Test Drive Renault Koleos since 2011 Crossover

Second attempt

Renault Koleos. Price: from 870,000 rubles. On sale: September 2008
The Renault Koleos crossover, the first trials of which were held in North Africa, comes to the European market. It is curious that ten years ago the premiere of all-wheel drive Scenic RX-4 took place in Morocco. But this model did not use success and quickly disappeared from the manufacturing program. Let's see what a new applicant is capable
Before us, Renault Koleos crossover, designed to fight such glamorous celebrities as Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Also, you should not discount Hyundai Santa Fe and VW Tiguan. The debutant appearance can be recognized as harmonious. Profile KoleOS, high clearance and extended wheeled arches are explicitly hinting on off-road qualities. And the beveled rear window emphasizes the movement forward, the main designer Renault Patrick Le Kedan. The front part very reminds CLIO. At the same time, there are no avant-garde or disputed elements in the crossover exterior that were in the models of the previous generation.
Inside the same simplicity that you want to put into the asset. Spartan style emphasizes the off-road entity of the novelties. The creators of the car are confident that they managed to achieve the best among competitors: 31 ahead vertically and 36.3 horizontally. The back review also deserves praise 27.5. This is not a record, but the result is very worthy. Another record is the height of the cabin, which is 946 mm. Rear passengers, which is verified in practice, do not have the slightest difficulties. Places abound and above your head, and at the level of shoulders.
Once again, to emphasize the off-road character Koleos Marketers Renault decided with the help of an unusual place of testing. The test drive was organized in North Africa, or rather in Morocco, not far from the ancient city of Fez. It is clear that these places do not differ in perfect roads and allow you to check the car in harsh conditions. Where the asphalt is still there, drivers lie local straps on the ancient desponders, tractors, trucks and even donkeys. Well, we will carry out a donkey test.
It's time to start, but the superheated interior is hindered and go. We bring the car, we include on complete two-zone climate control, which has separate air ducts for the rear passengers. If you continue the topic of protection from the heat, then in the rear doors, we note the presence of sunscreen curtains.
Salon cooled can be sent. When you go around the city, Koleos is almost no different from the usual mini-Wen. We note a good dynamics of a 2.5-liter gasoline engine dispersed the car until hundreds of only 9.3 s. Note that at the start of KoleOS requires increased revolutions. In this case, the crossover is quite rigid clutch. Without the habit, all the time should be stupid, but in an hour or another you get used to the peculiarities of this model. As for the maximum speed, which was not achieved during the test, then according to the passport, it equals 185 km / h. We will believe on the word.
Particular attention to French-Japanese-Korean engineers paid noise insulation. Almost complete silence in the cabin is not disturbed by either a dental asphalt or off-road. For this it is worth saying thanks to the multi-layer windshield, a special subframe of the engine and the use of efficient soundproofing materials on the engine shield, under the floor of the cabin, in the wheeled arches.
Soon asphalt ended. We had a trip low, but rather steep mountains, where the roads are more correct to call paths, and under the wheels threatening sharp stones crunch. It is time to work for a four-wheel drive suspension, partially borrowed from Nissan X-Trail. In overcoming obstacles, an unprepared driver can rely on numerous auxiliary systems like All Modei, Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control, which and hide will help help, and go down to go back. In addition, off-road ambitions confirms the 206-millimeter ground clearance. Attention should be paid to the angles of entry and the congress (27 and 31 degrees, respectively). The theory confirmed the practice: the new crossover did without much effort coped with African off-road.
Cosmopolitan
The first crossover from Renault, who called Koleos, can be called a cosmopolitan without any stretch. Judge for yourself, under the French brand there is a car developed with the participation of the Japanese company Nissan and collected in the South Korean SAMSUNG plant. Here it is globalization in action. The situation is confused even more if the Renault Guide will decide to produce a car in Moscow on autoframos or to Togliatti in AvtoVAZ. But so far we will not focus on the product. Engineers from Nissan and Renault tried to cross sedan, mini-Ven and SUV. The hybrid was quite successful. Unlike many competitors, the new crossover has a brutal appearance, which will have to taste to many. The Spartan Salon also adds a specific charm. In other words, the creators of Koleos managed to offer the market something unusual and original. Such an approach always deserves praise.
Driving
The car is not bad on the asphalt and off-road, possessing good overclocking dynamics.
  
Salon
Created in the style of minimalism. But ergonomics at the same time.
   
Comfort
The convenience of passengers and sound comfort during the movement deserve maximum evaluation.
   
Security
9 models created by the engineers of the Nissan-Renault Alliance received 5 stars on Euroncap Crash tests. Koleos pretends on the same result.
   
Price
The simplest version of Expression will cost 870,000 rubles. Luxe Privilege will seriously pass over a million. Is it or expensive cheap? Fine.
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Not bad off-road qualities, good dynamics, excellent noise insulation.
- Specific clutch requiring long-term addiction.

Specifications
Brand and Model - Renault Koleos
Dimensions - 4520x1855x1695 mm
Engine - gasoline, 2488 cm3, 170 hp / min-1
Transmission - Mechanical, 6-speed
Dynamics - MAX 185 km / h; 9.3 s to 100 km / h
Competitors - Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V
Our opinion
Renault Koleos The second attempt to the French company to create a four-wheel drive car. The pioneer of ten years ago was Scenic RX-4, which was spent due to low demand in the fly. But if the first time the engineers tried to upgrade CD-VEN, now we are talking about a new design. And this path is correct.

Author: Stanislav Pavlov
 
 

 

A source: Magazine 5 Wheel [August 2008]