Test drive by Renault Koleos since 2008 SUV

All photos of Renault Koleos since 2008

Japanese lessons

Renault Koleos. Price: from 869,000 rubles. On sale: since 2008
Citroen C-Crosser. Price: from 965,000 rubles. On sale: since 2007
Despite the fact that on the grilles of radiators of these cars, nurses of French automakers flaunt, one cannot call them one hundred percent French. Both Renault Koleos and Citroen C-Crosser are based on platforms borrowed in the East
Test pillets

Oleg Kalaushin, 39 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience 21 years old, personal car Renault Logan
Igor Kuznetsov, 47 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience for 20 years, personal car Nissan Qashqai

Citroen C-Crosser
Having slightly corrected the design of the front and changing the texture and color of the interior finish, Mitsubishi Outlander XL, the French brought their mediocrine crossover to the market. However, unlike the Japanese, the Frenchman in our market is equipped not only with a gasoline, but also for a diesel engine. The transmission is completely identical.

Driving
It behaves worthy on public roads, but at responsible moments there is not enough rigid interdose blocking.

Salon
Spacious and convenient. Not devoid of highlights, but all the time the idea that you are driving Outlander XL does not leave.

Comfort
Noise insulation could be better. As for the rest, everything is at the level.

Safety
The car has both active and passive security systems in full.

Price
Reasonable.

Renault Koleos
The first crossover from Renault, combining Nissan all -wheel drive technologies. The ALL Mode 4x4 - I all -wheel drive allows him to move along relatively heavy roads. The 4WD Lock mode distributes the torque in equal proportions between the axes, providing the maximum possible cross -country ability.
Driving
Decent behavior on the road and off-road to the car is provided by the platform unified with the Nissan X-Trail. A good car is off -road.

Salon
Spacious and convenient. It is also worth noting the system that allows you to fold the rear row of seats in one touch.

Comfort
At the level. There is everything in the car, noise insulation deserves special praise.

Safety
The database has two airbags, ABS and an emergency braking system.

Price
Overestimated. Which is alarming.

It is well known: you want to really learn the language well, communicate with its native speaker, and if you want to make a good car, borrow the platform from the one who succeeded in this. Neither Citroen nor Renault, until a certain point, did not indulge in crossovers. Small-sulcurring, mini-wen, business class is forever please, but here are crossovers and, meanwhile, the appetizing champing absorbing a sweet pie called an outdoor lovers came from almost all continents. It was more unbearable to swallow saliva, and the French went all the heavy. But there was no time to completely design the cars, in connection with which the platforms were taken from those who succeeded in this matter. Citroen built his C-Crosser based on Mitsubishi Outlander XL, and Renault Koleos shared the platform with the Nissan X-Trail. Who got better and try to find out.
The fact that Citroen C-Crosser is built on the Mitsubishi Outlander XL platform is visible with the naked eye. Perhaps here we are not talking about the platform, but about banal cloning. This is especially striking if you look at the car in the profile. However, the Japanese and a huge chrome chevron did not greatly change, it is part of the radiator cladding. Having spread his rays from headlights to headlight, he only tried to create the illusion that they were engaged in the design of this car in Citroen. For more, apparently, there was not enough strength. It's a pity.
Renault Koleos is a completely different matter. There can be no talk of any cloning. The car, although it is based on

a borrowed platform, however, that it rested on it earlier is completely unlike. However, looking at this car, one cannot but be surprised. Undoubtedly, what is now called Koleos, the hand of the master is visible. But, perhaps, when the master painted him, he, as if to put it softer, was a little out of himself. Otherwise, it would turn out so controversial in design by a car. A sort of kneading a hatchback with a mini-van, which is also plentifully flavored with steroids. Or maybe we are just not ready to take such an avant -garde appearance?
No less controversial is the interior of Koleos. The first thing that catches the eye when you find yourself behind the wheel of this car, the endless-wavy, actually devoid of vegetation panel of the devices. And only the screen of the information display lonely rises above this silence and resembles the entrance to the bunker. As in a real desert, all life does not happen here on the top
but under it. All that other manufacturers usually raise as high as possible, Koleos, on the contrary, is lowered underground. We are talking about the climate control system, and the audio system, and those keys that are responsible for the work of the transmission. However, we must pay tribute, this arrangement of governing bodies in no way affects the convenience of use. Anyway, with ergonomics, Koleos has everything at a completely acceptable level.
No worse in this indicator is C-Crosser, but if you recall that in the cabin of this car nothing but a chevron on the steering wheel, from the eminent French brand, it becomes somehow sad. Yes, everything is neat and quite qualitatively done here, there is something to see and what to be surprised at, but only to those who have not dealt with Outlander XL before that moment. In Koleos, for example, only the climate installation control unit is unified with Nissan, and here

Nevertheless, the C-Crosser salon seemed more saturated, both visually and in function. And first of all, of course, we are talking about the possibilities of transforming the salon. The fact is that, unlike Renault, Citroen has not five, but seven seats. Of course, in their right mind and sober memory to those places that are extracted from the gender of the trunk, hardly anyone will climb by their will, and nevertheless they are. As it is, it is possible to move the second row of seats in the longitudinal direction and thereby find the middle ground between the convenience of passengers and the luggage volume. In Koleos there is no such possibility. The maximum that can be done to increase the volume of the trunk is to change the angle of inclination of the backs. However, if 450 liters are not enough, then you can fold the back. And to do this on Koleos thanks to Easybreak is easier. It is enough to pull the corresponding handle in the trunk, and the seats will be automatically formed, providing an even platform for loading. The C-Crosser system of folding system is somewhat more archaic. Go there, Dern here, pull from here, lean here.
Citroen C-Crosser had a 2.4-liner engine with a capacity of 170 horses under the hood, and Renault Koleos is a 2.5-liter about 171 horses. Both engines are gasoline, and both were aggregated by unavailable variators. And there was also a difference in all -wheel drive. Koleos really had a rigid blocking of the center differential, while C-Srosser only imitated it. Even in Lock mode, the transmitted moment increases only 1.5 times.

On the asphalt, we did not notice any special differences in the behavior of cars. Except that
C-Crosser seemed to us more collected due to the greater severity of the steering. This Frenchman was also a little better with exchange rate stability. His suspension, apparently, was primarily adapted to driving on asphalt, which was not slow to affect. Renault showed himself well in motion on city highways and a country highway, but until the celebration that C-Crosser demonstrated, he lacked just a little bit. But Koleos simply conquered us with his sound insulation. The C-Crosser is far behind this indicator. Moreover, we are talking not only about the sounds breaking into the salon from the motor compartment, but also about the general noise background. However, in all its glory, Koleos appeared where the asphalt gave way to sand dunes and forest paths. Minor front and rear overhangs, sufficient clearance and the presence of a really strict lock allowed Koleos to climb a little further and a little higher than it could be done on C-Crosser. And even if it was a little expressed at times by a couple of meters, but sometimes these same meters,
and even centimeters, we are so missing to achieve a cherished goal.

Database
Citroen C-Crosser Renault Koleos
Dimensions, weight
Number of places 7 5
Equipped mass, kg 1645 1655
Full mass, kg 2270 2200
Length, mm 4640 4520
Width, mm 1810 1855
Height, mm 1730 1696
Base, mm 2670 2690
Trunk volume, l 4411686 4501380
Fuel tank volume, l 60 65
Dynamics
Maximum speed, km/h 195 188
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, with 9.3 10.3
Braking distance at a speed of 100 km/h, with 37 36
Control consumption of fuel, l/ 100km:
city cycle 12.6 12.0
country cycle 7.5 8.0
mixed cycle 9.3 95
Technique
Engine type - gasoline, in -line, 4 -cylinder
Working volume, cm3 2360 2488
Power L.S. Under Min-1 170/6000 171/6000
Torque at MIN-1 232/4100 226/4400
Transmission - variator
The drive is complete
Front wheels suspension - independent
Rear wheel suspension - independent
Front brakes - disk, ventilated
Rear brakes - disk
Steering - with an amplifier
Tire size 215/70r16 225/60r17
Clearance, mm 210 206

Our verdict
So what to prefer Citroen C-Crosser or Renault Koleos? As you know, there can be no unequivocal answer to this question. However, in terms of the totality of qualities, as well as by the ability to travel by off -road, which is instilled for the crossover, we would prefer Renault Koleos. And although at the very beginning of our acquaintance he was frankly not like that because of his specific design, the mind nevertheless prevailed. Well, to those who look closely at the Mitsubishi Outlander XL, we inform the car is also good, but it is painfully similar to Citroen C-Crosser. Or vice versa.