Test drive Dacia Logan MCV against Skoda Roomster: available practices

The Dacia Logan MCV 1.5 dCi and Skoda Roomster 1.4 TDI combine spaciousness, flexible interior, flexible engines and a good price. Which of the two will appeal to a pragmatic automotive audience?

The base price of a complete set of a five-seater Logan MCV with a 1,4 l petrol engine (15 280 BGN) will undoubtedly attract the attention of the more prudent, who want to get the most practical car. However, the seven-seat diesel top model Laureate (1.5 dCi, 86 hp) we tested, equipped with electric windows and central locking as standard, costs a little more (24 580 levs). On the other hand, the most profitable Roomster (1.2 HTP, 70 hp) is exchanged for 20 986 leva, and the diesel version we tested is 1.4 TDI-PD Comfort with 80 hp. the village offering Western European furniture reaches the price of 29 595 leva. It is a pity that, unlike Skoda, Romanians do not offer the ESP stabilization program, even for an additional fee.

The Logan MCV roof rack holds up to 2350 liters and can swallow an entire pallet if you have a forklift that loads it through the asymmetrically divided rear doors. It is pertinent to note here that Logan's floor is not entirely flat, as it provides devices for attaching the third row of seats.

Mediocre body

The Roomster's visibility is lowered due to the cab's massive corner columns and the small front windows and their curved design. Logan's driver may have trouble seeing as the double tailgate is right in front of his eyes.

Logan's 1,5-liter diesel engine is not particularly soundproofed, allowing passengers to pick up the metallic notes in its voice. The Renault unit spins easily up to 4000 rpm. and is virtually devoid of a turbo hole. Unfortunately, in this car, it cannot be combined with a particulate filter. Although the three-cylinder TDI Roomster is much cleaner and more fuel efficient than its Romanian counterpart, it has proven to be a little too capricious. Less than 2000 rpm, the 1,4-liter pump-injector engine stumbles a little, and above this limit behaves like a “lost” and pulls powerfully, but also accompanied by a distinct diesel rattle.

Dacia with an advantage between the pylons

The Czech participant in our test has a decent driving comfort in overcoming undulating deformations of the asphalt pavement. However, the chassis of the Fabia and Octavia components clearly informs passengers about the intersection of the transverse joints. The Roomster's steering also works with impressive precision, which is not the case with Logan's "nervous" handling.

In the hands of a true professional, however, the Romanian car confuses Skoda in our standardized road stability test. The situation is different in real life, where the Roomster shines with traction control and the ubiquitous ESP. It seems that in this discipline the Logan MCV driver will again have to rely on his own experience of getting out of critical situations.

Text: Jorn Thomas, Teodor Novakov

Photo: Hans-Dieter Zeifert

Evaluation

Dacia Logan MCV 1.5 Laureate

The advantages of the seven-seater MCV are a spacious interior, good ergonomics and a powerful diesel engine. Its disadvantage is poor safety equipment and the absence of a diesel particulate filter.

Skoda Roomster 1.4 TDI-PD Comfort

Roomster combines useful and pleasant - chic, practicality and high quality. The flexible concept of the interior, equipped with many recesses, and safe behavior on the road are more convincing than a noisy three-cylinder engine.

technical details

Dacia Logan MCV 1.5 Laureate	Skoda Roomster 1.4 TDI-PD Comfort
Working volume	-	-
Power	63 kW (86 hp)	59 kW (80 hp)
Maximum torque	-	-
Acceleration 0-100 km / h	15,0 with	14,4 with
Braking distances at a speed of 100 km / h	39 m	39 m
full speed	161 km / h	165 km / h
Average consumption fuel in the test	7,2 l / 100 km	7,1 l / 100 km
Base Price	24 580 levov	29 595 levov