Rear passenger perspective. Review on Mahindra-Renault Logan

Since I avoid driving in Mumbai traffic whenever possible, this review is a back bencher's point of view. I'm sure from a driver's point its much better but for those who don't drive there are better options available. I usually get this car as an AC taxi from Meru or as a tourist car rental and don't look forward to sitting in it.

Now that M&M has bought over Renault's share of the JV, I hope some much needed upgrades are made.

1. Flat & uncomfortable bench seats

These should have been more padded and contoured like the Swift DZire.

1. Stiff rear suspension

Its bone jarring over Mumbai potholes

1. No rear cupholders

These could have been moulded into the doors or put behind the handbrake.

1. No central armrest

This greatly increases the comfort on longer rides [over 30-40 min].

1. No rear headrests

At least in the models that I've been in which makes for a whiplash inducing ride. When they are present, 3 have been put so I have to keep removing the middle one to put my arm up for support. They are too big and also block the driver's rear view. This is like the 'Goldilocks effect' - too many or too few but NEVER just right.

1. Central 'hump'

Why advertise a 'widebody' that's spacious enough for 3 adults and have a big intrusive transmission tunnel so the middle passenger can never sit comfortabley unless they are a kid. The ground clearance should have been raised by another inch and the hump reduced. This would also help during monsoon / flooded roads.

1. Stupid cost cutting

Some design decisions should simply be banned like they are abroad from a safety perspective. There is only one reverse tail light instead of two [usually on the left side]. When using the indicators, both the arrows light up in the dash so the driver gets useless info - these should blink independently of each other like EVERY other car!

1. Lack of storage

There should be compartments in the doors and under the seats or even the roof since there is plenty of space.

1. Exteriors

I'm not saying that the Logan is THE ugliest car in the market [e.g., the 800 or Omni might be worse] but among sedans its competing hard against the Indigo [the CS has a better looking rear] for this dubious distinction.

1. Door 'handles'

These are mere notches at the back and need to be 1-2 inches longer since they hardly provide any grip for closing the the doors. Calling them 'handles' is like calling the large pond near Nerul a 'mini sea shore'.

Even if these upgrades cost more its totally worth it to make it a far more comfortable ride than it currently is.

The Logan should get options for sunroof, rear reading lights, gas shocks, hollow head rests [like Volvo] and a rear folding sun shade. This will not only boost dealer margins but also cater to private [non-taxi] customers and improve overall satisfaction without increasing the base prices.