Test drive by Renault Koleos since 2008 SUV

And yours and ours?

It seems that Renault’s last of the largest world car manufacturers jumped onto the bandwagon of a train called SUV already rushing at all pairs. However, the long -awaited Koleos crossover her was not at all the last in value among the cars of this type.
 
When in March, Koleos was shown in his serial guise at the Geneva Motor Show, I finished my then story about it with the words: it remains only to wait for the appearance of this car on the roads and check if everything in it is beautifully painted by its creators. The road check was not long in coming: having left the serene carpet and the conditioned coolness of the exhibition pavilion, Koleos only a couple of months later, in full combat readiness, appeared before the journalists already under the scorching sun, where he was torn to pieces.
True, in relation to this North African country to a much greater extent than to Russia, it is fair: there are no roads, some areas. This is the case in the area of \u200b\u200bthe ancient capital of Morocco of the city of Fes, where, it seems, everything remained in the same pristine form as 12 centuries ago. But even better: he called himself with an all -wheel drive crossover, climb on a bad asphalt and off -road justify his universal destiny!
By the way, I immediately note against the background of the steppe open spaces, rocky mountain slopes and other natural landscapes Koleos is by no means lost, but looks much more expressive and spectacular than in the faceless protocol scenery of the car dealership. So the concept of relative concept distinguishes it. Well, since almost everything that concerns this car, except for its running and operational qualities, was told in sufficient detail in the above material (motor, April 2008), I will not repeat myself, but I will begin, as they say, from a place to the quarry.
However, just with this immediately problems arose. I did not make fun of my colleagues for a short time trying to drive away from airport parking, but over and over again forced to start a stalled motor again, as if they were not professionals, but for the first time we had to behind the wheel of teapots. When my turn came off, the same fate befell me a little later and my partner. Only the use of elementary skills in driving racing machines, the engines of which require constant retention of high speeds. In the same way, the 2-liter diesel engine (in versions of 150 and 175 hp), which is equipped with Koleos, in the range of up to 2000 rpm at all, and move the car from a place, without giving a good gas and only then turning on Clutch, extremely difficult. Especially in the hill and the presence of a system of retaining, in principle, at such a start, this problem, as it seemed, even exacerbates.
However, although it is supposed to supply diesel versions of Koleos to Russia, they are unlikely to be in demand. The main demand will have, of course, for cars with a gasoline engine. So far, only one with a volume of 2.5 liters and a capacity of 170 hp is proposed, borrowed, like the all -wheel drive system, from the Nissan alliance partner. This engine is also without a special light in character, but still much more capable on the bottom and gives more liveliness to the crossover in the middle and upper ranges of their work. At the same time, both gasoline and diesel engines do not annoy the noise. Along the way, it is worth immediately noting that the Renault crossover passengers are equally effectively protected from aerodynamic and tire noise.
Like similar models of other brands, Koleos is produced both in all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive versions, however, exclusively 4 x 4 cars will be delivered to Russia. The intellectual system of the All Mode 4 X 4-I, together with the platform, was delivered by the Renault crossover from the new Nissan X- Trail, allows him to plow a much more serious off -road than that which most direct competitors are on the teeth. It is problematic to find dirt in Morocco with its rather dry climate, but sand, bump and stones, and the organizers of the premiere dough kindly made sure that all this was abundant under the wheels of tested cars.
Several hundred kilometers along dusty dirt roads connecting remote clay villages, narrow mountain serpentines laid along the edge of the cliffs with ancient nomads-bereberians, on the hills and plains, dried up lakes and smitheated asphalt left the most favorable impression of the abilities of the new crossover overcoming the earth's space over the earth limits of the highway. And although it was not possible for meticulous colleagues nevertheless reached the cherished goal and put him on the belly, having drove in too deep sand, you can’t call Koleos a SUV. At the same time, the softness of his move pays attention even on the most uneven road.
The principle of operation of the all -wheel drive system is traditional for a modern car of this type: when starting, torque, through a multi -disable e -omerofrication coupling, is equally distributed to all four wheels, then when driving in the standard mode is directed only to the front wheels, and when the adhesion is lost by the road by signal sensors automatically again partially (up to 50%) is redistributed to the rear axle. In addition, in combination with the ESP stabilization system, the all -wheel drive system helps to properly adjust the trajectory of the machine movement.
You can blocked the clutch and throw 50% of the moment into the rear axle and forcibly, by pressing the corresponding switch on the instrument panel. The same key is used to manually include a more economical front -wheel drive regime. Having tested various modes on the winding roads strewn with gravel, we, as they say, felt a real difference: the slightest mistake in choosing speed or inhibition in the front-wheel drive is fraught and now the front or back axis went on a contrary with your intention of its own way. Switching to mode 4 x 4 and forced turning on the lock significantly increase the stability of the car and the chances of maintaining it and yourself intact. An unconditional help when driving around the crossed terrain (if, in the case of a diesel version, find a common language with the power to pull the power unit from the bottom) already mentioned above the anti -cost system when touched on the rise (Hill Start Assist), which is activated on the slopes of more than 10%, and the system Hell Descent Control. You activate the HDC with a switch at the central console, and on the slopes again more than 10% Koleos moves down on your own (including reverse), maintaining a speed of 7 km/h without the need to use the brakes.
Until recently, such devices were the privilege of premium SUVs, and now, they are already equipped with a completely democratic crossover. However, even not the coolest climbs did not present another unpleasant surprise, and regardless of the type of engine: no matter how you sink the gas pedal to the floor, but it is impossible to force the car in either the third or second gear. In the best case, he barely crawls until you switch to the first, and in the worst motor at all stalls (Fortunately, the anti -coting system immediately comes to the rescue). And if this is not another childhood illness of pre -production specimens, then, apparently, such a protection from the fool is designed to protect the coupling from emergency overload and remind you that you still should not expect from even such a well -equipped crossover of the same exploits as from Purebred SUV. But it should be noted along the way that even when moving on the most uneven surfaces, the salon practically does not creak, which indicates a high -quality assembly and fitting of the finishing panels and decent hardness of the body in combination with the soft operation of the suspension. And this is an undoubted plus that the design of the salon, although it does not affect with some special delights and is sufficiently restrained, but still definitely succeeded: functional, ergonomic, stylish.
As for the operation of the transmission, it (cars were provided only with a six -speed manual gearbox, but the gasoline version will also be equipped with a stranded variator, and diesel automatically) did not cause complaints: transfers are easily and clearly switched. They are very well tuned and perfectly cope with their work and brakes both when performing acrobatic sketches on impassability, and with high -speed movement along the highway. Yes, there are still asphalt roads in the vicinity of Fes, although the width of most of them allows you to easily leave for two donkeys. By the way, these four-legged vehicles on Moroccan roads can be found almost more often than four-wheeled, therefore, if someone has blocked your passage or drags ahead of it, here's a hawk! It will be more than appropriate.
Nevertheless, it was possible to travel sufficiently along the asphalt, even sometimes very even, so that one could judge the driver component of the Renault crossover. No, he did not amaze with something special in this regard. Of course, the softening of the suspension to ensure the smoothness of the passage by off -road required to a certain extent to sacrifice the acute control, but it remained quite sufficient for a car of this type and purpose. The steering wheel, empty during slow driving on off -road (which is true), as speed increases on the highway, acquires quite sufficient severity and transparency. The dynamics are not sports, of course, but this machine is not required. So, in general, the controllability and composure of this crossover on the asphalt is closer to the classic light car.
So, what's in the bottom line? A car designed to combine the qualities of a hatchback, minivan and SUV. Drawn in such a way as to be like an SUV, but still more like a grown hatchback, due to not only a silhouette, but also a design that sets up not in aggressive, but in a cheerful way. In fact, the X-Trail perfectly proven in a more frivolous French package. Extremely richly equipped with both basic and additional equipment (for example, a video and connected to the body through the back door with a hiking tent).
Having a really worthy off -road potential, which may be unnecessary. In any case, in Russia, where cars of this class are purchased in the vast majority of cases for show -offs, and not for driving on launders. But, again, the appearance of the Renault crossover is too soft, modest in general, the eclecticism of this car in relation to Russia is ambiguous. Will Koleos be with such an acute competition in this sector of the car market in the position of a person who tried to sit at once at two chairs at once, but as a result of what has ended between them? Well, the attempt is not torture. Perhaps just such a car has still been not enough.

 
 
   
 

Source: Motor magazine [July 2008]