Buy a new seven-seater for under 20 grand? That is no longer possible in the current car market, but Dacia comes pretty close with the Lodgy. When you have enough of five seats and if you just want a lot of boot space, the MPV does dive below that magical limit. Then you only have to make some concessions in terms of equipment.
Dacia Lodgy TCe 130 Essential 5P
€ 19,690
Regarding the power source, there is currently one choice for the Lodgy and that is the TCe 130. The 1.3-liter four-cylinder turbo engine delivers 130 hp and 240 Nm, which is more than enough for the 1,186 kg weighing space miracle. If desired, you can reach 100 km / h in 8.9 seconds. The price list contains two other versions above the Essential: the Comfort and Stepway. The Comfort costs € 21,690, while the Stepway must yield € 22,890. Furthermore, the Lodgy is also available as a seven-seater. For this you pay € 1,000 extra, regardless of the equipment level. The price difference between the cheapest and most expensive variant of the Lodgy is therefore € 3,200. Let’s see what it is in.
Hubcaps
From the outside, the Essential doesn’t even look very basic. The bumpers are simply painted in the paint color and the plastic bumpers on the doors and at the bottom of the rear bumper are also on the Comfort. The same goes for the door handles and the mirrors, which are also clad in black plastic. What you can mainly recognize the Essential compared to the Comfort is the lack of fog lights and the 15-inch steel wheels with hubcaps. The roof racks on the Comfort are also partly chrome-plated, where on the Essential they are made of the well-known black plastic. The differences with the Stepway are a lot bigger, because that variant has a different grille and different bumpers.
No fog lights for the Essential.
Regarding the colors, you can choose from the ‘Blanc Glacier’ in the pictures or the deep dark blue ‘Bleu Navy’ at no extra charge. Metallic paint costs € 595 extra. In that case, you can choose from another five paint colors. There are even seven for the Stepway. Furthermore, there are no additional options available for the exterior ex-factory for the Essential. The Comfort already has alloy wheels as standard, but in that case you can have two-tone copies placed under the car for € 495. Electrically adjustable exterior mirrors are also only available from the Comfort. Those who settle for the Essential still have to adjust the mirrors by hand via a lever in the A-pillar.
However, air conditioning, no radio
In the interior, the Essential distinguishes itself a bit more from the other variants, but mainly because of what is not on it. First check off the things that are present. The trim level lives up to its name, because in fact air conditioning, an on-board computer and electrically operated windows are the only comfort-enhancing components that are standard on board. Practical things such as a folding rear seat and a cover for the luggage compartment are also included. Sobriety also predominates. The dashboard is moody black, with the light parts in the doors and on the upholstery still providing some contrast. Is a radio essential? According to Dacia not, because in the Essential he shines through absence. A radio with DAB + and Bluetooth connectivity is only built in from Comfort.
A radio is not available on the Essential.
Three options are available on the Essential. First of all, there is the Comfort Pack for € 395. The driver gets more adjustment options for this. The steering wheel, seat and belt are then adjustable in height. Furthermore, a center armrest is included in the package. Steering wheel controls for the audio system can be ticked at no extra cost. You could then link it later to your own front of your choice. Finally, a spare case is available for € 269. This is a homecoming, because according to Dacia you can only drive a maximum of 80 km / h.
The Comfort and the Stepway offer more standard and optional luxury. Features such as cruise control and electrically adjustable exterior mirrors are standard on both variants. Electrically operated rear side windows have an additional cost of € 319. For the Stepway, rear parking sensors are included, on the Comfort these beepers cost € 195 extra. In both cases, seat heating can be ticked for € 195, a reversing camera also costs € 195. As far as the additional prices are concerned, Dacia keeps it nice and clear. Where the Comfort has a radio as standard, the Stepway has a more extensive multimedia system on board with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This ‘Media Nav’ system costs € 495 extra on the Comfort. A full option Lodgy Stepway stands for € 26,053 on the sidewalk.