It is just a tiny bit over four meters in length, which certainly can be taken care of to avail of the excise duty benefits. When viewd head-on, the large sweptback headlamps dominate the way the Sandero looks. It adds an aggressiveness to the bold design which is accentuated by the large air-dam and the grille which is split into two by the loud Renault badge. Neatly integrated fogs are the only subtle element of design of the otherwise bold front end.
The back is equally unique and the hatch door has a very 'Maruti Swift-look' to it. The wrap-around tail lamps are big and add character to the otherwise staid and bulbous back side. The Sandero looks most appealing from the rear three quarter angle. The fat rubber that is housed under the prominent wheel arches lend a masculine look to the car. The 'A' pillar is rakish and blends seamlessly with the 'B' pillar that further drops down to the hatch. The glass-area is similar to the Swift and the soon-to-be-launched Skoda Fabia.
The luggage space is ample for a week-long trip to your favourite hill station while the cabin space is also as good as it can get! The spacious interior is complimented by the good looking dash and centre console that has a brushed-aluminum look. The three-spoke steering wheel looks sporty and so do the dials. Overall, the interior looks well laid out and solidly built.
Renault has no dearth of engines to power this car with. An engine of a litre capacity pumping out 60 horses sounds good for an entry-level variant while a 1.6L motor offering over 100PS would be nice to give a hot-hatch image to the Sandero. A 1.5L, 86PS common rail diesel engine might also be offered under the hood to battle it out against the likes of the Maruti Swift and the Skoda Fabia diesels.
This car surely looks the part and in its current guise has all the elements that will make it a big hit in India. Hope Renault introduces this car soon. The small-car segment is all set to go to a different horizon altogether!
