Dacia Logan MCV buyer’s guide
FROM £4,000 Estate offered a lot for the money when new, and is a fine used choice
Budget estate makes a fine used buy from £4,000
DACIA put the cat among the pigeons when it returned to the UK at the end of 2012. This Renault subsidiary introduced a stream of affordable models including the Logan MCV (Maximum Capacity Vehicle) in 2013.
Priced from just £6,995, this budget estate car offered a large carrying capacity at a price that undercut established rivals by thousands. While the Dacia doesn’t have the polish of these pricier alternatives, the quality and reliability are proving to be more than a match, with some owners claiming their Logan is the best car they’ve ever had.
So don’t be too ready to dismiss the Dacia – it could give you all you need at a price well below what you expect to pay.
History
WHEN it arrived in UK showrooms in July 2013, the Logan MCV was Dacia’s fourth model. On offer was one diesel engine – the familiar Renault 1.5 dci unit – along with two petrols. These were also borrowed from the Renault parts bin; a 1.2-litre fourcylinder unit, alongside a three-cylinder turbocharged 0.9-litre powerplant.
There were three trim levels to choose between (Access, Ambiance and Lauréate), but from spring 2015, there was also a range-topping Lauréate Prime special edition, while the limited-edition Ambiance Prime arrived a year later. The former came with multimedia, powered rear windows and upgraded trim, and the latter features alloy wheels. Cleaner EU6 engines were fitted from September 2015; these cut CO2 emissions and road tax rates in some cases.
Which one?
THE two best engines are also the most popular by far – the 0.9 TCE petrol and the 1.5 dci diesel. Both are perky and economical, and while they cost more to buy than the 1.2-litre unit, the premium is easily worth it.
All Logans come with a manual gearbox, so it’s just a question of choosing the engine and trim, although the higher levels are available with more options. Access versions have wind-up windows, steel wheels and no radio, but Ambiance models feature remote central locking, powered front windows, Bluetooth and a Cd/tuner.
The Lauréate also comes with alloy wheels, a trip computer, cruise control, heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors, air-con and powered rear windows.
Alternatives
LOAD space is the Logan’s most attractive feature; the 1,518-litre boot of the Dacia compares favourably with our top-value used favourite, the Ford Focus, with 1,502 litres.
The Ford is better to drive and of a higher quality, but prices are steeper. You’ll also pay more for a Kia Cee’d SW (1,642 litres), Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer (1,550 litres) or Honda Civic (1,668 litres). Alternatively, the first-generation Peugeot 308 SW can be picked up from £4,000 for a 2009 car that’s covered 40,000 miles. Its load capacity is pegged at 1,736 litres (2,149 litres up to the roof line), while the second-generation car is rated at 1,660 litres; prices start at £10,000.
Verdict
PROVING that Brits love a bargain, Dacia shifted over 17,000 cars in its first year. This was enough to eclipse marques such as Jaguar, Mitsubishi and Alfa Romeo, and was also the best first-year result ever recorded by a new brand in the UK.
It would be easy to assume that cheap equals nasty, but nothing could be further from the truth. This year, the Logan MCV has scored its best result yet in our Driver Power satisfaction survey (right), plus the brand came fourth overall. Buy one of the few used cars available, and you’re unlikely to regret it.
“It would be easy to assume that cheap equals nasty, but nothing could be further from the truth”
OUR VIEW
THE Logan MCV debuted at number 30 in Driver Power 2013, dropped to 48th last year, then climbed to 13th in 2016.
As such, it was the highest-rated family car thanks to its low running costs (fourth), practicality (ninth), in-car tech (12th) and reliability (15th). Ease of driving (82nd) was a low spot, though.
YOUR VIEW
ALICIA Boughton, from Northampton, owns a 2014 Logan MCV 1.5 dci. She told us: “It’s quite basic after my previous Focus, but the Dacia is comfortable and tremendous value.
“It’s incredibly spacious, too, and so far I’ve enjoyed complete reliability. The interior feels cheaply made, but that’s the only downside.”