Test drive by Renault Koleos since 2008 SUV

All photos of Renault Koleos since 2008

Renault Koleos

Renault Koleos is not much different from Japanese brothers, except for a soft suspension, a huge glove compartment and a bucket in an armrest. People think less about the technical advantages of cars. They try on them more like costumes: does it look or not?
When reports about Renault Koleos appeared, it became clear that there would be another clone of the Meganx-Trailqashqai platform. The future is vague, but it is possible that we will see the next crossover from this family under the LADA brand, possibly with the same 2.5 liter engine and the same variator in the transmission.
Transnational auto companies can fill us with nesting dolls of different paintings, so we will understand the main question: what does Koleo look like? Is this a new handbag from a ladies wardrobe or a really interesting crossover? Does the platform dictate his fate or is it much more important than setting up the chassis?

Enemy of good design
They think correctly in Renault. X-Trail angular and male, Qashqai is small and it is in line. Between them is just another available crossover. There will be no queue for him? And the finish here is completely different. The materials are soft, much better than that of the Japanese. You look at them, feel and do not immediately notice the flaws in the ergonomics of the dashboard and the central console: the devices are not read at all with the steering wheel adjusted in the lower position. Oddly enough, it is the Renaultnissan alliance that has a great experience in correcting this drawback: in the previous Murano, devices were lowered with the steering wheel, and at the old X-Trail they were generally placed in the center of the panel in sight.

The same with climate and radio. Nobody (except Volvo, of course) has yet come up with anything more convenient for three lambs, one of which is responsible for the temperature, the other for the strength of the flow and the third for its distribution. As, for example, it is demonstrated by Dodge, Mitsubishi, Subaru and again Nissan. But how then to live a designer? If he cannot do better, he comes up with how to complicate. The artist from Renault, judging by the advertising brochure, wanted all the buttons at the central console to be at the extended arm. The idea is beautiful, only now they are poorly accessible to the eyes. He dumped them into the basement, over which an empty black front panel hangs like a piece of slate.

They say that you get used to everything, but the front panel looms before the driver’s eyes for at least three years, and therefore its functionality is important. Partially redeems sins of a huge, incredible size of the front glove compartment. I peered into it and could not see the back wall, tried to get my hand and did not work out either. A tank with a muzzle raised will enter there, and there will still be a place for sneakers.
Champagne bucket
At the back in Koleos is not at all bad. Standard trunk in a class of 450 liters. The seats are formed in an even floor, so easily and quickly that the characteristic with one movement of the hand is quite fair. There are tables in the backs of the seats, as in an airplane, with holes for glasses. The central glove compartment is cooled, and a bucket with a pen is inserted into it: maybe for picnics, or maybe it is more convenient to shake the accumulated garbage of the candy wrappers and checks along with mobile phones.

Matter: Renault Koleos

Pushing in the back
As usual, in advertising the manufacturer boldly calls for nature. And what, geometric cross -country ability for five. The entrance angle is 27 degrees, the angle of the congress is 31 degrees. At the expense of her, we gloriously drove in the sand and traveled along the hills and velvens. An amazing thing, the next day I returned there to Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland and almost got rid of the front bumper. Truly, crossovers want to seem SUVs, and SUVs try on parquet.
Renault Koleos electronic inter -measuring locks act on the principle of interpreting the falling in the back. The steering wheel directly and the gas will allow you to drive far away, but it is worth it to turn a little to the wheels, as the electronics immediately limits the supply of fuel slightly skidded, and immediately got up. And turn off ESP, the wheels will become in an instant. Of course, having adopted, you can not be afraid of moderate off -road. The suspension is not flimsy, it does not break it on trifles. Plastic protection of the bottom is only flimsy.

On the asphalt, the car is comfortable and quite quiet. This is what you need to rely, controlling the crossover calmly and relaxed. Moreover, huge body rolls interfere with the steering wheel. You are not afraid to press the pedal and put in a turn, however, at first it will be scary, and passengers will fall on one side. The Frenchman's settings are clearly softer than that of the Japanese nozzles. The steering wheel is light but not empty. The brakes are well adjusted, not stupid and not sharp. The variator paired with the engine also tries to be polite. I would not even touch the handling, settings and other details. For Koleos there are two main epithetes it is quiet and comfortable. Nothing else matters.

TO EACH HIS OWN
Of course, we could inflate the problem of the choice between the Japanese and the French and even reach insoluble contradictions. For example, the internal volume of the X-Trail is larger, but there is no bucket between the seats and the back row is laid out for a long time. Trouble! It would be much easier if men are X-Trail, and Koleos ladies. But alas, women do not buy terrible cars. And men are unlikely to feel the difference between the Japanese and the Frenchman on the go.