A Versatile All-Rounder Excelling in Driving and Convenience... This Car Offers Unprecedented Value at Around 30 Million KRW [Taboleo]

New Car After 4 Years... "Renault Group's 'Touchstone' Vehicle"
Passenger Seat Independent Display & Automatic Parking Increase Convenience Features
Acceleration and Steering Both Adequate... Fuel Efficiency Also Notable

Renault Korea Grand Koleos

Renault Korea's new car 'Grand Koleos,' released after four years, showed signs of intense effort everywhere. The spacious interior, various convenience features, and driving performance were refined repeatedly. The company aims to establish a strong presence in the growing hybrid market, which is expanding further as electric vehicles experience a temporary demand slowdown known as the chasm.

On the 27th, we test-drove the Grand Koleos Esprit Alpin trim over a route of approximately 163 km, starting from Renault's Busan factory and passing through Tongyeong and Geoje. The first impression at the factory was solid and substantial. The matte dark gray and black wheels created a calm and luxurious atmosphere. At the front, Renault's new emblem 'Losange' is surrounded by a diamond pattern. The grille's boundaries were removed to emphasize unity.

Interior Equipped with Both Functionality and Convenience

The interior also exudes luxury. The seats and trim use synthetic Nappa leather and suede. Blue, red, and white stitches are arranged side by side, highlighting its French origin.

Grand Koleos Indoor Display

The most eye-catching feature is the large 12.3-inch display. Displays are arranged separately in front of the driver, on the center fascia, and even on the passenger side. The separate passenger display is a convenience feature usually seen only in the latest premium imported cars.

The three displays operate independently yet are connected. While navigating and adjusting driving modes on the central display, the passenger can enjoy online video services (OTT) such as YouTube and Disney Plus. In this case, the driver's screen in front of the passenger darkens and cannot be viewed. The navigation screen displayed on the central display can also be moved to the passenger or instrument cluster. This is why the display is named the 'OpenR Panorama Screen.'

The display runs on the latest Android operating system. The instrument cluster shows various information clearly on a clean white background. Unlike the usual dual-axis speedometer and RPM gauge, the RPM information is significantly reduced and shown only numerically, reflecting its hybrid nature. Instead, lane and surrounding vehicle driving situations are displayed with neat car icons. Surrounding vehicles are distinguished by size, such as trucks or passenger cars. This aspect shows considerable attention to user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design.

The navigation system uses T Map Mobility's product. Collaborating with SK Telecom, it also features 'NUGU Auto,' an AI-powered system that allows voice control of various functions such as window opening, air conditioning, and navigation.

Power Without Shortcomings... Fuel Efficiency Also Decent

Renault Grand Koleos (Photo by Renault Korea)

The driving performance is also a strong point. The test vehicle is equipped with a dual motor system consisting of a 100 kW driving electric motor and a high-voltage starter motor (60 kW) that also functions as a generator. This is combined with a 4-cylinder 1.5L gasoline direct injection turbo engine to power the car. The electric motor alone can produce 136 horsepower, and the battery capacity is 1.64 kWh, one of the largest among hybrid vehicles in its class. Based on this, the car could drive like an electric vehicle with almost no engine intervention in low-speed urban areas. During the actual test route, battery power was mainly used until exiting Busan city center. Thanks to active noise cancellation, road noise was barely audible while driving like an electric vehicle.

Upon entering high-speed driving, the power felt sufficient. With a combined 245 horsepower from the internal combustion engine and electric motor, the car accelerated as soon as the pedal was pressed. It showed no signs of strain even on uphill slopes, and steering was stable. The coastal road curves in Geoje and Tongyeong responded nimbly. Even with sudden left-right movements, the body remained quite stable.

The AI driving mode was impressive. It automatically switches driving modes based on driving style and road conditions, such as switching to a more powerful sport mode when accelerating on steep hills. The only automatic parking function in its class is also a highlight. It finds parking spaces, notifies the driver, and upon instruction, controls the pedals and steering wheel autonomously. It stops operation in crowded environments for safety but successfully parks without issues in typical parking situations.

The fuel efficiency measured over about 160 km was 14.8 km per liter. Although it falls short of the official rating (15.7 km per liter), it is still respectable considering no special fuel-saving driving was done.

The Grand Koleos is priced between 34.95 million and 44.95 million KRW depending on the trim. Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin on the 6th of next month. It is positioned higher than Hyundai Motor's Tucson or Kia Sportage but somewhat more affordable than Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe. With advantages spanning convenience to driving performance, it clearly adds a new choice for consumers.