Buying Used: Renault Logan (2008-2012)

The Renault Logan had a brief, and underwhelming, stint in South Africa. Is it actually worth considering as a used buy?

Renault Logan exterior

Image: Renault

When the Renault Logan arrived in South Africa in late 2008, it carried a singular, unapologetic mandate, to provide maximum interior space for minimum financial expense. Born from a joint venture between Renault and Mahindra in India, the Logan was a masterclass in aggressive cost-cutting and basic engineering. Launching with a sub-R100 000 price tag, it offered the cabin dimensions of a C-segment sedan for the price of an entry-level A-segment hatchback. While it was widely criticised for its spartan interior, unrefined road manners, and dated styling, it found a willing audience in South Africa. The Logan’s tenure in the local market was relatively brief, officially bowing out around 2012 to make way for the more modern and vastly superior Sandero platform.

A rundown on the Renault Logan

Visually, the Renault Logan was governed entirely by a ruler rather than French flair for design. Its slab-sided, boxy architecture and flat glass panels were specifically designed to minimise manufacturing costs. Despite this, the cabin was surprisingly spacious, capable of accommodating three tall adults in the rear quite comfortably. The sheer volume extended to the cargo area, boasting a cavernous 510-litre boot that dwarfed nearly everything else in its price bracket. Inside, the cabin was a sea of hard plastics. Standard specification was surprisingly fair for the era, and included a CD/MP3 player, front electric windows, dual front airbags, and ABS with EBD.

The South African powertrain strategy relied on the (K7M) 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, which produced a modest 64 kW at 5 500 r/min and 128 N.m of torque at 3 000 r/min. The K7M unit sent power to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. The Logan managed the 0-100 km/h sprint in a leisurely 14.3 seconds, before topping out at 153 km/h. The average fuel consumption was a claimed 8.6 L/100 km.

Renault Logan rear

Image: Renault

What to look Out for when buying a used Renault Logan

  • Ignition coil failure: the engine is notoriously prone to premature ignition coil failure. Expect misfires and a rough idle if the coil pack is degrading.
  • Interior degradation: the hard plastics used throughout the cabin do not age gracefully. Check for cracking on the dashboard, broken air vent louvers, and heavily worn fabric on the seats.
  • Suspension wear: the Logan’s suspension is not the strongest. Listen for knocking sounds from the front MacPherson struts and check for uneven tyre wear, which are indicative of worn control arm bushings.
  • Rust: some early India-built models across the board exhibited poor rust-proofing. Carefully inspect the bodywork for this.
  • Sticky gear linkages: the five-speed manual gearbox can become notchy and difficult to engage, particularly when shifting into first or reverse.

Which one to get

If the Renault Logan is on your list, trim levels are virtually irrelevant. It’s best to find a 1.6-litre manual model that’s still in good running condition. If you must, opt for a late model (2011 or 2012) with a verifiable service history. Because these vehicles have considerably depreciated, purchasing the cleanest, lowest-mileage unit available is the only logical strategy.

The post Buying Used: Renault Logan (2008-2012) appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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