Test drive Renault Sandero
This hatchback was just created for specific Russian conditions: increased ground clearance, energy-intensive suspension, protection of sills and arches with unpainted plastic
The Dutch are calm about the freaks who come to Amsterdam and are not even averse to arranging crazy entertainment like a hotel in a tower crane, but for some reason they look at us suspiciously. Not only is the Renault logo flaunting on the Dacia Sandero Stepway, and the car itself is painted in a bright khaki color, but also two rental bicycles are fixed on the trunk - bulky, typically Dutch. We ought to get on them as soon as possible, otherwise we stand out too much, like those guys from Easy Rider. And by the way, it all ended sadly for them.
Here is some type for a long time examines us from afar, gets closer, studies an incomprehensible number. Then he asks in German-English, what are we actually doing here? "Robot? Why is it needed? How much does it cost? ”- Google translator would not help to explain all this to our interlocutor. The Dutch live in a completely different world, they travel by boats and bicycles. Cars huddle between canals and cycle paths, and their owners, parking on the very edge of the embankment, seriously risk falling into the water. The cars are small and, as a rule, on "mechanics": there are no traffic jams, the mileage is small. A wide enough highway at the edges is designed for two-wheeled vehicles, and only a lane in the center is left for four-wheeled vehicles. Madness? But try to tell the Dutchman about the peculiarities of traffic in Moscow, traffic jams and snowdrifts. He, too, will mistake you for a madman.
Meanwhile, Sandero Stepway is just created for specific Russian conditions: increased ground clearance, energy-intensive suspension, protection of sills and arches with unpainted plastic. That is why it sold better than the usual Sandero. But competitors offered an automatic transmission, and the new Logan, Sandero and Sandero Stepway were, until recently, only with manual gearboxes. In general, based on data from Renault, this is not such a serious problem. The level of "automation" in the machines of the previous generation was not high. And only "Stepway" for the version with automatic transmission accounted for more than a third of sales.
Nevertheless, the company intends to increase the share of cars on the B0 platform with automatic transmissions and, in addition to the already familiar 4-speed automatic transmission, Renault offers a 5-speed "robot". “Price is a critical moment in this segment,” says Renault. Previously, the Logan or Sandero buyer, who wished to abandon the manual gearbox, was offered the only option with the most expensive and powerful 16-valve engine. The new generation of hatchbacks can now be purchased with a "robot" and an 8-valve engine - two pedals have become more affordable. The robotic box only costs $ 266. Moreover, both types of automatic transmissions are now available in all equipment options with the exception of the basic Access.
Easy'R is the name of Renault's new "robot". Reckless "R", but not a rider, but a robot. It is built on the same principle as the VAZ AMT, which is now being installed on Grants, Kalina and Priora. The usual "mechanics" were equipped with ZF electric actuators, which survive the clutch and change gears. But the boxes themselves are not unified, despite the fact that Logan and Sandero are assembled in Togliatti. AvtoVAZ robotized its own "mechanics", Renault - its own. Moreover, the French not only significantly shortened the main pair, but also changed the gear ratios of the transmission: for the first, second and third gears they increased, and for the fourth and fifth gears they were reduced.
The previous Logan and Sandero had not even a poker sticking out of the floor, but something that looked like a snag. The new automatic transmission levers are neat, shiny with chrome details and fit well in the hand. It is easy to distinguish between boxes: there is a switching diagram on the knob. If there is no Parking position on it, then this is a "robot".
After the gas pedal is released, the car begins to roll forward, which is unusual for a robotic box. But Renault specifically made just such an algorithm of work to make it easier to park and move in traffic jams. The rest of the Easy'R is a familiar single-clutch robot. He is in no hurry to change gears, turning the engine until it rings. Renault experts say that by selecting gear ratios they were able to reduce the gap between the first and second, and indeed the robot switches between them smoothly, but then it seems to get stuck in the second and third. Under the roar of the engine, there is a feeling that I am participating in a high-speed race in a car with a trailer loaded with bricks. The 8-valve has a little strength even for such a light car, which is why the acceleration is unhurried - according to the passport, 12,2 s to 100 kilometers per hour. You let off the gas, but the box continues to hold the gear and noticeably slows down the engine. It is worth pressing the brake, as the “robot” switches even lower, further slowing down the car.
I remember what to do in order to drive without pecks, I try to press the gas pedal smoothly, or release it slightly - on the previous "robots" it helped, and the transmission shifted up. And here it switches, then no. The robot thinks even if it just slowed down and then decided to accelerate. However, the box is adaptive and soon we got used to it more or less. Additionally, there is an Eco button - with its pressing, the accelerator became less sensitive, and the "robot" began to engage gears earlier. Of course, in relaxed mode you will not accelerate quickly, but for a sharp start, you can switch to manual control.
But here's another surprise: I wanted to go forward, but instead rolled back. Easy'R broke the first law of robotics and almost did harm to the scooter standing behind by its inaction. At this time, the box fulfilled the third law of robotics: it took care of its safety, took care of the clutch.
Later, in a conversation with Renault representatives, I learned that the Stepway stabilization system, offered as an option, holds the car at the start, but only if the rise is more than 4 degrees. If less than four, then the car will roll away, but not far. According to Nikita Gudkov, specialist in the consumer properties of cars of the Renault Russia Engineering Directorate, the transmission is tuned to Russian conditions. Engine braking is useful when there is slush or ice under the wheels. In addition, for safety reasons, the transmission will never switch in a tight corner at high speed.
It is a pity that you will not feel all these positive elements in Holland. It would be nice to wait for the Moscow winter and snowdrifts to get out of them. They say it's very simple with a "robot". In Holland, jerky gearbox switches do not seem entirely logical. And, of course, one day is not enough to make friends with Easy'R, learn to work with gas more filigree and, while standing on the rise, tighten the handbrake.
But isn't Renault mistaken in relying on a robotic gearbox? Indeed, until recently, tiny hatchbacks and powerful sports cars were equipped with such transmissions, but twitchy and not very reliable "robots" with one clutch have earned a mostly bad reputation.
Renault says that the new transmission is reliable, electric actuators are not afraid of frost, unlike electro-hydraulic ones. And the Easy'R clutch is covered by the same warranty as the “mechanics” clutch - 30 thousand kilometers. The cars covered more than 120 test kilometers, and ten Sanderos were sent to work in a Moscow taxi company for six months. Taxi drivers who went to the CAP, at first scolded the box, but then they got used to it. And the lover of classic "automatic machines" did not like Easy'R. Renault also believes that a person who has driven a car with an automatic transmission is unlikely to switch to a “robot”.
The company sees novice drivers as the main buyers of cars with a new box - every year they are younger and there are more and more women among them. Such a driver is unlikely to be able to handle the "mechanics" well, and Easy'R will help him. In addition, the price of comfort is important for Logan and Sandero buyers. And after Lada, the French have the most interesting offer on the market: robotic Logan costs from $6 Sandero - from $794 and Sandero Stepway - from $7.
