Test drive by Renault Koleos since 2008 SUV

Cathed, koleos!

Renault made a car that, most likely, will not be strongly in demand in his homeland. But in Russia, at least before the crisis, they are needed! Our market eats large and small, Japanese and German, fast and not very important that with all -wheel drive and clearance of 200 mm. The French made a crossover. We found out who helped them and to whom they will cross the road.
 
If the mannequins used on EURONCAP crash tests could smile, they would do it every time they have to experience the Renault car.
According to the security criterion, the fleet of the French is out of competition. This is the only manufacturer whose 10 models received the highest EURONCAP rating. The Koleos crossover is no exception: he closed the top ten, having received the maximum five stars on the tests this year.
The Renault crossover is produced in the Korean city of Busan. This is the first model created by Renault Samsung Motors by a subsidiary of the Franco-Japanese Alliance. The car, including the cost of launching production, converting the plant for the release of KoleOS, as well as investments in the organization of supplies cost 178,000,000 euros. And this number could be much larger.
But, repeating Peugeot and Citroeon, Renault did not start with a clean sheet, but used the existing experience of connoisseur of off -road business. How else, when there is Nissan nearby, which is included in the Alliance with Renault and having the ideal donor of the X-Trail of the last generation?
  
Koleos divided the platform C, 2.5-liter gasoline engine, manual and automatic (variator) transmission with the Japanese crossover, as well as much, much more
Koleos seems to have more than a promising future, if only because the X-Trail is still popular. And because its design does not bother the excess of original solutions, like most of the rest Renault. In addition, the level of safety traditionally goes off the minimum for the necessary Russians, and the price does not exceed the norm established by classmates and therefore adequately perceived by the buyer.
In the profile, the crossover is similar to the Audi A3 Sportback, but in the FAS and behind it is unique and only in some details resembles the family style of Renault. In the guise of Koleos there is nothing to do with the Nissan X-Trail. And unequivocally to say whether it is good or not, it is difficult. But the fact that the Japanese interior is more functional, you can be sure. For example, the meaning of the keys on a fairly convenient steering wheel can only be comprehended by empirically, and then not the first time. And the chairs are comfortable and well -well -filed, in addition, the adjustment range is enough even for very high ones. At the same time, the rear passengers, even sitting at the driver of eighty meter tall, will not be crowded.
Even the body weakened by the flu can control the Koleos: the force on the steering wheel and pedals is minimal, and thanks to the variator, the speed set is given easily and quite quickly. Vibrations from the road and the front wheels are practically not transmitted to the steering wheel.
The crossover reacts minimally to ruts, small pits and cracks of asphalt. And if you do not allow itself to be automotive balancing, then someone may well seem to someone a driver
On primers, like X-Trail, Renault allows you to move quickly and comfortably. Its chassis was created taking into account the experience of Nissan in the field of all-wheel drive transmission, and the All Mode 4x4-I, Hill Start Assist (helping system when touched by lifting) and Hill Descent Control (a assistance system for descent) endow the car with the qualities of this SUV. Plus, the road clearance is 206 mm, the entrance angle is 27 degrees, the angle of the congress is 31 degrees.
Such data is pushed further and deeper, but do not overestimate its abilities. While we were moving through the curb, the front wheel was hung in the test Koleos. Any gas supply only strengthened its rotation, and, it seems, did not encourage the others. And even the differential blocking mode was not able to help all other wheels in the lies to overcome the insignificant but critical obstacle ...
In the standard asphalt modes, Koleos holds the driver and passengers away from the irregularities of various quality, while maintaining amazingly high control characteristics. Despite the unimportant information content of the steering, the Frenchman's behavior remains predictable on any dry coating. In other cases, the responsibility for contact with the road is transferred to the tires.
Renault was the last of the French automotive industries to land their landing in the crossover segment. And they did it in French: they took a ready-made Japanese car as a basis, integrated into their own body and rewrote the design of external and internal appearance. Koleos almost does not have any ahead of competitors, but does not lose anything. Just a product of pragmatic marketers. With a raid of charm and with a French accent.
 
The car is provided by the ACR by the official Renault dealer.
Text: Alexander Korobchenko
Photo: Author and Roman Zubko

 
 
   
 
 

A source: Wheel magazine [November 2008]