[Taboleo] 'Renault Samsung XM3' Returns with a Mercedes-Benz Heart and MZ Sensibility

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] "It has returned in an evolved form for young drivers."

Renault Samsung Motors, which has been carrying out a survival plan since early this year, has pulled out the 2022 XM3 as a decisive card to boost performance this month. Since its launch in February last year, the XM3 has steadily gained popularity with 40,612 units sold domestically until last month. In four European countries?France, Germany, Italy, and Spain?it was launched in March this year under the name ‘New Arkana’ and sold 100,000 units. From this month, it is being sold in 28 European countries. Dominique Signora, CEO of Renault Samsung, recently expressed high expectations for the XM3 at a media briefing, saying, "The group is actively supporting us by prioritizing semiconductor parts supply to the Busan plant." This car carries the tagline ‘NEXT GENERATION SUV’ with the goal of targeting the key customer base, the MZ generation (born between 1980 and early 2000s). Renault Samsung chose a cost-effective approach that maintains the XM3’s design and price as much as possible while enhancing practicality. I recently experienced the XM3 TCe260 model for two nights and three days, driving it in the city and on highways to feel its youthful vibe.

-Visually, there doesn’t seem to be much difference from the 2021 model. How is it actually?

▲Unlike competitors who recently made model year changes that give a ‘completely different car’ impression, the 2022 XM3’s exterior has not changed much. Compared to when the XM3 was first launched early last year and attracted attention as the country’s first sedan-type SUV, it’s at the level of ‘has anything really changed?’ However, Renault Samsung reflected consumer demands by making detailed design changes. The standard daytime running lights were replaced with fog lights, and chrome decorations were added to parts of the front and sides. Especially, customers can choose a black two-tone roof, adding sophistication. The test vehicle was in the newly added Sonic Red color, a bright red that gave a ‘young and refreshing’ feeling. Inside, the 10.25-inch cluster and 9.3-inch vertical display remained unchanged from last year, but related functions were greatly improved. Previously, switching between Korean and English keyboards on the display required three steps, making operation inconvenient. Renault Samsung simplified the operation method as much as possible after receiving complaints that the previous method distracted drivers. Navigation search speed was also improved, automatically starting a search 0.5 seconds after entering the destination.

-The XM3 TCe260 is said to have a 1.3ℓ engine. Was there any feeling of sluggishness while driving?

▲Despite the displacement, it provided sufficiently smooth driving, making it feel unlike a small SUV. The TCe260 model I tested is equipped with a 1.3ℓ turbo engine producing 152 horsepower and a maximum torque of 26 kgf·m. This model uses a turbo direct injection gasoline engine jointly developed by Renault Group and Daimler. Of course, the driving performance is not the same as the Mercedes-Benz GLB or CLA, which use the same engine. When I accelerated rapidly on the highway, the RPM rose and engine noise increased slightly. However, when increasing speed up to the speed limit, it was sufficient to give the impression that the car responded properly to the accelerator input.

-I heard the model year update includes autonomous driving features. Is that true?

▲Yes. Renault Samsung equipped the 2022 XM3 RE Signature trim with a Level 2 autonomous driving assistance system. On national roads, I drove by directly operating the accelerator and brake pedals, and on highways, I tested the Highway Traffic Assist (HTA) for high-speed roads and congested sections. The XM3’s HTA consists of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Centering Assist (LCA). When I activated the ACC, it smoothly reduced speed to match the stopped vehicle ahead if the set speed was exceeded. The most notable point was that there was no jolting caused by sudden braking typical of ACC, making it highly useful for long-distance driving. The lane-keeping assist activated when the car got close to or crossed lane markings, helping maintain driver focus. However, in areas where lane markings were faded or on regular roads, the system sometimes failed to clearly recognize lanes, causing a feeling of drifting toward the right side of the lane.

-I also heard convenience features were upgraded, including In-Car Payment. Can you tell us about that?

▲The 2022 XM3 is equipped with an In-Car Payment system that allows customers to purchase and receive products entirely inside the vehicle. Through this, drivers can order and pay for products sold at convenience stores, gas stations, cafes, and restaurants from inside the car. Pressing the In-Car Payment button on the display shows 380 GS Caltex stations and major cafes, allowing easy payment with pre-registered cards. Especially for food and beverages, after ordering, products can be received via drive-thru without parking. Starting in July, over 1,000 CU convenience stores nationwide will support In-Car Payment. Some remote control functions were also added. In addition to remote door locking/unlocking and horn/light control, remote engine start and climate control functions were introduced. This allows drivers and passengers to create a comfortable environment through remote climate control before driving on days with high fine dust pollution. The real-time navigation function was excellent, providing real-time traffic information and fuel prices at gas stations, making a smartphone app almost unnecessary.

-As a small SUV, is car camping difficult?

▲To conclude, the XM3 offers ample trunk space, making car camping possible. The trunk space is about 513 liters by default and expands to 1,333 liters when the rear seats are folded down. Also, with the rear seats folded, the interior length reaches up to 209 cm, allowing even adult men over 190 cm tall to lie down comfortably. I, at 180 cm tall, tried lying and sitting in the XM3 with the rear seats folded, and did not feel any discomfort requiring me to bend my legs for car camping. The trunk opening height is up to 118 cm, allowing you to open the trunk door and sit while enjoying the sky or surrounding scenery.

-How about the price?

▲With added convenience and autonomous driving features, the 2022 XM3’s price has increased somewhat compared to the previous model. The new XM3 prices (based on 3.5% individual consumption tax) are: 1.6 GTe ▲SE trim at 17.87 million KRW ▲LE trim at 20.13 million KRW ▲RE trim at 22.19 million KRW; and TCe 260 ▲RE trim at 23.96 million KRW ▲RE Signature trim at 26.41 million KRW.