The Logan is not the most famous Dacia model, even though it was the first as part of the big Renault-back revival. While many people all over the world have fallen in love with the Duster crossover, there's is one corner of the globe where you can have a rugged sedan instead: Russia.
As far as we known, Renault wanted to make a Stepway version of the Logan since 2014, but it couldn't because there was a facelift coming. But at this year's Moscow Motor Show (see video), they finally presented this rugged version.
We still remember how people didn't like the plastic bumpers you got with the cheapest Dacia models, so it's ironic that the most expensive and posh Logan you can have has them. Looking at the body kit they made, we find that the skirts look like the ones fitted to the Dokker Stepway we drove a few years back.
Being locally made in Russia, the Logan Stepway will compete with the Lada Vesta, the Hyundai Solaris, and the Skoda Rapid. Renault also hopes to attract new customers by offering an automatic version. The engines offered include a base 1.6-liter with 82 HP, a 102 version and a 113 HP, 16-valve top-end model. The slowest model takes over 15 seconds to reach 100 km/h. Also, a 90 HP 1.5-liter diesel is offered with a 5-speed manual.
While looking through the specs, we found a little quirk. Because of the JF015E (gearbox) tolerances, the Logan Stepway automatic has 172mm of ground clearance, while the manuals have 195mm. So even the Logan suffers from crossover sindrome where one model is not as rugged as it pretends to be.
Inside, the Logan gets the same "Stepway" seats as the Sandero and a mildly refreshed infotainment system. From what we understand, it also has better defrosting and heating than European models.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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