Logan’s run..

Dacia Logan MCV

Andy Enright

The Dacia Logan MCV is an estate car that offers a new option for those who thought they could only buy used.

It’s not the last word in sophistication, as you might expect at this price point, but it’s probably a good deal more refined than you expect.

On the basis of metal for your money, it’s extremely hard to beat.

The Logan is the car that might well have first introduced British buyers to the Dacia brand, especially if they’ve travelled to France where the first generation Logan was a big hit.

We never got that car in the UK and the second generation Logan took a different tack to the original, making the Sandero in effect the hatch version.

That’s why the Logan MCV gets much the same engine selection as the Sandero. That means a neat 900cc three-cylinder TCe 90 petrol engine as the main attraction.

This is an engine that’s great in a Clio and powers the smaller Sandero adequately, with great fuel economy and a decent turn of speed.

It’s an engine that needs to be worked as it makes peak power at 5,250rpm, although there’s 135Nm of torque from just 1,650rpm.

For those on tighter budgets there’s a 75PS 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine that’s not quite as peppy and there’s also a 1.5-litre 90PS diesel.

The Logan MCV rides on a version of the Nissan B0 platform that underpins the Note and the LEAF and is built tough to appeal to world markets.

Electronic stability control (ESC) is fitted as standard, compliant with European regulations. It ensures vehicle stability under difficult conditions such as obstacle avoidance, loss

of grip when cornering, and slippery road surfaces. ABS (anti-lock brake system) is enhanced by Emergency

Brake Assist (EBA), which adjusts the hydraulic system automatically to apply maximum brake pressure from

the onset of braking through to the trigger point at which ABS switches in.

The Logan MCV is a fairly handsome thing that doesn’t instantly look bargain basement and also has one of

the best carrying capacities in its class. Take something like a Skoda Fabia estate as a competitor. That fronts

up with 480-litres of boot space with the rear seats in place and 1,485-litres of total capacity when they’re

folded. The Logan MCV is notably bigger, with 573-litres in the luggage bay and up to 1,518-total capacity.

Look at those figures and you might assume that with these broadly similarly sized cars, the Skoda maybe compensates by offering more rear seat space than the Dacia.

But get into the back of the Logan MCV and it feels anything but pinched.

The Dacia Logan MCV might well be one of the least glamorous cars it’s possible to buy but sometimes you just need a car as a tool and in that instance, the Logan makes a strong case for itself.

It’s well screwed together, comes with great after sales service, is cheap to both buy and run and doesn’t look as if it’s a refugee from the 1990s.

The 0.9-litre TCe 90 petrol engine is undoubtedly the most interesting powerplant, although if you’re going to be lugging a bunch of gear with you, it may well pay dividends to plump for the additional torque of the diesel engine.

This is a car, like many others in the Dacia range, that is going to shake up the established order and make many buyers question whether they really need to spend any more on a utility vehicle.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Dacia Logan MCV

PRICES: £8,000-£11,000 [est] – on the road

INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-10 [est]

CO2 EMISSIONS: 99-124g/km [est]

PERFORMANCE: [1.5 dCi] 0-62mph 11.8s / Max Speed 103mph [est]

FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.2 TCe] (combined) 56.5mpg

STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, anti lock brakes with brake assist

WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4491/1732/1558