Photo: Dacia
It's been a full decade since Romanian budget brand Dacia started making its most famous product, the Logan sedan. To celebrate, they've launched a 10th Anniversary Edition in the country, limited to just 2,000 units and offering slightly more upmarket features.
On the outside, the first thing to take notice of is that indicator lights are now fitted into the mirrors, not in the front fenders like before. Special alloy wheels and small badges on the C-pillar set these 2,000 cars apart from other Logans. Also new is a metallic plaque fitted into the front door sills and showing a special logo.
But what really got our attention is on the inside of the car. Something all Logan owners wanted are power window controls on the drive and front passenger doors, not in the dash. Dacia installed just than by borrowing what we believe are Renault Symbol components. Also new is an automatic climate control system, easily identified as a Renault Clio feature. The cabin looks decent, and that's because it's based on the top Laureate trim level.
So if the toggles for the power windows are on the doors now, have they removed the ones from the dash? No, they're still there. It's the same sort of flawed thinking we saw on the Duster automatic, who's gear shifter obstructed access to air conditioning knobs and placed its side view mirror controller under the handbrake lever.
Media Nav touchscreen infotainment with a map for Europe cruise control are fitted, but only as options.
Unfortunately, the engines chosen aren't all that great either. These special Logans will be fitted with not-so-special 1.2-liter petrol engines making 75 hp or a 1.5 dCi diesel with the same output. The company probably decided against the 90 hp 0.9 turbo and the higher output diesel because of cost concerns.
In the case of the 1.2-liter, prices for the 10th Anniversary Logan start at €9,400, while the diesel sets you back €11,300. That puts the car in Renault Clio or Skoda Rapid territory with the right dealer incentives.
With over 1.4 million units sold, the Logan is by far one of Renault's best and most successful ideas. Officially presented in Romania in June 2004, this affordable sedan began being delivered to other European markets a year later. In 2008, a facelift was revealed and at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the second generation was introduced, together with all-new Sandero and Sandero Stepway.
To date, almost half a million Logans have been sold in Romania, with another 176,000 going to France. It's also the best sold car model in Morocco, Algeria, Turkey and Bulgaria.
But what really got our attention is on the inside of the car. Something all Logan owners wanted are power window controls on the drive and front passenger doors, not in the dash. Dacia installed just than by borrowing what we believe are Renault Symbol components. Also new is an automatic climate control system, easily identified as a Renault Clio feature. The cabin looks decent, and that's because it's based on the top Laureate trim level.
So if the toggles for the power windows are on the doors now, have they removed the ones from the dash? No, they're still there. It's the same sort of flawed thinking we saw on the Duster automatic, who's gear shifter obstructed access to air conditioning knobs and placed its side view mirror controller under the handbrake lever.
Media Nav touchscreen infotainment with a map for Europe cruise control are fitted, but only as options.
Unfortunately, the engines chosen aren't all that great either. These special Logans will be fitted with not-so-special 1.2-liter petrol engines making 75 hp or a 1.5 dCi diesel with the same output. The company probably decided against the 90 hp 0.9 turbo and the higher output diesel because of cost concerns.
In the case of the 1.2-liter, prices for the 10th Anniversary Logan start at €9,400, while the diesel sets you back €11,300. That puts the car in Renault Clio or Skoda Rapid territory with the right dealer incentives.
With over 1.4 million units sold, the Logan is by far one of Renault's best and most successful ideas. Officially presented in Romania in June 2004, this affordable sedan began being delivered to other European markets a year later. In 2008, a facelift was revealed and at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the second generation was introduced, together with all-new Sandero and Sandero Stepway.
To date, almost half a million Logans have been sold in Romania, with another 176,000 going to France. It's also the best sold car model in Morocco, Algeria, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Google News