Excellent Car But With Major Flaws. Review on Mahindra-Renault Logan

I had a test drive of the Mahindra Logan Diesel(top end version) last week.  I had earlier read the'Autocar India' &'BS Motoring' reviews of the car, so I had a fair idea of what to expect.   So here is what I felt about the car after my first hand experience:

*The Good Ones:

-  It looks much better in real than in photos.  It has a handsome, tough & sturdy look.

-  Very spacious and airy inside, seats are comfortable, drivers seat has height adjust.

-  Steering feel is very nice and positive, no slack in the steering wheel, feels very good

when manevouring the car.

-  Boot space is absolutely huge, the space is good enough for two people to sleep in!

-  Ride is very comfortable and handling is also very good

-  Car feels very sturdy and you feel very safe when driving the car

-  Engine performance is also very good, good pickup, smooth & responsive engine

-  Very well priced, value for money

*The Bad Ones:

Many other reviewers have spoken about the bad ergonomics of the vehicle like

• the steering wheel position not suitable for short drivers( I am tall so I have no problem here)

  
  




• the power window buttons inconveniently placed

  
  




• the boot release button in the wrong place

  
  




• the turn indicators & wiper levers on opposite sides and

  
  




• the small door mirrors

  
  

*I can live with all the above flaws and I really liked the car and wanted to buy it, BUT IT HAS A

MAJOR FLAW WHICH I CANNOT LIVE WITH.

*I drive myself and I like to go on very long drives on weekends or holidays.  The major flaw is the pedal area(clutch, brake & accelerator).  It looks like the pedals have been placed in a small cave and you have to squeeze your left leg to reach the clutch.  The centre console which has the A/c, music player etc has such a huge bulge that there is hardly any place for your left leg.  I am a tall person(6ft) and I found my left leg touching the console at all times.

The gap between the console and clutch pedal is so small(must be around 2 inches) that there is no place at all for resting the left leg.  Either you must always keep your left leg on the clutch or keep it below the clutch and pull it out and place it on the clutch when you want to use it.  And mind  you I was driving bare feet(I had worn my chappals that day and removed them while driving).  I cannot imagine the discomfort on long drives especially with my  shoes on.  The left leg will feel very claustrophobic.

I just cannot understand how the people who designed the car could have allowed such a huge flaw in an otherwise very capable car.  Dont these people drive the car themselves before passing the design?

So if you like to drive yourself  then this car will be lousy for you because for short drivers the steering wheel position is bad and for tall drivers the pedal position is bad!   However if you dont drive yourself and have a driver then you can go for this car although your driver might curse you internally especially on long drives.

I hope Mr Anand Mahindra sees this review and realises the mistake he has made in passing the design and rectifies this one problem.  Let him do that and let us all know about it.  I will be the first one to buy the car if he rectifies this problem.