Test drive by Renault Koleos since 2011 crossover

Decapitated to Renault Koleos with diesel

The updated Renault Koleos is not spoiled by designers and demonstrates the French indestructible love for picnics ... The new Renault Koleos came, and the problem arose: what to write about it? It looks like a completely new car that does not look like an old version.


In fact, the same machine, only with a different body design. The appearance is important, but only a car designer can devote the whole article to it. What can I say? I liked the new view of the old Koleos. Drestyling resembled some kind of female amphibian in other words, he looked like the devils. The present has acquired character and daring features. Artists ate their bread for no vain. The main thing was not spoiled by the excellent geometric cross -country crossover: the entrance angle is 27 degrees, the angle of congress 31, the angle of turning point 21. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best geometric characteristics in the class.


Both fighters are distinguished by good geometric cross -country ability. However, the fact that on gasoline and with the variator, it is better not to move out of the road

Engineers, unlike designers, almost did not work. The suspension remained old. Engines too. One gasoline, a working volume of 2.5 liters and a capacity of 171 horsepower. The second diesel, 21 a horse less. By the way, a huge abyss extends between these two trim levels. After all, the French did not just produce gasoline and diesel options. They provided them with various transmission. The first received a variator. The second classic machine gun. Different weight, unequal road clearance, other maximum speed and acceleration to a hundred ... In general, we have two rather dissimilar cars. This was the basis of our comparative test drive. We wanted to understand which of the configurations is more universal on the road and off-road.


A competent center speedometer


Navigation management

I was ready to climb
I started with a gasoline version. On the asphalt, she behaved beyond praise. The smoothness of the course was clearly present, which was especially noticeable to the bedridden police. The controllability did not limp, the junction and steep turns, the car passed without stumbling. But when it came to off -road, the praise ended. Renault settled on the rise for about five minutes, and then turned on the protection mode of the variator. At this off-Road experiments were completed. The last time we came across a similar outrage on the Toyota Rav4 test: fearing the transmission overheating, the electronics simply limits the engine speed with a mark of 2000. And only diesel is more or less capable at such revolutions. The gasoline version sits in a puddle in the literal and figurative sense.


Aircraft tables. Favorite French entertainment picnic. Be it in a clearing in the forest or just in the back seats in the car

Diesel equipment behaved directly opposite. In the city and on the highway, its sluggish acceleration did not allow to break away from the stream. As many as 12.3 seconds to 100 km/h. A bit too much, especially against the background of a gasoline version from its 10.3 seconds. But as soon as he moved out of the road, as an option on black fuel was transformed. I drove almost everywhere. A strip of obstacles on which we experience SUVs went through all without hesitation. He was ready to climb further, but we stopped him.


Under the load. The string cover of the trunk withstands 200 kg. The French again came up with picnics!

On the one hand, the test results are depressing. Renault Koleos does not have optimal configuration for asphalt and off -road. On the other hand, this facilitates the choice: one is clearly off-deck, the other is definitely road. Having decided on basic quality, it remains to rejoice at the new interior decoration: improved upholstery materials, original backlight, and stylish dashboard. Spacial, finally. The car has one of the largest space over the head in the D-segment and the best viewing angles among competitors: a vertical of 31 degrees, on the sides of 36.3 degrees.


The traditional automatic transmission, coupled with diesel, is allowed to frolic for off-road. But the road clearance of this configuration is less

The dream of a smuggler
The French traditionally pay a lot of attention to the glove compartment. In the salon of the restyled Koleos, as many as 70 liters of volume are allocated for placing a little thing. In the dashboard, a coolant is a 15-liter box, and in the central console a compartment with a removable bucket. In the front of the cabin, the compartment under the seat of the passenger. There are also two 5-liter boxes with a lid in the floor in front. The volume of the underground box in the trunk is 28 liters.

Yes, and a separate nuance: children really like to use the folding tables of aircraft type with holders for glasses mounted on the backs of the front seats on the road.


The variator in deep snow is useless. At first you climb ahead, but after five minutes you relax at the command of electronic protection

Restyling Koleos does not cause any special feelings. This is a calm family crossover. A large internal volume and safety (in the year of its release in 2008, the model received the maximum five-star rating of the Crash test EURONCAP) its main trump cards. The new appearance adds another advantage of a pronounced style. And, of course, it seems to me a more adequate diesel version with a more reliable transmission and a small consumption on an off room. Yes, you will have to grate on the asphalt, but it's worth it.


Road lighter. Nimble, dynamic version. In the city stream, you can rebuild and overtake


We save slowly. The best option. Almost does not eat fuel and tolerates off -road

Caution, technical details
The ALL-Mode 4x4-I control system provides optimal wheel adhesion depending on road conditions, constantly redistributing torque between four leading wheels. A larger torque is served on wheels with better clutch to optimize traction.

In normal road conditions, torque is transmitted only to the front axle to reduce fuel consumption, as is the case in 2WD mode. In Lock mode in difficult road conditions at a speed of up to 40 km/h, the torque is distributed between the front and rear wheels in a ratio of 50:50, blocking the coupling. In reality, car crossiness is limited only by the type of transmission.

The six -speed machine, which is equipped with a diesel model, is almost flawless and allows you to fully realize the capabilities of the machine. The variator dies, it is worth driving a few meters of loose soil, such as heavy snow.

Automatic parking brake is just a panacea for relaxing legs in Moscow traffic jams. You can move off right on the handbrake. Automation itself will release it when you click on the gas.


Author: Dmitry Leontyev, photo of Alexander Ortnova-Baranov
 

A source: Magazine 4x4 [June /2012]