Renault Koleos II

Renault's first crossover SUV, the Koleos, is now on its second-generation and it's now larger, roomier, and more luxurious than the old Koleos it replaces while most of the modern-day Renault DNA has been injected inside and out so you might expect that this is just another Renault with the same look as the other new Renaults from the range but it's too early to tell about it until later. So, what's it all about?

2017 Renault Koleos

It's hardly almost a decade passed since Renault introduced its first ever 4x4 crossover to the world and for this second-generation Koleos, it's ready to mark a new beginning for Renault's first crossover in the lineup with new design, new interior, and new features that will keep it competitive in today's conditions. As mentioned earlier, most of the modern-day Renault DNA has been injected inside and out so you will notice that it dons the same exterior cues from the Espace, Talisman, Scenic, and Megane. As on the inside...

2017 Renault Koleos interior

Renault's becoming the French equivalent of BMW because like Bimmers, the Renaults of today are donning the same new interior look and pretty soon, most Renaults will don the same interior over and and over again but what's that really for?  Cost-saving measures? No one ever know but onto the subject of being larger than the old Koleos, seating for five people still holds but it's surprisingly roomier than the old Koleos as well as the boot space good enough for all those open spaces. In addition to that, offers luxury car features in a not-so-expensive crossover such as BOSE Surround Sound System and it even comes with Renault's R-Link 2 that comes with smartphone connectivity that works well with your iPhones and Androids courtesy of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

2017 Renault Koleos

The new Koleos is powered by an all-diesel lineup consisting of a 1.6L and a 2.0L Energy dCi engine with 175PS of power and 380Nm of torque with CO2 emissions of 156g/km. They are mated with either a 6-speed manual gearbox and an XTRONIC CVT sourced from Nissan. Because the new Koleos uses the same underpinnings from the Nissan X-TRAIL, it comes with ALL-MODE 4x4-i made to tackle any surface and weather with ease. With settings like AUTO, LOCK, and 2WD, this system makes the new Koleos to adapt through any road conditions no matter the weather and due to its new platform which is a joint effort of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, it feels very moderate to drive on the road.

2017 Renault Koleos

Active Emergency Braking System, Lane Departure Warning, Safe Distance Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition, Blind Sport Warning, Tiredness Detection, rear view camera, Automatic High/Low Beam headlines, parking sensors, and Easy Park Assist, these are some of the safety features the new Koleos has to offer and it can be controlled via the R-Link 2 tablet on the dashboard. This is like usual formation for Europe's cars because it's EU regulation for most cars to come ready with safety tech and why would anyone care about it anyhow.

The new Renault Koleos starts at 29,900 Euros while the more luxurious Initiale Paris variant, with special luxurious equipment on it and exclusive colors, costs 41,400 plus on-road costs. So, while the design is plain stale for a modern-day Renault, the new Koleos is a big step for the crossover market and with the ALL-MODE 4x4-i system, R-Link 2, and larger dimensions, expect some healthy reception about the newly regenerated crossover from Renault.

Photo: Renault

Renault Samsung QM6

A few moments ago, Renault uncovered their second-generation Koleos crossover and while it looks bigger than its predecessor, it's becoming one of the new Renaults to incorporate its new signature design since the Espace MPV last year, the Talisman saloon and estate, and the new Megane early this year. It's slated to be sold in most European markets, including France, this 2017, but first, it has to make its presence in Australia, Turkey, the Middle East, some South American countries, and China this year. Also, the second-generation Koleos will make its mark on the South Korean market as the brand new QM6, a larger, more luxurious replacement to the smaller QM5, based on the previous Koleos.

2017 Renault Samsung QM6

Alright, because the QM6 will serve us a preview of the next Renault Koleos, set to hit Europe this next year, time to dive into what to expect in this Korea-spec version sold as a Renault Samsung QM6. Because it has the same look as its sedan brother, the SM6, thanks to the new Renault norm look that has been plastered on new models as part of their "la vie, avec passion" company slogan, there's not much to tell on its design inside and out but take this, while this is exactly bigger than the old QM5, the new QM6's bigger dimensions made this on par with its potential competitors such as Kia's Sorento, Hyundai's Maxcruz, Ssangyong's Rexton, or even Chevrolet's Captiva (note: the one that South Koreans had). How it fares is everyone's guess.

2017 Renault Samsung QM6 interior

2017 Renault Samsung QM6 interior

Of course, even though you can expect typical Renault interior on the new QM6 (Korea's version of the next generation Koleos), its big dimension resulted to a much generous interior space for five people as well as better boot space big enough to fit most of your garage sale haul on the weekends. The QM6 offers luxury car features in a not-so-expensive crossover such as BOSE Surround Sound System and it even comes with Samsung's S-Link multimedia tablet screen on the dashboard, like the SM6 had, serving as a control center for functions like infotainment, navigation, communications, radio, and driver aids.

2017 Renault Samsung QM6

As a crossover made to challenge the rules, the QM6 feels like it's not your average full-size crossover at this caliber. In fact, it uses the same underpinnings used in crossovers like the smaller Renault Kadjar and the Nissan X-Trail, and platform aside, the QM6, as to be expect on the next Koleos, features ALL MODE 4x4-i, which constantly optimizes torque to all four wheels for stability on snowy and other slippery surfaces, as reminiscent to today's Nissan X-TRAIL done to its consumers. It can be switched to front-wheel drive or permanent all-wheel drive, depending on the conditions the road calls on it. No matter the weather calls on this car, it's always ready with its 4WD technology at its disposal. Not bad for a clever multirole.

Under the hood, the QM6 is available only with a 2.0L dCi engine that produces 177PS of power and 38.7kg-m of torque. Much to the dismay of being a European crossover with a Korean citizenship, the QM6 is mated to a new-generation XTRONIC CVT. Doesn't say much but it promises a combined fuel efficiency of 12.8km/L and CO2 emission of around 148g/km, although Renault Samsung were declined to explain the full story about the QM6's performance and ecology. What I did know that while they didn't disclose about its safety tech, it will theoretically had a large Array of Driver Aids (ADAS), which can be controlled from its S-Link tablet.

The asking price? It starts from 27,400,000 up to 34,700,000 Korean Won, which is more costly than the QM5 it replaces but that puts it near the spot where the Kia Sorento and the Hyundai Santa Fe sit beneath their laurels. Even though this is a brand new SUV from the Renault Samsung lineup, this is just a fresh taste of what the next Renault Koleos can do when it hits Europe by next year, if they get all the paperwork done to do so.

Available colors: Cloud Pearl, Golden Beige, Ultra Silver, Urban Grey, Meissen Blue, and Metallic Black.

Photo: Renault Samsung Motors

Renault Samsung QM5 Neo and QM3

The QM5 crossover has been around longer than the Brainiacs and this crossover remains a competitive one even though it's becoming less appreciative as time goes by. Made in Korea, sold globally as the Renault Koleos, and uses components from the Renault Nissan Alliance, the QM5 sure knows how to be a global competitor in the world of crossovers but there are only a little people having one of those because of the competition heating up.

2014 Renault Samsung QM5 Neo

For its last-ditch effort to set things right, the Korean division of the Renault Nissan Alliance prepped up a facelifted version of the QM5, a few months after the Renault Koleos got facelifted for the European market. It's called the QM5 Neo and yes, this crossover really want to fight 'till its last breath. So what's for this swan song?

2014 Renault Samsung QM5 Neo interior

For its brand new 2014 QM5 Neo, you can notice the new front face as shown from Renault's design language and this new look can be somewhat summarized as athletic and premium, what the carmaker states. They've also added new stuff like air vents in the central B-pillars so that air, hot or cold, can get through the rear seat passengers without the drama. A tire-pressure monitoring system is added and let's not talk about it because no one sure knows what it is.

On the engine side, here's a plot twist though because the former's 2.5L CVTC engine has been thrown away to the great junkyard in the sky and now the available engines offered were a smaller 2.0L petrol engine and a 2.0L diesel engine. That's it. The 2.0L petrol engine develops 143HP of power, 20.1kg-m of torque, and a power-to-weight ratio of about 10.98kg/hp because the front-wheel drive model with the 2.0L petrol engine weighs around 1570kg. Mated to a CVT gearbox, the fuel economy is just shy about 10.6km/L and CO2 emission of 166g/km.

The 2.0L diesel adds 200kg of weight but it delivers 173HP of power, 36.7kgm of torque, and 13.2km/L of fuel economy, again, thanks to the CVT gearbox. For front-wheel drive models, the power-to-weight ratio is about 9.86kg/hp. Exclusive to the diesel model is an available 4WD option for all-round capability, well as a theory.

Suspension-wise, the QM5 Neo has a front MacPherson struts and rear multi-link suspension to make handling a bit European-ish, and again, as a theory because I suspect, it kinda behaves like an everyday European saloon car for a crossover made by the Koreans. He he he...

Well, I guess that's pretty much enough for the QM5 Neo but because it was priced from about 22,500,000 to 33,100,000 Korean Won, you might think that it's a bit too expensive but what if you want something cheaper than the QM5 but something a bit stylish and more convincing than the QM5 Neo? Well, it's this...

2014 Renault Samsung QM3

Yes, it's a brand new QM3. Unlike the QM5, it's available only in front-wheel drive, just like its Euro equivalent, the Renault Captur. And unlike the QM5, it's powered by a smaller 1.5L diesel engine mated to a 6-speed EDC gearbox.

2014 Renault Samsung QM3 interior

It looks more targeted squarely at today's computer geeks except in my eye, it's much more well behaved and well mannered than the QM5 Neo but for a quick drawback, remember what I told about the Renault Captur a couple of months ago? You don't? Well, never mind about that but no matter how hard I explained about this new model, it's still a proven hit among Koreans everywhere and the first 1000 units were all accounted for since its launch. Quite impressive for RSM, though, but what motivates it?

The price tag for the QM3 began in 22,500,000 Korean Won, similar to the QM5 Neo's starting price and because it's compact and as small as a supermarrow, it's not all that complicated to drive it around the streets of Gangnam. And because it has a fuel economy of 18.5km/L, it's worth being a cross-country companion and by scientific calculations; the 10,000km per year fuel cost, in today's climate, would be about more than a 1,082,000 Korean Won (10,000km ÷ 18.5kmpl x 2000KRW* per Litre). Anyway, forget about maths! Let's conclude it in a simplified manner because in the end, you have a choice between these two crossovers from Renault Samsung.

*estimated but fuel prices may vary.

If you want something more of an all-rounder if you're under the weather, your best bet would be the QM5 because the diesel model has an available 4WD model but if its the sense of the city you're after and if you're a bit of a techie, then you might be off with the QM3. The QM3 maybe less powerful than the QM5 but because it feels so light, you can have a lot more fun in it but not at all. After all, they're can be worth a brain burner if you do the math on both of these.

Photo: Renault Samsung Motors

Renault Koleos Phase II

2012 Renault Koleos

With the facelifted Renault Samsung QM5 on sale now, it seems that Renault's Koleos is following suit as well. The Koleos' minor change now sports a new front face that makes is sophisticated and the grille can be somewhat similar to the Renault Latitude. As for the interior, it remains the same as the pre-facelift model.

The Renault Koleos Phase II comes with FF or 4WD layouts. It is available in dCi 150, and dCi 175 engines. It seems that this new Koleos is now only focused on the Euro V diesel variants rather than gasoline variants because most of the Europeans think that diesel is cheaper than unleaded, well that's a joke. Anyway, the 2.0L dCi 150 engine produces 150PS of power and 320Nm of torque. This helps the Koleos reach 0 -100kmh in 10 seconds and it can do flat out in 183kmh. It can even achieve a combined fuel economy of 17.5km/L (5.7L/100km) and CO2 emissions of 148g/km but with the 4WD layout, it can achieve a fuel economy of 15.6km/L (6.4L/100km) and CO2 emissions of 166g/km and with the 6-speed automatic equipped, it can achieve a fuel economy of 14.1km/L (7.1L/100km) and CO2 emissions of 186g/km.

The high end 2.0L dCi 175 with standard 4WD layout produces 175PS of power and 360Nm of torque, helping the Koleos achieve 0-100kmh in 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 191kmh. It can even achieve a combined fuel economy of 15.6km/L (6.4L/100km) and CO2 emissions of 166g/km.

With two lines, Carminat and Exception, available the new Renault Koleos comes in six colors such as Beige Mineral, Blanc Perle, Gris Argent, Gris Mars, Noir Métallique, and Blanc Glacier.

My comment:
This facelifted Koleos is all about being update on Renault's first full-fledged SUV but too bad though, it's still not offered in the United Kingdom because of poor sales.

Photo: RENAULT

Renault Samsung QM5 Minor Change

2012 Renault Samsung QM5

It's been a while since the Renault Samsung QM5 debuted since December 2007 but for the 2012 Model Year, the Renault Samsung QM5 received its much awaited minor changed and labeled as "NEW QM5" to meet the demands against its rivals such as the Hyundai Tucson iX, Kia Sprotage R, and Ssangyong Korando C. For a quick refresh, the Renault Samsung QM5 uses the Nissan C Platform that was used by the Nissan Dualis. It was assembled at Busan, South Korea and later exported to other countries as the Renault Koleos. On its latest minor change, the QM5 gained a new face that brings out the star factor within reach. The new front fascia looks elegant and stylish enough for the only crossover on Renault Samsung's lineup.

2012 Renault Samsung QM5 interior

With the front face heavily modified for elegance, the interior of the QM5 is mildly revised to make it a little bit luxurious and slightly premium enough for the customers. For an added premium, BOSE Sound System is added to bring out the best audio experience for the drivers while listening to their favorite music in either radio, USB connectivity, or CD player.

Two engine types are available for the QM5: a L4 2.5 CVTC petrol engine and a diesel-fed, Euro V compliant, L4 2.0 dCi engine. The 2.5L gasoline engine packs 171HP of power, 23.0kg-m of torque, and 11.8km/L of fuel economy thanks to the XTRONIC CVT equipped on it. The 2.0L dCi engine packs 173HP of power, 36.7kg-m of torque, and 15.1km/L of fuel economy when it is equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission while 14.3km/L for the 4WD variant.

My Comment:
The newly refreshed Renault Samsung QM5 keeps its promise to be even more premium thanks to its new face but retains the quality of being the only crossover utility vehicle in Renault Samsung line-up that consists of the medium-sized SM3, executive medium-sized SM5, and the upcoming full model change of the flagship SM7 premium sedan. With its new look, how can the QM5 stand up against the Hyundai Tucson iX, Kia Sportage R, and the Ssangyong Korando C? Time will tell but be patient...

Photo: Renault Samsung Motors