There is such a song by the cheerful gang "Accident", where in the chorus the words "I'm freaking out, mom" are repeated as a refrain. I repeated these words all two days: and while I was taking the course of the winter extreme driving from Renault and Continental, and while riding on the new, still pre-production, Koleos. The intonation, however, was different.
Snow and ice
Combining the useful with the pleasant is always very good. Nobody will argue that winter driving there are subtleties, and the ability to properly get out of a skid (and sometimes enter it) can be very useful in the life of any driver. Renault and Continental invited to take a winter driving course on their all-wheel drive vehicles, first of all - on Duster and Capture, and at the same time evaluate Continental winter tires in such difficult conditions(I note right away: the “shoes” turned out to be just fine). Koleos became the icing on the cake of crazy fun on the ice and a bait for those who thought that he knew how to ride in winter, but to see a new premium crossover Reno will be interesting.
To be honest, I also rode with the same feeling. At 9:00 the first trainings began, and already at 9:15 I realized that I don’t know how to drive at all, and my lot is to drive, and even then not at full speed. I won’t bore you with a story about the winter driving school, but I’ll still say a few words about it: this is necessary for a better understanding of what is happening and a more adequate perception of information about Koleos (you started reading the material just for this, right?).
So, the training grounds were made right on the ice of Ladoga, not far from the Karelian city of Sortavala. On the day of arrival (more precisely, in the evening), the air temperature rose to a very stable plus, everything around was melting, flowing and squelching. Therefore, journalists and bloggers were immediately warned that there would be a lot of water on the ice, and there was no need to be afraid of it, like cracks. Firstly, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations are on duty here, and secondly, they will always have time to pull one of us out of a sinking car and warm it up in a warm house. The main thing is not to open the door, but to unfasten the seat belt, relax and have fun. And to pull out a drowning man is the concern of fast guys from the Ministry of Emergencies. Everyone laughed merrily and went to rest: in the morning they had to ride on melting ice under the guidance of experienced instructors.
But I didn’t manage to lie down right away: right in front of the exit from the briefing room stood Koleos. It was impossible to see it in the dark, but the sight of only the silhouette of the car convinced everyone: Koleos is no longer a chubby bumpkin, but something completely new, strict, serious and, apparently, powerful. After walking around the car, we still went to sleep under warm blankets: we had to spend the whole next day, including a lunch break, in the fresh air.
In the morning we met near the cars lined up before leaving for the ice. The instructors (not at all like the stern, swearing men from the low-flying driving school shouting obscenities) divided those present into two groups. One (together with your obedient servant) went to the ice rink to remember (or learn) the basics of driving slippery road, the second sat down on the Dusters and Koleos and went straight to the off-road route. By the way, they turned out to be happier than us: there were no Koleos in the first group, and we were content with Capturs and Dusters.
I will not talk about how we flew over the finish lines, passed the rhythmic snakes between the cones and learned to drive sideways for a couple of laps. All this is fun and even useful, but has nothing to do with Koleos. Therefore, I will only say that after two hours our hands and backs were already hurting from continuous taxiing, and we were happy to hear on the radios the command to return from the site and change crews with the second group.
The off-road route was laid through the picturesque Karelian forests with many plots. At first, it fell out to me to drive a diesel Duster with mechanics (the drive of all cars was, of course, full). Not much thinking about which gear to choose (this diesel engine is rushing confidently), I calmly trudged along behind the Koleos going ahead and looked at its stern. Apparently, Nissan's influence on Renault is greater than Renault's influence on Nissan. At least outside. The exterior turned out just fiery, amazing and a little Asian. But - within the normal range. In my opinion between rear lights, stretched from irony to grotesque, Reno's diamond looks somewhat foreign, and it would be more appropriate to see something from Korean symbols. And it was also noticeable that Koleos was a bit cramped in the track of Captures and Dusters - it is noticeably larger than these compact crossovers.
Meanwhile, the radio crackled and ordered the crews to be replaced. Here it is - we sit behind the wheel of Koleos!
With one hand we open the door, with the other we catch a drooping jaw: yes, the interior of the new Koleos is something! Something big, unexpectedly solid and completely different from everything that Renault sells in Russia today. We have little time to look at the salon, so we jump into a chair and sort it out on the go.
By the way, the first thing I came into contact with in Koleos was the armchair. Leather, heated and ventilated - already good. Power adjustments are great. Well, the fact that it was not possible to sit comfortably, I, perhaps, will write off the lack of time for a more accurate adjustment of the chair to my by no means ideal physique. And off-road - no the best place to evaluate the landing: you still have to spin and constantly work with your arms and neck. What comfort is there, you wouldn’t fly off the road ...
Off-road, of course, we drive in 4WD LOCK mode - with the center lock turned on. And if Duster and Kaptur allowed driving in this mode up to a speed of 80 km / h, then Koleos is stricter in this regard: the lock is turned off already at 40 km / h. Yes, this is a feature. ALL systems MODE 4×4-i.
IN automatic mode even in loose snow indication of the distribution of the moment showed a sad picture: 90-100% was transferred to the front axle, although purely theoretically it is able to give the rear wheels and 50% of the thrust. Koleos wagged, excuse me, backwards and tried to throw him somewhere on the side of the road. But with 4WD LOCK, everything changes: the distribution is strictly 50:50, the behavior becomes more predictable, although far from ideal (the ideal, as you know, is unattainable, so I quite seriously consider it Duster: everything is known in comparison).
The suspension does not perform well either. She is tough, in the pits she rebels and gets out like a drunken Stenka Razin on the Volga, strives to once again declare her existence with pushes and sometimes knocks. And despite the fact that Koleos went everywhere where Duster made his way, it is clearly visible that his element is smooth road, and off-road is, rather, the need to match the high rank of “crossover”. Moreover, having left for more or less rolled snow, we realized that we had bent the muffler protection.
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What else did we pay attention to on the forest road? First, how much space inside this car! The crews consisted of two people, and sitting in Koleos, we not only did not touch our elbows even with the sharpest fluctuations of this car on the trajectory, but also practically did not feel the presence of each other. We drove like neighbors in a communal apartment: if you are here - well, okay. You don't bother me.
The second thing that should be noted is very decent ergonomics. Remember what we all got to the bottom of in the same Duster? Yes, the power window control unit is inconveniently located on driver's door(access to it is partially closed by the handle on the door), it is inconvenient to reach for the transmission mode switch in the form of a washer located below, behind the gearshift lever. There is nothing like this in the new Koleos: everything is located exactly as it should. Pay attention even to the shape of the steering wheel: it seems that there is a cut along the chord from the bottom (wow, what a sports car!), But it is almost invisible when taxiing. By the way, there is enough audacity in the cabin, even the question arises: for whom was this car made? For a family man who takes the whole family to go skiing, and on the way back to visit Auchan, or for a daring boy who will “blame” along the track, winking at the girls who are losing their heads from LED optics Koleosa? And let's see for ourselves.
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Trunk volume
A respectable father of the family will certainly like it high level comfort. He will be pleased and huge luggage compartment(600 liters, and with the rear seats folded down - as much as 1,690!), will appreciate Renault system Start, which will allow you to warm up the car in advance in the cold, and cool the interior in the heat. And, of course, he cannot but appreciate the level of security of the new Koleos. There are adaptive frontal airbags, and side airbags, and curtains, and much more, and all this is in basic configuration. systems active safety Koleos is stuffed more than the head of the Buddha with wisdom: ESP, , system emergency braking, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Hill Start Assist. However, these systems are modern car only Mowgli can surprise.
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Now let's look at this car from the point of view of a fashionable dude. Five options LED backlight salon and dashboard(green, blue, purple, yellow and red) - please, sunroof and panoramic roof - you are welcome, ace in the hole - R-LINK 2 multimedia system. Navigation, communication with the phone via Bluetooth, even customizable widgets on the screen - all this is good , but most of all pleases the BOSE audio system. I note that touch screen even on a pre-production machine it works without “glitches”.
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In general, Koleos can appeal to both solid uncles with a mortgage, a wife and a mistress, and young people with off-scale libido and suffering from epistemological nihilism. However, these are just guesses. Let's get back to the essence of the issue and taxi already to at least a small section of a suburban highway.
Here, a new twist
The track in the Sortavala area can make even Sir Francis Drake, known, as you know, for his passion for sea adventures, nauseated. Steep ascents, descents, sudden turns - all this stuff is in abundance there. And just on such a road it is most interesting to check Koleos.
Engine
2.5 l, 170 hp
I must admit, they did a good job of soundproofing. Little sound is heard from rear wheels, but the combination of spikes and asphalt in general, few people manage to drive into silence. But the motor is heard a little more than we would like. By the way, let's make a lyrical digression towards the motors.
Our car has a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine with a capacity of 170 hp. A very good torque of 200 Nm is already available at 1,800 rpm, and the maximum (233 Nm) is at 4,000. There is another gasoline engine in the engine line, but with a slightly smaller volume - 2 liters (145 hp) . Diesel lovers are also lucky: there is a choice of two turbodiesels: 1.6 l (130 hp) and 2 l (175 hp). little secret Renault: 1.6-liter turbodiesel is put only on mono-drive cars, and they will not be sold in Russia. There is nothing more to say about the trim levels, we will wait for May or even the beginning of summer - then we will tell you in what form the Koleos will enter the Russian market.
Dimensions (L / W / H), mm
4 672 / 1 843 / 1 678
As a transmission, crossover buyers are offered a CVT X-Tronic variator. With a 1.6 liter diesel engine, it is possible to install and mechanical box, but ... see above.
So, we press the gas to the floor: 170 horses roar at the top of their lungs, but the dynamics are very, very far from the one that we would like to see on a car in principle. There is no pressure in the chair, and even a banal overtaking often becomes an unpleasant event. Very sluggish dynamics, from which I just went nuts (as it is said in the title), provokes the variator to be blamed for all mortal sins, but this is most likely not the case. And I will not blame the designers: here, in my opinion, the Euro-6 norms are more to blame, keeping within which, one can only be surprised that at least something is left of the motor. When Euro-7 is introduced, cars will probably have to be equipped with a pedal drive.
Even less pleasant sensations remain from the steering wheel. Excuse my French, but it's just empty. And in the snow, Koleos doesn’t really care where they turn. If Koleos wants to go forward, he will go forward. Such a stubborn crossover.
In the meantime, we leave for a snowy clearing, where the instructors allow us to “twist nickels”. Serious adults have fun like unintelligent youths, then change places. Shutters are clicked, a little crazy laughter is heard, and cheers are heard. And then the smell of a burnt clutch hangs in the air above the clearing. Who overheated first, Dusters or Koleos, I can’t say. But the fun is over. Just in case something bad happens. But there is no need to reproach Renault: it is hard for me to imagine a real situation in which I would have to scoff at the car like that.
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By horses and places
Another run down the track. Still, on a good road, Koleos feels much better than off-road. Steering“sharp”, adequate brakes please and the smoothness of the ride seems already quite acceptable. It would also accelerate faster - there would be no price for it. By the way, there is no price for it yet - it will be announced later.
In the meantime, water and melted ice are being cleaned up on the ice rink. Its layer has become even a little thinner, but seriously speaking, there is nothing dangerous in this - the thickness is still almost 50 centimeters, and it is almost impossible to fall through the ice. It is a pity that you will have to go through sprints, rhythmic snakes and races along the ring and racing tracks on Capturs and Dusters. Koleos is still much more interesting, more mature and more serious. But personally, it would be a pity for me to fly it sideways into the frozen snow parapet along the highway. It was a pity to do this on Capture, but getting to know the new crossover occupied my thoughts so much that it could not do without sorties.
The next day at lunchtime, the results of the informal competition were announced to us. I won’t name them to you - and not because I’m ashamed, but because the lucky one who rode the new Koleos one of the first is already a winner. In any case, this thought reassures me.
pros: big roomy crossover, low maintenance, long warranty, spacious salon(except for the rear ceiling height).
Minuses: variator in all trim levels, no extra seats (despite the size, Renault Koleos happens only five-seater), comparatively 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.
A test drive of the Renault Koleos crossover before the second generation has never looked so seductive and desirable for us. Captur is currently the most popular crossover in its class in Europe and one of the most popular in Russia, and its older brother, Koleos, has won a number of fans, thanks to its low operating costs and a 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 will have to look at other brands such as Kia with 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 real 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.
Renault Koleos steering on a test drive makes it easy to maneuver around town 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 the winding road, an extra added feedback through the wheel rim, as well as more advanced 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 the top of the dash and doors, but it's a nice colorway unlike many Koleos competitors, including stitched faux leather, nice lighting, and wood inlays that provide a great 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. Thankfully, all versions come with electronics to alleviate these shortcomings, including front and rear parking sensors, a camera rear view and blind spot monitoring.
You'll also find that the navigation and media systems on 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 Renault test drive Koleos, he 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 on the top-of-the-line Renault 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 panoramic roof, which is standard on all modifications, which reduces head-to-roof space to such an extent 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.
This is the new Renault Koleos 2017 and, you know, Russian representation Reno, don't like that name. The fact is that it has already been and is associated with not the most successful crossover sales on Russian market. They intend to rewrite history with the release of this car, and they have everything for this. New appearance, a new set of consumer qualities, and most importantly, a new approach to pricing. All with a claim to success!
Design
The appearance of the new Renault Koleos 2017 is a collection of quotes from various large luxury cars. For example, on board there is a gill in which someone sees range rover, or say a replica Nissan Patrol 2016. The breeze of the rear window and the stern itself, when viewed from the side of the car, resemble the Audi Q7. The muzzle has its own with a rough powerful hood, with stamping ribs, c-shaped headlights with LED optics, which are simply impossible to confuse with another car in the stream.
Something about French decor. LED lights behind is a successful manifestation of it. They burn very effectively in the dark and point to the Renault logo on both sides. An unfortunate example, these are shiny chrome mufflers, so you just like it, since the muffler is hidden in a different place.
The trunk opens by itself if you pass your foot under the karma, but the key must be in your pocket or hands. For the first time for Renault, an electric 5-door was installed. With the key button, you can fix the height at which it should be opened door. Trunk volume - 570 liters, slightly less than the Toyota RAV4. Inside, everything is done carefully, upholstered with felt. In the subfield organizer, spare wheel. The car has good loading height. For more details, you can watch this moment Renault Koleos 2017 video review at the end of the article.
Salon
If you adjust the rear seat as if 2 people are sitting one after the other of high stature, and at the same time it was free - luxury. In Russia, you won’t be able to sit like that, since the price of such a configuration will be cosmic and will not be sold in. Although it will be possible to buy with a panoramic sunroof. rear seats very reminiscent. The armrest is very well placed. It also has heating. rear seats which passengers themselves can control. If there is a third person, then you must first turn on the heating, then put the third person in. There is also an airflow reflector, LED flashlights and a 12V socket. All conditions for comfortable ride observed.
Renault Koleos has a luxury interior, at least according to the manufacturer. You can see a few luxury items. The upper part, together with the ears, is very similar to Porsche Cayenne. The center console is a hello from the Volvo XC90 latest generation in the form of a tablet measuring almost 9 inches. Both of those are great! The materials that are used in this car, of course, cannot be compared with the Volvo XC90 and Porsche Cayenne. Rather, this is a big step forward compared to the early generation Koleos, which was plastic.
For the first time, they use a heated and cooled cup holder. As in the Skoda Kodiaq, there are several options for interior lighting.
Test Drive
The new 2017 Renault Koleos is a big car that is now 150mm longer than the previous variant. He caught up with the base. On diesel traction, no matter what gear you turn on, the car drives smoothly. At the same time, consumption is 5.7 liters per 100 km. Only an all-wheel drive version of the car will be available, but at the same time there are 3 configuration options, that is, there will be a minimum price of 1.7 million rubles to choose from.
The car is quiet.
It has double glazing almost like in a premium class.
A lulling comfort forms around you, but as soon as something is uneven under the wheels, a firm suspension begins to be felt.
The car has a high center of gravity similar to, although the steering is not similar. Here taxiing is easy, but there is practically no connection on the steering wheel. The steering stabilization system turns on immediately, one might say, preventively, as in the Subaru Forester.
The new Renault Koleos 2017, presented in the review, comes with a 2 liter diesel engine with a capacity of 175 Horse power. It will also be presented on the Russian market. The motor is aggregated with cvt variator x tronic.
The diesel engine combines power and smoothness.
With the gas pedal pressed into the floor, the torque increases gradually.
The buttons on the steering wheel are very small grouped under the fine motor skills of the hands. The picture from the rear view camera with dynamic tips, but it is small, about the size of a smartphone.
There are no systems in the car that assist the driver ala: no taxiing, no holding in the lane, no adaptive cruise control. Renault explain this by the fact that now they are working not on level 3, but already on level 4. Perhaps it will be possible to see it in restyling.
The geometry of the Koleos is almost the same as the Renault Captur— 210 mm under the bottom, 19 degrees angle of entry and 26 degrees angle of exit. The difference, of course, is in the wheelbase. Here 2700 mm, this is more, so geometric parameters it turns out less SUV. The car has a lift assistant, that is, if you remove your arms and legs, then for some time he holds the car. But the indicator is only a couple of seconds. At Skoda Kodiaq, this indicator is much better, you can remove your legs and until you touch the accelerator pedal, the car will not move.
Torque distribution, smart electronics - no problem with diesel engine, crawl effortlessly off-road. I don’t really want to drive this car off-road, because it would be a corny pity to spoil the car, and any off-road outing cannot do without it.
Outcome
Koleos surprises by being the first good crossover Renault. We can say, based on the review and test drive, that the car is comfortable, comfortable, and, of course, ready for any test. But the question is already that such a beautiful model does not want to be tested in adverse conditions. She just wants to ride comfortably and have fun.
Video
Test drive video and video review Renault Koleos 2017
An amazing thing: the best-selling crossover in Russia is made by a company with one of the smallest all-terrain lines! The best-selling is, of course, Renault Duster. His main assistant, Kaptur, was released in 2016 and is essentially the same Duster, only in a bright wrapper. The third player - the old Koleos - was sold in such scanty print runs that no one simply noticed his departure from the market. But now a second-generation car has appeared, and it will be he who will bear the honorary title of the father of this small, but proud and very capable family. Or not a father?
Renault really pulled out a winning lottery ticket. Because the Duster, built on a platform created back in the days of the New Economic Policy, turned out to be very capable. And not only in the matter of conquering sidewalks and lawns. With a very uncomplicated plug-in all-wheel drive and not too outstanding power units, Renault Duster has earned respect even among seasoned fans of forcing rivers on wheeled vehicles and diving on the hub in the autumn-spring earth jelly.
The only problem is that from the Duster, in addition to the very controversial first-generation Koleos, loyal Renault fans had nowhere to change - only to competitors. Because the transition from Duster to Kaptur is not much different from changing socks.
But already in the summer in Russia there will be an option for those who have outgrown Duster, but have not yet outgrown Renault - second-generation Koleos.
The crossover has nothing in common with its predecessor. It was built on a modular trolley CMF-D Renault-Nissan Alliance. The same platform underlies the current Nissan X-Trail, from which Koleos took most of the components and assemblies. We are talking about atmospheric gasoline “fours” 2.0 and 2.5, the X-Tronic variator and a plug-in all-wheel drive with the possibility of forced clutch lock.
Koleos is planned to be supplied to Russia with a range of three engines: with petrol 2.0 and 2.5, as well as with a two-liter diesel engine.
But Koleos is still slightly larger than its donor in length, width and wheelbase. Therefore, on the second row, you can dance neatly here, and put 105 liters of things in the trunk more than in the X-Trail.
The interior of the new "Koleos" is a very original thing. In the center dashboard instead of warm-lamp arrows and numbers, there is a seven-inch screen, and a vertical multimedia touchscreen a la Volvo is mounted in the middle of the center console (on simpler versions, it will be normal, horizontal). But with the entertainment complex "Swede" this system is related only by the orientation of the display: image quality and sensitivity leave much to be desired. But it looks fresh and interesting - and for many this is a significant plus in karma.
But ergonomics, no, no, and it will fall on one leg. So, none of the four climate control keys has options for choosing the direction of airflow, with the exception of the maximum mode, on the windshield, and the “Nissan” all-wheel drive control washer turned into a button and hidden under the steering wheel on the left. Damn uncomfortable.
However, "Koleos", first of all, is an asphalt car, and all-wheel drive is here in order to a little less bonfire the public utilities, who turned your parking space into a warehouse of snow and dry foliage. But about how new Renault crossover rides on asphalt, alas, I know a little. Because the program of our acquaintance assumed only a couple of kilometers along ordinary roads and from a dozen kilometers along the snow-covered country roads and fields of Karelia.
However, there are some impressions. The Renault Koleos steering wheel at low speeds strains the driver with almost no effort, but, to its credit, builds it up with increasing speed. In addition, the crossover follows this very steering wheel very clearly and confidently.
A pair of a 171-horsepower 2.5 petrol engine and a variator behind the accelerator also seem to be well-coordinated: acceleration can hardly be called stunning, but everything happens linearly and clearly.
The work of the suspension remained unclear. Because the one who sat behind the wheel before, desperately frolicked and collected so much snow in the disks that the wheels could only be balanced by attaching them to the anvil. And along with a couple of snowdrifts in each of the discs, we also got vibrations, the strength and power of which would be the envy of an ensemble of drummers. Information obtained through such a filter can hardly be considered objective.
Most likely, there will not be a mono-drive version of Renault Koleos in Russia.
Therefore, we did not linger in the habitat familiar to Renault Koleos for a long time. But where half the wheels are sinking in the snow, and the edges of the bumpers shave the snow cover, Koleos refused to lose heart. With locked clutch and even throttle deep snow the Frenchman rushes with such perseverance and diligence that it causes nothing but respect. At the same time, neither the clutch nor the variator showed signs of fatigue. It smelled smelly, but it worked.
True, help traction control system better to get rid of before turning into the unknown. Otherwise, the nearest tractor driver will pay for his simple digestif with your money.
And in general, it’s not worth flirting with Koleos. Because as soon as the air temperature began to increase, and the snow turned from soft and fluffy to wet and dense, Renault Koleos on Continental tires IceContact 2 quickly became a monument to the term "crossover", refusing to go further even before he sat on his belly.
But, in spite of everything, Renault Koleos is still presented lucky car For Russia. Simply because there really is no one in this segment who would be radically better. It is high (clearance - 213 millimeters), roomy, all-wheel drive, well-packed (heated steering wheel and all seats, ventilation of the front seats, parktronics in a circle, rear-view camera, navigation, climate control, two USB ports for second-row passengers, electric drive trunk, etc. etc.). But, most importantly, it's fresh!
Kudos to the folks at Renault who figured Russian customers were ready for the same design choices as Europeans. Koleos- big car. And it looks like a big car. But the crossover does not have a hint of visual heaviness or heaviness. It is like a built-in closet: spacious inside, outside - nice and tidy.
And everything would be fine, but Renault Koleos will become the only model of the company in Russia, which will not be produced in Russia. Cars for the Russian Federation will be assembled in Korea, which means that they will definitely not turn out to be cheap, and therefore they are unlikely to be able to pile on Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail.
The new Renault Koleos SUV 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, after all, it would be possible to live calmly 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 knew from the time Geneva Motor Show 2016, where they showed this new product.
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 budget models Renault are sold under a separate Dacia brand, we do not have such a division, and therefore Brand Renault 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 average consumption fuel for 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 at all difficult 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, in the tunnel between the driver and the passenger there are stylish handles, 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. Lane tracking functions, as well as automatic braking and Koleos does not have 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 ground clearance at 210 mm is worth mentioning.
Price and competitors
In the second most popular segment in Russia, SUV, Renault Kaptur offers 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 it at first glance 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.
