Test drive by Renault Koleos since 2008 SUV

By the Pareto method

Without adjusting the supervisor, the French created no less comfortable of compact SUVs. However, the novelty from Renault is curious not only by this.
Italian formula
At the very beginning of the twentieth century, an Italian engineer, economist and sociologist Wilfredo Pareto formulated a paradoxical, at first glance, theory. Only twenty percent of the total volume of the necessary work, he claimed, provide 80% of the final result! Hence another conclusion, much less comforting: achieving complete success will require another 80% of effort.
Today, the rule 80 by 20, or simply the law of Pareto, is very popular among developers of computer technology and software. But, as it turns out, do not mind applying it into practice and the leadership of some automobile companies. The latest example is the first Renault Crossover in modern history. Koleos, who had recently hidden under the pseudonym, the N45 project, the car is truly international. Actually, from Renault, only a general concept, design and proprietary emblem, the remaining four fifth labor costs were brought into the general piggy bank by the designers and engineers of Nissan and Samsung.
And in appearance a true Frenchman!
True, they meet something in any case on clothes, right? And here's what is curious: despite the Japanese-Korean roots, once looking at Koathos, you will forever remember it with a 100 % Parisian. This is not praise and not criticism is a statement of fact. You can write a whole book about the French direction in automobile design, and the Kohlos in it can serve as a visual aid. The stuffed wheel arches, the futuristic capsules of xenon lamps, the aggressive muzzles of the tumor and frying the food with highly planted lanterns of very universal geometry in any other crossover such features would certainly emphasize the assertiveness of the character and aggression of the car. In Renault, all this farm seems slightly cartoon, almost fake: bitterness in the exterior neither on the Eurocent, the Kolex looks proportional and folding pacifist. A kind of fashionable compactiven with all -wheel drive.
Something from the stage in his peaceful appearance is really guessed. But if Van, then with magnificent geometric cross -country ability is at least by parquet standards. The Koatho has a very convincing road clearance of 206 mm, worthy angles of the entrance and a congress of 27 and 31 degrees, highly planted bumers, quite weighty, albeit plastic, protection of the crankcase and a muffler pulled to the bottom. Well the test.
Busting, shortage
Truly French charm with light interspersed of charming eclecticism reigns in the interior. Only devoid of any complexes to designers Renault will occur, say, drown the salon in fake aluminum. Pollax door handles, ventilation deflectors, an impressive bald head, from which the variator selector grows, crowning the torpedo of the display, which is reflected in the windshield to the rubber in the eyes, elaborate brackets that emphasize the remote controls on the steering wheel, with pseudoaluminum, an obvious overkill. But, perhaps, this is just a reckoning for the topsion of the suite. Rich, they say, let them cry
 
      
An annoying parking sensors is disconnected on the left. The nest for the proprietary key-card of Renault is located in the lower corner of the central console and is not highlighted in the dark
 
     
What kind of Frenchman without jokes in the interior? For some reason, a removable box with a handle is provided in a spacious box in the armrest.
The glove box is simply giant in volume, and even cooled
 
He also upset the music management unit. It looks quite elegant and, of course, framed by an aluminum frame. Just understand the numerous and very small buttons that is still a task. And the sound quality of an expensive system from BOUZ does not pull on the premium-sanction promised in the price list.
But it is much more important that in the interior of Kohlos, as in appearance, the features of modern compactiven are clearly visible. Let's say the back row is folding, forming a completely even platform. True, it is a pity that the most convenient instant smooth gender is greedy for installing on the basic version. The fifth door is competently designed. It can be thrown out of the upper part, and the lower one, on occasion, will become a comfortable ladder when loading something large and heavy. Let's say a small hippo.
 
      
With a folded sofa and back of the front passenger, very impressive longs can be transported here here
Double -winging back door The most convenient option for loading baggage
 
     
The angle of inclination of the sofa back can be changed, but the longitudinal adjustment of the pillow, alas, is not provided
Another feature of compactwane in the cabin of the box of boxes at the feet of the sofa passengers
 
 
The only thing that overshadows salon joys, a cramped sofa. For the head of the place with excess, even taking into account the pair of transparent hatches in the roof, but with legs it is more difficult. For himself, a driver tall 1 m 85 cm is more squeezed than sits down. And with this you will have to put up forward and forth the sofa cannot be moved.
Nimble. Considerable
It is impossible to choose the engine. In Russia, Kohlos is sold only with a 2.5-liter Nissan four. But this is just a misfortune, but good. The same motor paired with a unavailable variator, I remember that we really liked the X-trail. So, under the hood of Renault, he pleases no less. Kohlos can be smooth and unhurried, and if necessary, immediately becomes extremely lively. The variator squeezes the juice of all of its 171 liters out of the motor. with., so the spurts from the traffic light are given easily and relaxed, and on the highway a machine with a equipped mass of 1655 kg, without visible efforts, puts the speedometer arrow for 160 km/h.
And he behaves at this speed Renault very commendably. Clearly, without swing and screening, holds a straight line, adequately reacts to orders about changing the lane and in every possible way instills confidence in the driver. On the long road, you will not get tired of Kohlos. Unless, of course, along the way you will not come across a mountain road with famously twisted turns.
Fast turns is clearly not the element of an all -wheel drive Renault. Yes, and in medium -rustic ones you need to keep the ears on the crown of the Koathos predictably roll, and it is hardly rolled. And most importantly, he has a bad habit of leaving the turn. The front wheels pulls on the side of the road. At the same time, ESP without surcharge is laid only the most expensive version.
However, you will forgive Kohlios with the slack of the suspension and the uninformativity of the steering, as soon as you try its main talent. After all, this is perhaps the most comfortable among all compact crossovers!
The soft disposition of the suspensions is generally a long -standing line of many Renault, but for an all -terrain vehicle, such comfort seems to be a revelation. The irregularities of the pavement of the crucifix are spitting, considering it below its dignity to inform the driver and passengers about them. Upper class! The motor and raising his voice behave softly enough, only when the variator throws the tachometer arrow in 4000 rpm.
The work of an all-wheel drive transmission borrowed from the X-trail of all-wheel drive transmission also appeared convincing. Its main advantage is not even in the ability to block the center differential, but in a competently configured ESP, which successfully simulates the blocking of inter -coil differentials. Moreover, this function remains active, even when the stabilization system itself is turned off. For a SUV, deprived of the main weapon of this SUV, a reducing transmission, such a transmission is perhaps the best option. At least this is an additional chance to get out of the trap of diagonal hanging.
It is worth a closer look
So, with the exception of a tight sofa and fervor in corners, the Kohlos was quite successful. Renault can be congratulated on a successful debut. Exactly, according to the law of Pareto, 80% of success, the French provided themselves with a fifth part of labor costs. Nissan designers have contributed in the form of an excellent engine and advanced transmission. But Samsung’s contribution cannot be underestimated: thanks to Korean assembly and the widespread use of already proven components and assemblies, the price can be called another advantage of the internationalist crossover. Indeed, in similar trim levels, Kohlos is about 5080 thousand cheaper than X-trail.
 
Three years in Japanese
The price list for the crucifix begins at 869,000 rubles. In addition to a 2.5-liter engine and a 6-speed manual man transmission, performed by express, you will receive a very solid set: air conditioning, cast discs, electric packages, ABS, CD-magnet, heating the front seats. In the disadvantages, there are only two Air Bag and the lack of ESP even for a surcharge. The variator will add 80 thousand to the price at once. But you are also overpaying for the equipment of the speaker, including six airbags, climate control, leather steering wheel, automatic parking brake, cruise control, electric power planting, rain sensor and tables in the backs of the seats. It is more important that in dynamics you can get ESP (+17 500 rubles) and such a convenient package of functionality for 13 thousand, which includes an instant smooth floor. Well, the most expensive Kolex is a luxury-plug for 1,074,000 rubles. With a leather salon, a panoramic roof, Bowe music and a lot of useful things. By the way, the extended 3-year-old factory guarantee of Renault spreads to the new lagoon, Vel-Satis and Espas.
 
  
 
Renault Koleos 2.5CVT (MT)
common data
 
Body, number of places/doors
Universal, 5/5
 
Equipped mass, kg
1655 (1622)
 
Length x width x height, mm
4520x1855x1695
 
Base, mm
2690
 
Front/back, mm track
1545/1550
 
Speed, km/h
181 (185)
 
Acceleration 0-100 km/h, with
N.D. (9.3)
 
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
8/12 (8/13.2)
 
Trunk volume, l
450/1380
 
The volume of the fuel tank, l
65
 
Engine
 
Location
Front transversely
 
Design
4-cylinder, in-line, gasoline
 
Working volume, SMZ
2488
 
Power, L.S. at rpm
171/6000
 
Torque, kgsm at rpm
23/4400
 
Chassis
 
Drive unit
permanent
 
Transmission
Standed variator (6-st. Mechanical)
 
Suspension:
Independent, spring
 
front
Type McEzerson
 
behind
Mollycent
 
Steering
rheck -type with an electric power
 
Brakes
disk, in front ventilated
 
Tires
225/60 R17
 
Car
from 9.43 rubles/km
 
+
 
Very comfortable suspension; good geometric patency; Explanatory all -wheel drive transmission; commendable dynamics; convenient trunk; Reasonable price
 
-
Cramped sofa; Validity in corners; Lack of ESP in the basic configuration
 
 
Mikhail Medvedev, photo of Maxim Goncharov

 

Source: Magazine buy a car [11/2008]