Test drive Renault Koleos
In Renault, reinventing the Koleos essentially from scratch, they relied on design. The crossover is still built on Japanese units, but now has a French charm
The diamond logo and Koleos lettering on the tailgate evoke a subtle déjà vu. The new Renault crossover inherited only the name from its predecessor - otherwise it is unrecognizable. Koleos has become larger, more luxurious, and thanks to its avant-garde appearance, even more noticeable. Style is what the previous "Koleos" lacked most of all.
A French tailor can do almost anything. They take the quite common bird nameplate on the front fender, transfer it to the door and turn it in the opposite direction. From it, a silvery line is drawn along the wing to the headlamp, and an LED mustache is drawn under the headlamp. Wide headlamps stretch out to line, striving to merge into a single whole on the tailgate. Controversial, strange, against the rules, but all together it works like a frame of glasses, giving the boxer's face an intelligent look.
Somewhere in China, first of all, they will pay attention to the contours in the style of the Audi Q7 and Mazda CX-9, and only then to the stylistic delights. Koleos is a global model and therefore has to suit different tastes. In Europe, his face has managed to become familiar: the Megane and Talisman families flaunt a characteristic LED frame, while in Russia, which is accustomed to Renault being Duster and Logan, it has every chance to make a splash.
At the same time, its aggregate base is well known for the popular Nissan X-Trail crossover - here is the same CMF-C / D platform with a wheelbase of 2705 mm, familiar 2,0 and 2,5 gasoline engines, as well as a variator. But the body of the "Koleos" is its own - the "Frenchman" is longer than the "Japanese" due to the rear overhang, and is also slightly wider.
The interior is more relaxed than the exterior, and some of the details are vaguely familiar. The characteristic protrusion in the center of the dashboard with a multimedia screen and elongated air ducts recalls the Porsche Cayenne, the three-part dashboard with a circular virtual dial in the center - of Volvo and Aston Martin.
The main thing here is not stylistic delights, but tangible luxury. The bottom of the dashboard is soft, including the glove box cover and "knobs" on the sides of the transmission selector, and is stitched with real threads. The naturalness of the wooden inserts is questionable, but they look expensive in chrome frames. The top-of-the-line Initiale Paris is even brighter with nameplates and embossed overlays, and its two-tone chairs are upholstered in nappa leather.
Unlike Nissan, Renault does not claim to have used space technologies in the creation of seats, but sitting in the Koleos is very comfortable. The deep back has an anatomical profile and there is an adjustment of the lumbar support, you can even change the inclination of the headrest. In addition to heating, front seat ventilation is also available.
Renault emphasizes that the new Koleos has inherited attention to rear passengers from the Scenic and Espace monocabs. The second row is really hospitable: the doors are wide and swing open at a large angle. The backrests of the front seats are gracefully arched to increase the headroom to the knees, which makes it easy to cross your legs.
Rear passengers sit slightly higher than the front ones, there is a margin of overhead space even in the version with a panoramic roof. The sofa is wide, the central tunnel barely protrudes above the floor, but the rider in the middle will not be so comfortable - the massive pillow is molded for two and has a noticeable protrusion in the center.
The rear row equipment is not bad: additional air ducts, heated seats, two USB sockets and even an audio jack. The only thing missing is folding tables, as on the previous Koleos, and tilt adjustment of the backrests, as on the soplatform X-Trail. At the same time, the trunk of the "Frenchman" is more voluminous than the Nissan one - 538 liters, and with the backs of the rear seats folded down, an impressive 1690 liters come out. The sofa can be folded straight out of the trunk, at the same time in the "Koleos" there are no tricky shelves, or even a hatch for long items.
The hefty touchscreen is stretched vertically, like in Volvo and Tesla, and its menu is made in a trendy smartphone style. On the main screen, you can place widgets: navigation, audio system, there is even a sensor of air purity. To adjust the airflow of the climate control, you have to open a special tab - there are at least physical knobs and buttons on the console.
The crossover equipment combines a single automatic power window and a Bose audio system with 12 speakers and a powerful subwoofer. Koleos has a few new-fashioned driver assistance systems: he knows how to follow the lane markings, "blind" zones, switch from far to near and help to park. So far, the crossover does not even have adaptive cruise control, let alone semi-autonomous functions.
Anatoly Kalitsev, Director of Product Management and Distribution at Renault Russia, promised that all this is a matter of the near future. If the updated X-Trail is equipped with a third-generation semi-autonomous driving system, then the Frenchman will immediately receive a more advanced fourth-level autopilot.
“Slow down - there is a camera ahead. Slow down - there is a camera ahead, ”a woman’s voice insistently demands. So insistently that I pass the 60 sign twice as slow as it should be. Highways with a 120 km / h limit are only a small part of the route in Finland, mostly you need to trudge at a speed of 50-60 km per hour.
Disciplined local drivers always drive this way, even out of sight of cameras. With such an imperturbable driving style and immodest fuel prices, a 1,6 diesel with 130 hp. - just what you need. With it, a mono-drive crossover on the "mechanics" consumes just over five liters per 100 kilometers. Such a Koleos accelerates to 100 km / h in 11,4 s, but it rarely develops such a speed. There is no particular need for sixth gear.
According to the passport, the engine develops 320 Nm, but in fact, when you go uphill on a forest dirt road, there is not enough traction at low speeds. In Russia, the X-Trail is equipped with such a diesel engine, so Renault decided that if they were to carry a diesel engine, it would be more powerful, with four-wheel drive and definitely not with "mechanics". The two-liter unit (175 hp and 380 Nm) for Koleos is offered with an unusual type of transmission - a variator. To handle the serious torque, he got a reinforced chain rated at 390 Newton meters.
When starting with a pedal in the floor, the transmission simulates gear shifting as in a traditional “automatic”, but it does so very smoothly and almost imperceptibly. Whereas many modern multistage automatic transmissions change gears with noticeable jerks. The variator softens the pressure of the diesel "four", the acceleration is smooth, without failures. And quiet - the engine compartment is well soundproofed. When you leave the car, you are surprised that the power unit rumbles loudly enough at idle.
With all the seeming smoothness, the diesel Koleos is fast: it takes 9,5 seconds for the crossover to gain a “hundred” - the most powerful gasoline car with a 2,5 engine (171 hp) is 0,3 seconds slower. More sport can not be added to overclocking - no special mode is provided, only manual switching using the selector.
In a tight corner, the mono-drive version with a heavy diesel engine rushes out, despite the efforts of the stabilization system. Effort on the steering wheel is present, but there is not enough feedback - you don't feel the moment when the tires lose grip.
The global settings of Koleos took into account the specifics of many markets, but invariably they put comfort over sport. On large 18-inch wheels, the crossover rides gently, dissolving small holes and potholes. It only reacts to sharp joints and a series of road defects. On a country road, the Koleos is also comfortable and quiet, although on a wavy road it is prone to a slight roll.
The four-wheel drive transmission mode selector is hidden in the left corner of the front panel and is plain in appearance. As if it is something secondary. At the same time, in Lock mode, when the clutch is drawn in and the thrust is equally distributed between the axles, the crossover easily straightens out the off-road track. Electronics brakes the suspended wheels, and diesel traction allows you to easily climb the hill. But you have to go down with the brakes - for some reason, the descent assist assistant is not provided.
The ground clearance here is solid - 210 millimeters. Cars for Russia, just in case, will be equipped with steel crankcase protection - this is almost the only element of adaptation to our conditions. The European "Koleos" even has a rubber seal on the bottom of the door, which protects the sills from dirt.
The specifics of the Russian market forced to abandon mono-drive versions - their stabilization system was made non-disconnectable, which further limits the cross-country ability. There will be no top version of Initiale Paris either - its 19-inch wheels do not have the best effect on the smoothness of the ride.
In Russia, cars will be presented in two trim levels, and the base one for $ 22. will only be offered with a 408-liter petrol engine. It has a simpler infotainment system, halogen headlights, manual seats and fabric upholstery. The price of the top version starts at $ 2,0 - it is available with either a 26-liter engine or a 378-liter diesel engine ($ 2,5 more expensive). For a panoramic roof, tracking systems and seat ventilation will have to pay extra.
Imported Koleos is at the level of Russian-assembled crossovers. At the same time, for a person who goes to the Renault showroom for Logan or Duster, this is an unattainable dream. Kaptur is right now the most expensive model of the French brand in Russia, but it is also half a million cheaper than the simplest Koleos. Renault promises to make the car more affordable through financial programs. But Koleos is more likely to attract a new audience, which is not interested in the brand's weight, but in the opportunity to stand out from many identical crossovers and not lose in equipment.
| A type | Crossover |
| Dimensions: length / width / height, mm | 4672/1843/1673 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2705 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 208 |
| Cargo space, l | 538-1795 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1742 |
| Gross vehicle weight, kg | 2280 |
| engine's type | Turbodiesel |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | 1995 |
| Max. power, h.p. (at rpm) | 177/3750 |
| Max. cool. moment, Nm (at rpm) | 380/2000 |
| Drive type, transmission | Full, variator |
| Max. speed km / h | 201 |
| Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, s | 9,5 |
| Fuel consumption, l / 100 km | 5,8 |
| Price from, $. | 28 606 |
