For new car buyers, the Dacia Logan MCV is a super bargain. Things are often different for those interested in used cars.
SP-X / Cologne. From the unsightly cheap car to the competently made station wagon in just one generation: While the first Dacia Logan MCV was still a quirky small truck with wing doors and loveless design, the second edition (since 2012) is a very pleasing car. The cheap new price does not mean that a used one is particularly cheap.
Body and interior: you still don't buy the compact car estate because of its appearance - but its appearance is at least no longer a hindrance. At around 4,50 meters in length, the Romanian also offers decent space for the passengers and up to 1.518 liters of luggage. That is almost as much as in full-blown compact station wagons, which then tend to be 10 to 20 centimeters longer than the Logan. While the predecessor model still had a raised roof, third row of seats and double doors at the rear, number two is generally quite conventional. The notchback sedan of the same name is not available in Germany, so the only alternative to the body is the technically related small car Sandero. Inside, the variants are similar: the hard plastic landscape is only afforested a little by chrome in the highest equipment lines. However, ergonomics and workmanship are right.
Motors: There is no drive delicacy at Dacia. Proven and solid units from the Renault-Nissan shelf. The best choice for the average prospect is likely to be the three-cylinder turbo gasoline engine with 66 kW / 90 PS, which combines acceptable driving performance with low consumption. The naturally aspirated engines with 1,0 and 1,2 liter displacement (54 kW / 73 PS and 55 kW / 75 PS) offered in the gasoline segment are too tired without being particularly frugal. One is faster with one of the 1,5-liter diesels (66 kW / 90 PS and 70 kW / 95 PS), but the surcharge is difficult to drive out. All engines are switched by hand, there is no automatic as an alternative to the manual five-speed box.
Equipment and safety: The super low price of 8.000 euros for a new Logan only applies to the quasi-naked car in the basic "Access" variant. Most models on the used car market are therefore at least at the "essential" level, ie equipped with radio and central locking. If you don't want to do without, you should at least choose "Comfort" and then have air conditioning on board. The Logan is almost an eye-catcher as a "stepway" model in the robust off-road design. In these cases, however, the new price is already towards 13.000 euros; and the used buyer cannot expect a lot of discount - this is already revealed here. After all, many extras could also be bought individually, so that with a little effort you might get a suitable copy at a manageable price. Common to all Dacias is the rather moderate safety equipment compared to the competition. Four airbags and the ESP driving dynamics control are standard, and there's not much more you can get for money and good words. In the EuroNCAP crash test, the MCV scored three out of five stars.
Quality: Dacia new cars are so cheap, among other things, because the Romanian Renault subsidiary uses older and cheaper technology than other small car manufacturers. This is not per se unreliable, but it is not one of the best in terms of longevity. That the Logan in the TÜV Report delivers devastating results is often due to the thrift of previous owners, who like to do without maintenance, repairs and HU preparation. In general, the fewest Dacia owners are likely to have a particularly emotional and loving relationship with their car, which in many cases should also be reflected in their treatment. Anyone who buys a used model should keep an eye on numerous weak points. Axle suspension and steering tend to weaken, rust on chassis parts is at least possible and the exhaust system is also susceptible to Gammel. Frequent lawsuits from owners concern the quickly scratched windshield.
Conclusion: If you buy a used Dacia Logan, you save at the wrong end. The absolute loss in value of a new car is so small, the demand is so great that a brand new vehicle is hardly more expensive than a used one. If you have a very small budget, you can usually find more reliable, neat and, last but not least, more prestigious models in a large selection from other manufacturers for the same money.
