The Renault Logan has one role to fulfil, albeit a two-fisted one: be cheap, and have all the features. At a fraction under R100 000 it fulfils that task. I mean, look at the options list. Basically there isn’t one – instead the Renault Logan can be bought in just one impressive spec. It’s lacquered in metallic paint, the steering and windows are powered, airbags and ABS are all in, and for your entertainment there’s a CD/MP3-playing device. Under the pancake-flat hood resides a 1.6 litre fuel injected engine willing to churn out 66kW and 128Nm, blitzing the Logan from standstill to 100km/h in 11.5 seconds. So on paper it all sounds fabulously competent and, as per the intent, a bloody bargain too. But therein lies the rub. You see I’m not scanning its virtues via catalogue, instead I’m sitting inside it and its price tag is starting to make sense.
FULL LOADED, SHOULD YOU CARE?
The Logan’s components are a who’s who list from the Renault-Nissan-Dacia parts bins. I see bits of Clio II, a huge garnishing of Nissan NP200 and seats from a particularly cheap lounge suite, circa 1971. They’re flat and lack substance. And if you think that’s harsh, wait till you see what they’ve covered the seats with: some bright spark might have idealised the design as stirred swirls in desert sand. The colour’s right, but the pattern is more akin to ‘Learn cursive for dummies, basic tutorial 1’. Why Renault couldn’t just leave the seats plain beggars belief.
Maybe it’s to offset the enamel-hard dashboard which is crafted entirely in one material (I’ve secretly named it rock-sand plastic) and fills the expanse between windscreen and driver, then extends backwards like a virus to all the door panels. Thank heavens for that classic 1980s touch, a black/grey Blaupunkt head unit with removable face. In these morbid surroundings, it gets more than its fair share of attention. The rear window switchgear has been cleverly positioned behind the conventional handbrake lever so as to be easily accessible to front and rear occupants. Front windows are operated from similar switches located on the dash centre stack, nestled in a wafer thin insert of the scariest fake wood trim we’ve ever seen.
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Renault Logan
A friend of mine owns one and I took it for a spin since I'm looking for a car in that price range. I was very disappointed with the acceleration and general feel of the car. The engine is grossly under powered and very slow to respond, and I don't believe this 0-100 in 11.5 sec. Admittedly the car has been reliable with my fried after driving it for over a year. If that's all you're looking for in a car, go ahead, but I hated it.
As far as I know this car
As far as I know this car used to be notorious when it first showed up, it was relatively cheap for a full option car and it sold well in Europe. Meanwhile competition started directing customers to other car manufacturers and the Renault Logan remained competitive only on smaller regions. A friend of mine owns one, he's fine with it, he put his old car on a donate car list the moment he heard about the Logan price offer.
Absolute hogwash of a review...
This review was done in 2009. The same year that the vehicle that I bought last week was put on the road.
I have been driving a number of budget cars, from test drives to hired cars to ones I've owned. None beat this car in terms of quality and value for money. I do not earn much so this is my segment of the market.
I have been looking for a car for about a year and a half now since the one I bought in 2008, which is a real disappointment compared to the Logan. Sure it is an older and cheaper car but, I was expecting more from it (i.e. the car I bought in 2008).
The Logan provides a person like me with all one needs. Price (very key), features, power and a brand name that only pure snobs can sneeze at. Renault's reputation has not been good in South Africa along with that of its French counterparts. However, this reputation has been so because Renault did not have strong roots in the country making its parts difficult to access meaning people had to wait long periods for parts and repairs. It now seems to me that Renault's partnership with Nissan has managed to address this problem. Look at the Sandero for instance, 100% SA. It shows committment to the country. It puts Renault in the same bracket as Toyota and VW who have invested heavily in SA.
But, enough of the manufacturer politics. The Logan is a good car from a good brand. I have admired the Megane Shake from a distance. Barring its customer service problems, I think it is a good car. The Logan has lots of speed, has all the features I want in a car and that is an a/c and a radio (that plays MP3 too). Oh, I forgot about the full electric windows, that means there is not door winder in the car.
Being a family man, I cannot go for a car like a Picanto, Alto, Spark, i10, Benni or the like. Besides, I am a man and I cannot be seen in any of those cars (pure male snobbery speaking here). My only other options are the Yaris, the Figo, the Vivo or the Aveos all of which are over priced in my opinion, especially compared to the Logan with all its features.
Perhaps there is some logic to the scepticism around Renault, but to me, that just makes the Logan a diamond in the rough.
I am enjoying the Logan and feel I am living a more complete life without ripping my income to shreds.
The Logan is all that I need and more.
Renault Logan
Reading Calvin Fisher's report on the Logan, he sounds like a "connoisseur" who is full of nonsense, said with respect. For a general member of the public, it is a lovely car to drive. It gave me the power during night time driving as a woman alone in rural areas to pull away when I have to and keep the speed solid. It is a nippy, economic, solid on the road around bends car and a very comfortable drive. Maybe for someone who tastes the strawberries and cream of cars, this one might not cut it, but for ordinary people, it is a pleasure to drive. Elize Fourie-Hendry, Fourie Attorneys, Cape Town.
Very Interesting
I have been shopping for a cheaper car for the past few weeks now. I have tried the Tata Indica and the Chana Baenni and was very disapointed. They just do not feel right. I only just came across the Renault Logan by chance online. This review has been very useful and now I am waiting for a test drive to judge for myself.
Andre at www.computertime.co.za
Interesting review! One of my
Interesting review! One of my friends just bought one but he didn't gave us a complete review like this one. For one thing I know this car is comfortable and easy to drive. As for the technical parts, you get what you're paying for.
Samm at Austing auto glass
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