automotive world globalization and unification rule. No manufacturer can afford to develop a platform and use it on just one model. How different will the cars be from each other? This cannot be predicted in advance. Someone is limited to literally replacing the emblems alone. And there is pleasant exceptions when kinship is determined only after studying the technical characteristics.
Renault Koleos- from the last category. As in the first generation, he remained a close relative. But then, and now, he doesn't look like him at all. Instead of Japanese undemandingness - a bright, purely French look. Europeans are not surprised by this. Not the first year in the Old World are sold Renault, decorated in a new corporate style. These are, in particular, Espace and Talisman. But for us this image is new. What to do if in Russia big cars Brands have not enjoyed the special love of buyers before, and during the crisis, the line has completely shrunk exclusively to state employees.
Maximum task
My colleague Mikhail Kuleshov has already made acquaintance with the car in the vicinity of Paris, and I had the opportunity to ride on the first two copies that came to Russia and were entrusted to journalists. Yes, and in typical conditions for our country! Renault invited the writing fraternity to Lake Ladoga to the Winter Driving School. On snow and ice paths, under the supervision of instructors, Dusters and Dusters demonstrated their skills, the company of which was a pair of Koleos.
Being on a forest road and a snowy field side by side with the Dusters, it is difficult to resist comparing their skills with the abilities of Koleos. But we have to. The first is positioned by the brand as a rather serious "rogue" and, as they show, the title justifies this. The second is a regular crossover. His skills should be enough to overcome moderate off-road on the way to a summer cottage or a clearing for a summer picnic. And even better if it is limited to just a broken dry primer. With a claimed clearance of 210 mm (I personally assessed: it seems to be true), Renault Koleos will cope with this without problems.
But we ended up in the forests of Karelia during the days of the thaw, when the snow became wet and heavy. As long as there are ruts under the wheels, albeit not rolled, but loose, Koleos is confidently moving forward. Clearance is enough for most situations. The All Mode 4×4 i 4WD transmission can be kept in automatic mode and, according to the pictogram on the instrument cluster, back in such conditions, the electronics transfers only 5–10% of thrust.
On virgin soil, the car immediately has problems. And this despite the fact that the snow cover reaches exactly to the lower edge front bumper, and the car is shod in top Continental ContiIceContact 2. Of course, the thaw created the lion's share of the difficulties: it would be easier to ride on dry snow. But the confidence in the car is much less.
It is curious that we did not bring Koleos to the message about overheating of the variator or clutch. However, an abnormal smell was clearly felt in the cabin, and a couple of times the car limited the engine to 2000-2500 rpm. It was worth standing for a couple of minutes at idle, and everything returned to normal, you can break the track further. In a word, Koleos is a typical representative of the tribe of crossovers or, as they said before, parquet SUVs. It is better not to push him to exploits.
In his element
After returning from a forest walk, I expected to drive Koleos along snakes, ovals and other figures marked right on the ice of Lake Ladoga, although I suspected that the organizers would not allow it. Firstly, in Moscow, journalists already lined up are waiting for them, so it is extremely undesirable to tear off the bumpers on the parapets. Secondly, the variator is objectively not suitable for annealing on the turns of sports tracks. So why force the transmission? And thirdly, perhaps Koleos is too heavy for ice. Its curb weight is more than 200 kilograms more than that of the Duster and Capture.
In exchange, he begged Koleos for a short trip on the surrounding roads in order to get an impression of the car in normal conditions ride. On snow-covered country roads, the suspension of the crossover unexpectedly and unpleasantly struck a couple of times, and it worked out the potholes with a loud thud. Not on asphalt best quality this hasn't happened yet: chassis behaved quietly.
In general, Renault turned out to be as I expected - average. Steering, brakes and suspension are completely devoid of sporty notes, but give the car a reliable character when measured driving. Without getting used to the car, I managed to stop in the icy rut exactly where I planned for myself, and take turns on a narrowly cleared one-lane highway along the trajectory set the first time, without fear of “falling out” from it.
I had a chance to ride on only one version - with a 2.5 engine with a power of 170 hp. The variator does a good job of simulating switching classic box transmission, but the dynamics of the blood does not excite. The exact figures for the "Frenchman" have not yet been announced, but you can focus on the Nissan X-Trail platform with a similar power plant, which weighs about the same. For the Japanese model, 10.5 s from zero to 100 km / h is declared.
It is felt that the creators have worked on soundproofing. In this regard, the French models have always been stronger than the Japanese. So Koleos seemed to me quieter than the X-Trail. The engine can be heard in the cabin after 3000 rpm, and this sound remains not too intrusive at higher speeds. The rumble of studded tires can be distinguished from the general background, but for this you need to try. Copiously sanded asphalt made it possible to evaluate the sound insulation of the arches: everything is fine with it. But the noise from the contact of road dirt with the thresholds seemed excessive and slightly spoiled the generally favorable picture. But I'm still sure that Koleos can be in its segment.
Percentage and moment
The traction distribution icon can be displayed on the front panel and you can watch the operation. When accelerating “gas to the floor” on wet pavement, up to 15% of the moment is automatically transmitted back, and I saw this figure only at the peak, usually 5-10%. If you do a similar exercise on ice, then the maximum for a moment reaches 25%, and the lion's share of the time walks between 15-20%. At the same time, according to the sensations from behind the steering wheel, there is no serious slipping of the front wheels, the speed increase is even.
There is also a Lock mode with a forced equal distribution of torque between the axles. But if Duster works up to 80 km / h, then Koleos turns off after 40. As a result, there is no need for it on more or less hard surfaces and it can only help off-road. Moreover, the border of the transition to automatic settings clearly hints that it is not worth experimenting with conquering very difficult areas.
Difficulties in translation
The start of Renault Koleos in the Russian market is scheduled for the summer. Dealers will have three versions. Gasoline aspirated 2.0 and 2.5 liter engines are well known to Russians from Ixtrail, and will not change on the French model. But the diesel is different. Nissan supplies us with a modest 130-horsepower 1.6 unit, and Renault relies on a two-liter unit, with a return of 175 “horses”. All Koleos for Russia will be all-wheel drive and with CVTs (Nissan X-Trail is also available with mechanics and in a mono-drive version).
Prices and exact configurations were unknown at the time of writing, but you can build assumptions on a solid foundation: the same sister Nissan will help us. With a two-liter engine, all-wheel drive and CVT, it costs from 1,624,000 rubles. Around the same amount, obviously, Renault will also be estimated. Packed to the maximum will cost 2,047,000 rubles. But this gasoline car, and Koleos with powerful diesel will be more expensive. I would bet on 2.2 million. Making Renault noticeably more expensive than Nissan is risky. But at the same time, let's not forget that X-Trail is localized in St. Petersburg, and Koleos will be delivered from South Korea.
The company does not expect to “blow up” the segment with its new product, soberly assessing its chances. Renault Brand Development Director Anatoly Kalitsev pointed out the key factor that will allow the second generation car to become more popular than its predecessor. This is a combination of a two-liter gasoline engine, all-wheel drive and automated transmission. Koleos did not have this in our market, and, according to competitors' sales statistics, it provides the main demand. With a 175-horsepower diesel engine, Renault can take away some of the buyers, for example, from, which will turn out to be a little more expensive.
Anatoly Kalitsev explained that Koleos was originally created with an eye on sales in Russia. Therefore, options such as ERA-GLONASS, heating windshield and proprietary autorun system Renault Start, were laid in the design from the very beginning. The costs of their implementation are "smeared out" to all world markets. If they fell on the shoulders of an exclusively Russian division, then the prices for an imported crossover would be higher, which would make it difficult to compete.
But thanks foreign assembly companies do not have to worry about sales volumes. The Korean plant is loaded, and a thousand or two cars for Russia will not do the weather for him. And our unstable market now does not motivate us to organize the production of small-scale models here.
This is how the muffler pipe is cunningly bent. It doesn't reach the bumper. The resonator is located above the level of the suspension arms.
This is how the muffler pipe is cunningly bent. It doesn't reach the bumper. The resonator is located above the level of the suspension arms.
Koleos has room to grow. In 2013-2014, it sold an order of magnitude worse than the related Nissan X-Trail, and then completely left us. Now at french brand there is a car on a proven aggregate base, while looking much more interesting. There will be fans of the novelty. Including among those who want to remain true to the brand, but have outgrown all the machines offered hitherto - Megane, Koleos I, Latitude. An additional success factor should be the long-awaited one, which almost all experts predict for the current year. It’s just that it will be difficult for an expensive SUV in the company of entirely budget “namesake”: image solid car for Renault in Russia, alas, lost.
Renault Koleos. Price: from 1,699,000 rubles. On sale: from summer 2017
Through the efforts of Renault-Nissan, we have long been accustomed to the taste of French dishes with a Japanese aftertaste. The French desire for originality and sophisticated style, combined with Japanese asceticism in the automotive industry, is a truly explosive mixture. Any bias in one direction or another threatens with a catastrophe. However, for many years the concern has been able to gracefully balance on this fine line, giving out on the mountain one bestseller after another.
Horizontal taillights with a pronounced three-dimensional effect float on the fenders, visually further expanding the car
The “kitchen” of Carlos Ghosn, debugged to automatism, bakes them like hot cakes. Of course using common platforms and ingredients, it is not so easy for the concern to breed dishes of French and Japanese cuisine. And if in terms of a beautiful presentation to the table it is still possible to do this, then the aftertaste after tasting these dishes sometimes remains almost identical. Not to say that unpleasant, just quite similar. The premiere test of the new Renault generations Koleos only confirmed this theory, although the very presentation of the new dish seemed to us very original and exquisite in French style.
The front seats are too short for comfortable fit on long hauls
After overflowing with the efforts of Duster and its "metrosexual brother" Kaptur of the C-segment of the Renault all-terrain line, the transfer of Koleos, the first generation of which existed somewhere in the C-D interclass space, to the highest segment was a completely reasonable step. To increase the return, Renault just needed to close the “whole table” on SUV market, especially since its D-segment has proven to be one of the most dynamic in terms of development in the market over the past 10 years, adding a total of 63%.
The maximum boot capacity of Renault Koleos reaches 1690 liters
No less logical step was the styling of the exterior of the new Koleos under the premium line of Renault. The resemblance between the new large crossover and the Talisman platform flagship business sedan is noticeable at first sight. The same expressive horizontal lines and shortened overhangs, the same design style of the front of the car and the false radiator grille with a massive chrome logo, new Pure Vision full LED headlights (the technology provides 20% more light output compared to halogens) and C-shaped running boomerangs "eyelashes". Rear LED lamps use edge technology Light, which creates a pronounced three-dimensional effect. Horizontal rear lights flowing onto the fenders visually expand the dimensions of the car, and massive 18-inch wheels, combined with a low roofline, give the brutal SUV a more dynamic look.
The front of the car looks very impressive thanks to the massive false radiator grille and multi-plane "boomerangs" running lights and fog light surrounds
“The new Koleos completes the renaissance of the Renault range in terms of design, which began with the new Clio in 2012. My task was to come up with a crossover that would be not only elegant, but also modern and dynamic. We decided not to blur traditional crossover design features. On the contrary, we have focused on the typical features of this segment - a stylish, embossed exterior with expressive horizontal lines and high ground clearance," explains Laurens van den Acker, senior vice president of corporate design at Renault.
The main detail of the cabin is a large vertical tablet
It's hard to disagree with the Dutchman! The visual presentation of the new Renault dish is at its absolute height. The first questions may arise only when you begin to get acquainted with its ingredients in more detail.
The structure of the central tunnel is very diverse in terms of containers and glove compartments
The combination of one of the largest wheelbases in the class (2705 mm) with a very advantageous interior layout makes Koleos the most spacious in the segment, transferring it to the category of those cars that seem even larger inside than outside. Hence - a spacious modular trunk, which can be increased from 538 to 1690 liters through transformations, and unprecedented spatial comfort for the legs rear passengers, the effect of which is increased by the concave frame of the front seatbacks. A huge panoramic roof of 0.8 m2 fills the cabin with air, like a French meringue. However, in fact, this feeling is still largely deceptive. With all the volume of the Koleos cabin, tall passengers are not so comfortable in it. The reason is not the most thoughtful design of the front seats and the rear sofa. The horizontal pillows of the first ones turned out to be very short (despite the electrical adjustments in six directions, there is, of course, no talk of any popliteal support), which makes them very uncomfortable in long trips. As for the second row, the lanky passengers simply rest their heads on the ceiling. Moreover, this consequence is not so much underestimated for the sake of dynamic design Koleos roofline, how much French enthusiasm for the “theatrical seating” of passengers with the second row raised for better visibility.
All-wheel drive system - adaptive: allows you to choose the drive scheme of your choice
What really pleased with the interior and ergonomics of the new Koleos is the unprecedentedly wide doorways (front doors open 70 °, rear doors open 77 °), as well as effective structural protection of the door sills from dust and dirt.
The rear sofa is strongly raised above the first row: such a “theatrical” landing provides passengers with better visibility, but forces them to rest their heads on the ceiling
The interior design is dominated by straight lines with rounded ends. Triangular handles on the sides of the center console emphasize the off-road character of Koleos. Style Renault can be traced quite clearly. The main mood in the cabin is set, of course, by a huge vertical 8.7-inch multifunctional tablet multimedia system R-LINK 2. In general, the set of electronic and auxiliary systems of Koleos has expanded compared to the first generation, but not as much as one might expect. So, the French flagship SUV still does not have adaptive cruise control, which most classmates have. Unlike Nissan, Renault is waiting for the platform fourth generation systems autonomous control- decided not to exchange for “stale products” of the third generation, therefore adaptive cruise and many other modern electronic assistants will be available only after the first restyling of the new Koleos.
In addition to the updated multimedia, Koleos has got a premium Bose audio system with 12 different-sized speakers, a subwoofer and a digital amplifier with a sound processor. There is even a volumetric engine sound compensation system. As for soundproofing wheel arches, according to the tradition of the concern, somewhat forgotten. As is almost always the case with Nissan and often with Renault, normal sound insulation is also likely to appear only after the first restyling. Unlike acoustic comfort, it’s harder to find fault with the ride, and you shouldn’t do it. The suspension is set up almost perfectly by the standards of the segment: moderately stiff, it does not allow the large SUV to sway, actively swallowing inertia, but at the same time it turns out to be surprisingly energy-intensive.
The new flagship SUV Renault will be delivered to Russia with three engine options: petrol 2.0 (144 hp) and 2.5 (171 hp), as well as a 2.0 dCi turbodiesel with a capacity of 177 hp. With. Sales of gasoline Koleos have already started, diesel version will be available for order from September.
Unlike the rest of the world, in our market Koleos will be presented only in the All-Mode 4x4i version, exclusively with the new CVT X-Tronic adaptive continuously variable variators. This was done in order to further separate Koleos from the younger French SUVs Kaptur and Duster.
On my own new variator concern is very good and adaptable. In it, for example, a new algorithm for changing gear ratio: when the gas pedal is pressed more than a third, the variator simulates step switching, as usual automatic transmission. At the same time, CVT X-Tronic provides a smooth change of gear ratios, at a constant speed can optimize engine speed and allows the driver to select a 7-speed sequential shift mode and use engine braking if desired. However, with all the advantages of the new Koleos variator, he still remained very thoughtful. It is clear that without sacrificing the transmission resource, this cannot be avoided. But this makes it doubly a pity that the French SUV will arrive in Russia without mechanical box gears. It was the version with the manual gearbox during the Finnish test that seemed to us the most organic and interesting in relation to the large French off-road vehicle.
Driving
The steering wheel is a bit sluggish, but for an SUV, that's perfectly acceptable. Motor response in the CVT version is severely limited by CVT settings
Salon
Quite functional and calm in terms of design. The question is caused only by the front seats and an overestimated rear sofa
Renault Koleos specifications
Dimensions 4672x1843x1673 mm Base 2705 mm Curb weight 1742 kg Full mass 2280 kg Clearance 208 mm Trunk volume 538/1690 l Fuel tank volume 60 l Engine diesel, 4-cylinder, 1995 cm3, 177/3750 hp/min -1, 380/2000 Nm/min -1 Transmission variator, full drive Tire size 225/60R18 Dynamics 201 km/h; 9.5 s to 100 km/h Fuel consumption (city/highway/mixed) 6.1 / 5.7 / 5.8 l per 100 km Operating costs* Transport tax, R. 8850 TO-1 / TO-2, r. n.a. OSAGO / Casco, r. 13 178 / 135 078 * Transport tax is calculated in Moscow. The cost of TO-1 / TO-2 is taken according to the dealer. OSAGO and Casco are calculated on the basis of: one male driver, single, age 30 years, driving experience 10 years.
Verdict
Except for a few minor details, Renault's new premium SUV is quite good. Of course, he will not become an absolute bestseller on the Russian market, but as an addition to the existing Renault all-terrain menu, his appearance will allow the brand to finally close the entire crossover segment with its models.
After the organization of localized production Renault Koleos 2017 in a new body (photo) configuration and prices will be able to pleasantly surprise the Russians. If for the previous generation model Korean assembly official Renault dealers in Moscow are now asking for a minimum of 1,300,000 rubles, which is above the average level, then for a Renault Koleos 2017 that has moved into a larger class, the price of 1.7 million rubles no longer looks like an exaggeration. Approximately the same (1,724,000 rubles) costs a Nissan X-Trail in a similar configuration, on the basis of which Koleos was built with a new body. And given the fact that Renault is slightly larger than Nissan and has more rich equipment, price of the new Koleos 2017 is one of the best offers on the market among competitors with similar technical characteristics.
Profitable the ratio of configurations and prices of Renault Koleos in a new body confirmed by the interior (photo), borrowed from the flagship Talisman sedan, which has already received a lot of flattering reviews. As a result interior decoration, in addition to high-quality finishing materials, has a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster, which displays a digital speedometer and analog tachometer. The classic hands now only have power reserve and coolant temperature indicators. The status of the new Renault Koleos 2017 is emphasized by the presence of an 8.7-inch central touch screen, a panoramic roof, power and ventilation seats, LED headlights, a rear-view camera, an electric tailgate, remote start of the power unit, heated steering wheel and windshield.
Owner reviews also taken into account: now, for a surcharge to the price of Renault Koleos, an extensive list of electronic assistants will be offered, including traffic sign reading systems, automatic braking and blind spot monitoring. In addition, a premium 12-speaker Bose audio system with 3D sound will be available. When saved in Russia exclusive configuration Initiale Paris, Koleos in a new body, like the flagship Talisman sedan, will receive: a unique Amethyste Black metallic paint, nappa leather trim, pile rugs and 19-inch wheels in the original design.
Special mention deserves the presence in the Renault Koleos 2017 trim levels of the proprietary Multi-Sense electronic system, which allows you to select one of five modes through the central touch screen that affect the operation of the adaptive suspension, engine, transmission and steering. The originality of Multi-Sense lies in the fact that Eco, Comfort, Neutral, Sport and Perso modes, among other things, change the climate control algorithm, engine sound and dashboard graphics. Nice bonus from the inclusion of the Multi-Sense electronic system in the price of the Renault Koleos is the choice of several ambient lighting options: red, magenta, green, blue and white.
New body
With dimensions 4672 x 1843 x 1673 mm new body Renault Koleos(photo) significantly exceeded the size of its predecessor, but even more important is the comparison with the platform Nissan X-Trail, which is 32mm shorter and 23mm narrower. Moreover, despite the general modularity CMF platform, wheelbase the French model is also slightly larger than the Japanese donor - 2710 (+5) mm. The price of such changes at Renault Koleos resulted in a record distance between the front and rear seats, equal to 289 mm. The stock of space in terms of height and width of the cabin in the new body is also at the level the best analogues in class. The same can be said about volume. luggage compartment. The second-generation crossover offers 542 liters with the rear sofa unfolded, which is one of the best indicators in the class, and 1690 liters with the seats folded - absolute record for this segment.
The previous version of Koleos had a decent clearance of 206 mm and received a lot of positive feedback on test drives outside the asphalt. On the model with a new body, its value has become even better. Specifications Renault Koleos 2017 declare 210 mm, which is fully consistent with the performance of the donor X-Trail with 210 mm of ground clearance. The engine range and transmission types are similar to those used on Nissan. Gasoline engines are represented by units of 2 liters (144 hp) and 2.5 liters (171 hp). diesel engine 2.0 l develops 177 forces. A 6-speed manual and a variator are used as gearboxes, and to transmit torque to rear axle a multi-plate clutch is used, equipped with a positive lock. So high degree unification with Nissan will significantly reduce the cost of production and, as a result, the final price of Renault Koleos 2017 in a new body.
Start of sales in Russia
The initial start of sales of the second-generation model will take place in China, where production will be organized at the end of the year at the Dongfeng-Renault joint plant in Wuhan. Start Renault sales Koleos in Russia scheduled for June 6 2017 of the year. On french crossover With a new body, the role of Renault's flagship is entrusted, so sales will begin in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Australia. All in all geography of deliveries of the new Koleos will include 80 countries, and in addition to the Chinese plant, there is a South Korean enterprise Renault-Samsung and, hopefully, a Russian production site within the framework of the AvtoVAZ-Renault-Nissan alliance.
pros: large roomy crossover, low maintenance, long warranty, spacious salon(except for the rear ceiling height).
Minuses: CVT in all trim levels, no extra seats (despite the size, Renault Koleos is only five-seater), relatively rigid suspension tall passengers sitting in the back will be uncomfortable due to the low roof.
Main competitors: Peugeot 5008, Nissan X-Trail, Nissan Qashqai, Toyota Highlander, Jeep Renegade, Mitsubishi Outlander, VW Tiguan , Mazda CX5, Skoda Kodiaq.
Test Drive crossover Renault Koleos before the second generation has never looked so seductive and desirable for us. The Captur is currently the most popular crossover in its class in Europe and one of the most popular in Russia, and its big brother, the Koleos, has won a number of fans thanks to its low running costs and good warranty, that's all. But is this the only advantage of this model? Let's find out with a video test drive review of the new 2017 Renault Koleos!
If you need more space in a crossover, then, historically, you'll have to look at other brands such as Kia with its seven-seater Sorento, Hyundai with its popular Santa Fe, and Skoda with its impressively spacious Kodiaq. All this because Renault has not yet joined the battle with seven-seat cars - even Largus did.
Adopting styling cues from the Talisman and Megane, the Koleos has a more dominant position than its smaller Captur, and thanks to the Nissan X-Trail base, this crossover can really take on true SUVs on a test drive, unlike its direct competitors such as all-wheel drive Peugeot 5008.
Somewhat surprisingly, though, the so-called Koleos-focused family doesn't come with a seven-seat trim. Perhaps not enough to forgive him for this and the fact that, according to the results of test drives, Koleos proved to be a practical and well-equipped crossover.
Full test Renault Koleos 2017 from the Big test drive
Despite the fact that Koleos is based on the Nissan X-Trail, on a test drive, he still showed differences in character from his Japanese cousin. For starters, it feels stiffer, so the ride - especially with the 19-inch wheels installed - is just unforgiving at times. There are hints of a grinder over potholes in the city - small and frequent bumps make you a little angry on a test drive, but it's not all that unbearable. Unlike rivals such as Kodiaq, Koleos still behaves a little better on bumps, and if you previously drove on a stiff suspension before Koleos test drive, you will not notice the difference - as practice test drives show, you get used to stiffness. And at the same time, so that you don’t really calm down, the car is also a little noisy.
Steering Renault control Koleos on a test drive makes it easy to maneuver around the city and fit perfectly in your seat on the motorway, so you can easily focus on your thoughts and ride with the flow. However, for a bit more confidence along a twisty road, some added feedback could be added through the wheel rim, as well as more progressive mass control. However, for a fairly tall crossover, the car's mass is relatively well controlled - it doesn't lean around corners or yank the steering wheel over bumps. And yet there is no doubt that, for example, the same Mazda CX-5 feels sharper.
Only three configurations are available for sale in Russia for Koleos, but for all of them there are also three engines, respectively:
- 2-liter gasoline L4 with 145 hp;
- 2.5-liter gasoline with 170 hp;
- 2-liter diesel engine with 177 hp
Indeed, having tried a more powerful diesel with 177 hp, with dual connection and CVT on a test drive, we were a little unhappy. It's quite lively when you're on the gas pedal, but if you're trying to overtake someone on the highway, you'll still need a surprisingly large gap on the oncoming lane to maneuver safely.
It's all about the variator. Most of the car's whims on the road versus agility is the gearbox's hesitation and dullness. We hope that in the next test drive, Renault will still add a normal automatic as an alternative.
When you accelerate, there is a slight vibration (note that the test drive was a fairly new Renault Koleos) through the pedals and steering wheel, while on the highway, road noise is pronounced, combined with the flutter of wind noise from the large exterior mirrors.
The first test drive Renault Koleos from the magazine "Behind the wheel"
Inside Renault Koleos, everything looks quite smart and interesting. You get regular materials worthy mid-size crossover with a soft touch on top of the dash and doors, but these are nice colorways, unlike many of Koleos' competitors, including artificial leather with stitching, pleasant lighting and wooden inserts that provide excellent interior view cars.
Before you test drive will be a configurable digital instrument panel, standard on all models. For the most part, the main body of the dashboard is well laid out: most of the switches are easy to reach, but the climate control functions controlled via the infotainment screen can be a bit clunky when constantly changing them.
For drivers of most body types, all adjustments have the ability to comfortably adjust the position.
Visibility is fine, but the thick A-pillars can obscure small sections of the road. Wide rear pillars and small windows in the rear third of the body also make it difficult to clearly see the surrounding area behind. Fortunately, all versions come with electronics to alleviate these shortcomings, including front and rear sensors parking, camera rear view and blind spot monitoring.
You'll also find that the navigation and media systems in the Sorento, Santa Fe and Kodiaq are much more intuitive: some of the Renault Koleos' features aren't easy to find in the many menu navigations, and commands can be a little hard to navigate.
Whatever screen size you have on a Renault Koleos test drive, it will be well equipped. Each version is equipped with Tom Tom sat nav, DAB and Bluetooth radio, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone pairing, allowing you to control your favorite apps from your phone through the home screen.
An improved 13-speaker Bose sound system is available in the top Renault equipment Koleos. We found the sound to be a bit flat and one-dimensional, so it's not worth spending extra money just for that.
Winter test drive Renault Koleos and an overheated variator from Clinkocar
There is a lot of space in Koleos and you have to be extremely tall to find trouble over your head or in front of your feet. A test drive showed that Koleos has a fairly wide interior, so you do not need to be in an intimate relationship with your partner sitting next to you on the back sofa, unless, of course, you want to.
Cabin storage options are also plentiful, including a useful large glove box, trunk and two cup holders under the center armrest. Door pockets are very comfortable and voluminous.
In the back, the legs feel great, so even if you are very tall and sit directly behind an equally tall driver, both of you will be quite comfortable. But the ceiling height at the back, unfortunately, is not so generous. The fault here lies in the panoramic roof, which is standard on all modifications, which reduces head-to-roof space to the point that if you are over two meters tall, then long test drive Koleos off-road You can go a little bald from constant rubbing of your head against the fabric of the ceiling. Perhaps it will comfort you that if the passenger sitting next to you in the middle is as tall, then he is even worse off, thanks to the raised middle seat, which is a shame for such a car, of course.
New SUV Renault Koleos is surprising from the first seconds of acquaintance. First, he, as if imitating the ostentatious Kaptur, became handsome. Many people remember the first Koleos models that were sold in Russia. I confess that it was simply impossible to approach this car without tears: a strange, angular suitcase on wheels terrified even people with the most utilitarian views. Rather, I wanted to dip it in mud, snow, bury it in sand or earth, just to hide the lack of design ideas and the desire to save money. I don't want to remember what was inside. But years have passed, and now Koleos has changed so that, in fact, only the nameplate remains of it.
Big but not bulky
Outside, Koleos is good, and is not going to hide it. Generously accentuated with chrome LED-headlights, unusual turn signals in the form of a boomerang, a neat radiator grille and a large logo - to match such an impressive SUV shape. With a length of 4.672 meters and a height of 1.673 m, it does not seem overweight at all, and the chrome line running along the front sides adds some elegance to the body. No savings on good taste, because it would be easy to live without unnecessary embellishments, but no, it’s more spectacular.
Alina Raspopova/Gazeta.Ru
On the sides below the car is also decorated with chrome inserts, and when you open the door on the threshold, you can read the name of the model. Well, not to forget. The rear view, although quite simple, is not without interesting touches. The huge trunk door is decorated with tail lights of an unusual shape. It is so original that it is now easier to recognize Koleos at night.
Salon on the level
Now we climb into the salon, and again we are surprised. However, the fact that all the car control systems in Renault Koleos were driven into a tablet, we have known since the time of the Geneva Motor Show in 2016, where we showed this novelty.
Then it was hard to believe in such changes - it seemed that this was some kind of concept, or model for rich Europe, which would never appear in Russia.
Unlike European countries, where more budgetary Renault models are sold under a separate Dacia brand, we do not have such a division, and therefore the Renault brand is still associated with utility, practicality and the absence of design and technical surpluses. But with Koleos, things are not at all like that.
So, a huge tablet integrated into the dashboard. When you meet him, you fall into a stupor and start fumbling around in search of at least one button. There are those. For example, electronic parking or cruise control next to the gear lever. Under the tablet there are buttons for selecting the "ECO" mode, heated seats. There is also seat ventilation for comfortable trips in the summer and a parking assistant. Hmm, is it really a Renault? I look at the steering wheel, I see the volume switches painfully familiar in the form of petals under my right hand. Phew, this is without a doubt Renault. There are also two separate climate control relays for the driver and passenger under the screen.
The trunk is huge, the substrate — with a comfortable handle. Closes with a button and opens with a wave of the foot
RenaultTo turn on something else, please, poke your fingers on the screen.
Okay, I turn on the engine. And then, dear mother, everything lights up with a bright backlight, the tablet turns on, - your eyes run wide. To cool the interior, heated up to 34 degrees in the sun, you have to quickly deal with the device. The main menu items are "navigation", "multimedia", "phone", "applications", "auto" and "system". Intuitively I find the airflow icon at the very bottom of the screen - that's it! With my finger I stretch out a scale symbolizing the power of blowing to the desired one. Convenient and not buggy. I also press the seat ventilation - there are three power options and they all work delicately, but effectively. Now you can live.
It is worth spending some time right away to explore the possibilities that the tablet flaunts.
For example, in the "driving" tab there is an opportunity to see how economically you use fuel and even go through a simple mini-learning on how to reduce this consumption. All this in beautiful charts, indicating the number of kilometers that the car can go without refueling.
By the way, for a month of driving exclusively in the city, the average fuel consumption per petrol version with a 2.5-liter engine with 171 hp. amounted to 14.3 liters.
There are indicators of tire pressure sensors, convenient tabbed navigation and backtracking. Also on the side of the tablet are the volume buttons of the stereo system, which in the top versions is not much, not a little, but Bose.
In general, at first glance, everything seems complicated and incomprehensible, but if you had a tablet or at least a modern mobile phone, it's not hard to figure it out. In addition, in fact, it turns out that there are not so many possible functions there: only the most necessary ones are still not the Volvo XC90.
Alina Raspopova/Gazeta.Ru
Yes, what is important, there are almost no greasy fingerprints left - I confess that I was too lazy to wipe it all month, but the monitor and the glossy surface that frames it still looked decent.
Let's take a closer look at the interior. In the top version, the seats are upholstered in white perforated leather, and there are stylish handles in the tunnel between the driver and passenger, like brutal SUVs. There is a place for glasses, two USB connectors in the armrest, an SD card slot and, in fact, space in order to place gadgets there. I even got a tablet in there. The armrest can be moved and slightly raised for the convenience of the driver. The salon is not boring, there are beautiful wood-like plastic inserts. The plastic on the dashboard is soft and does not smell, even after warming up in the sun.
By the way, the color of the backlight in the cabin can be chosen to your taste. There is green, red, blue, yellow and purple - well, just like Infiniti.
If you have parking sensors (it’s better with them, the car is big), you can also choose the sound of “pickalok”. You can also change the design of the display on the instrument panel. Another useful thing worth noting is the ability of Koleos to determine the danger in blind spots: the signals installed in the rear-view mirrors will tell you when it is better to refrain from maneuvering.
Koleos in motion
I launch the navigator, select a city, look for my street - it starts with the letter U, so I have to dig. Navigation shows traffic jams and cameras - also unexpected. I plan my route and move on. The powerful 2.5-liter engine simply copes with the weight of the SUV - the car goes easily. It takes 9.8 seconds to accelerate to “hundreds”, which is generally good for a large all-wheel drive model. The CVT X-Tronic box does not “slow down”. On speed bumps you will notably shake - the suspension is quite stiff, but Koleos swallows holes much more willingly.
In general, driving this car is pleasant on the highway and not scary in traffic jams - in Koleos good overview, which helps to quickly grasp the dimensions.
Renault Koleos has a very beautiful key that you can simply store in your bag - the doors open and close automatically
Alina Raspopova/Gazeta.RuAmong the security systems there is a lane control function - it warns with signals that you are leaving your lane if the turn signal is not turned on. Koleos does not have lane keeping, auto braking and intelligent cruise control. Since the test drive took place in the city with a small stop in the park, we will omit its off-road capabilities, but the ground clearance of 210 mm is worth mentioning.
Price and competitors
In the second most popular segment in Russia, SUV, for Renault Captur offer interesting prices, no matter how strange it may sound at first glance. Yes, while 2, 219 million rubles. for the "top" version for this brand it seems too much, and the starting equipment for 1, 749 million rubles. will be boring. At the same time, the model has plenty of competitors. And although prices can differ markedly, as with the Mazda CX-5 (1.431 million - 1.893 million rubles) or the Skoda Kodiaq (1.999 million - 2.575 million rubles), I think that many motorists will choose an SUV based on a weighted average set of options and features that combine these seemingly different models. To get used to the idea that you can give so much money for Renault and the fact that it is really worth it, you will have to go to the salon for reconnaissance, and already there decide whether it is in your opinion or not. And there is no doubt that Renault will still have a lot of strength to grow its customers from Logan to Koleos.
