With the Logan MCV, which has long since been discarded in this country, there is a very old Dacia model on the market in Russia as a Lada - of course at a bargain price.
The development of the new Lada Niva, which is announced for 2024 , seems to tie up many - if not all - resources in the corresponding department of the Russian car brand. Or how else can it be explained that Lada sells long-worn Dacia models under its own flag on the home market? That is exactly what is happening with the old Logan MCV, which has been on the market in Russia as the Lada Largus since 2012 - and will probably remain so for a while.
You could think that would be understandable if the Largus were at least the second-generation Dacia station wagon that we only discarded last year. But the fact that the first-generation Logan MCV, which was taken off the market in Germany in 2013, is still being marketed as a new car by Lada in Russia, raises eyebrows. And it doesn't exactly give the impression that the Renault Group, to which both brands belong, has much appreciation for the customers in Putin's vast empire.
The triple Lada Largus shows two faces
The Lada Largus is even available in three versions: as a classic station wagon with five or seven seats, whereby the third row of seats can be completely removed. In a cross version in the style of the local Dacia Stepway models with increased ground clearance by 28 millimeters. And as a cargo van with painted side windows beyond the B-pillar. After all, he is now getting a facelift that gives him a refreshed front end. Or two of them: Instead of one as before, the Lada logo now sits on two crossbars in the radiator grille in the standard Largus and in the van. The Largus Cross gets a honeycomb grille. Lada has also slightly modernized the shape of the headlights.
This also applies to the interior, which now has a new dashboard with multimedia and navigation system and smartphone connectivity via Apple Carplay or Android Auto. In addition, Lada wants to have raised the driving comfort of the Largus to a new level: noise insulation, seating comfort, air conditioning - all of which should have been improved. The multifunction steering wheel can be heated if desired, as can the windscreen and the rear seats, the armrest on the driver's seat offers a storage compartment, and cruise control and a reversing camera bring assistance systems into the car. The standard equipment now includes remote-controlled central locking, an on-board computer and daytime running lights.
With 90 or 106 hp
Lada offers the Largus in two engine variants. The 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 90 hp and a maximum of 143 Newton meters can look forward to a revised connecting rod-piston group, a new crankshaft and a new intake area. In addition, in the future there will be no need to000 kilometers to adjust the valve clearance. Another 1.6-liter engine with 106 hp and 148 Newton meters is available as a slightly more powerful alternative for the station wagon and the Cross version. Both engines meet the Euro 5 emissions standard and are linked to manual five-speed gearboxes.
The cheapest Largus version for private use is the five-seater station wagon at 749,900 rubles (a good 9,000 euros). The Cross version, which costs at least 915,900 rubles (the equivalent of over 11,000 euros), is much more expensive.
Conclusion
The Renault Group is pursuing creative sales channels in Russia. The Dacia brand does not exist there. Instead, the current models of the Romanians between St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk are available as Renault. The last Duster generation is on the road in Russia as the Nissan Terrano . And the first Dacia Logan MCV is there as Lada Largus. "Bagde Engineering" in a curious but not unsuccessful way: in 2020 the Lada Largus reached seventh place in the Russian new registration statistics.
