ON FRONT PAG E N O R T H E AST V I C TO R I A , A L P S A N D H I G H CO U N T RY
FEBRUARY 3 - 9
| 2017
> available online - www.nemedia.com.au
REVIVAL: Stylish Renault Koleos grabs attention on the road.
Renault Koleos is a neat and capable mid-sized SUV
RENAULT Koleos is the larger of two SUVs in the French carmaker’s Australian range, the other being the compact Captur. Koleos has been on sale here since 2008 without causing much of a ripple on the sales charts but with hopes that the recent arrival of the second-generation model and some decent marketing will attract more interest. Truly cosmopolitan, Koleos was designed in France, has a Japanese-built chassis and is constructed in South Korea. Australia becoming the first country, outside of its native France, to sell it. Koleos is a big, bold vehicle that’s built on the same platform as the well-established Nissan X-Trail.
By ALISTAIR KENNEDY The front features an almost vertical grille with chromed strips that run from the headlights along the full length of the guards and all the way back to the ‘gills’ in the front guards. The centre of the grille features a large Renault diamond with another diamond at the rear between horizontal taillights. Three variants are offered. In ascended order of equipment level and price they are the quirkily named Life, Zen and Intens. The entry-level Life comes only with twowheel drive; mid-spec Zen also has the option of all-wheel drive; while the range-
topping Intens is only AWD. Koleos Life rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, Zen and Intens each get a different design of 18-inch alloys. There’s just one powertrain, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine that generates 126 kW at 6000 revs, and 226 Nm of torque at 4400 rpm. Transmission is by a continuously variable unit. A turbo-diesel engine is expected to be added to the range later in 2017. Entry and exit is comfortable without any excessive ducking down. There’s sufficient leg, knee and headroom for three adults to travel in the back seat comfortably.
With two rear passengers the central armrest can be folded to provide two inbuilt drink containers. There’s a clever touch to the interior lighting with the LED able to be switched between five colours and also to be dimmed. The Intens gets a powered panoramic sunroof as standard. It’s available as an option in Zen but not offered in Life. There’s good volume of storage space with 438 litres with the rear seatbacks in place, extending to 1690 litres. All models get a one-touch folding mechanism for the rear seatbacks.
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2
Feb 3 - 9 | 2017
Range Rover SVR has
astonishing grip - everywhere
By DEREK OGDEN
THE Range Rover Sport SVR is one of the hottest, hardest accelerating 4WDs in the world. Its 405 kW 5.0-litre V8 can blast it from zero to 100 km/h in only 4.7 seconds. Far faster than a Brock Commodore or a Falcon GT of the 1980s could ever dream of. There’s no secret as to how the big Rangie can do this. Obviously driving all four wheels and allbut eliminating wheelspin off the line is a big factor. But the biggest reason for that rocketship time is advancements in technology, not only in the engine and eight-speed automatic, but also in the way the computers provide exactly the right amount of tyre slip. Tyre slip is measured at each wheel and revised in milliseconds from wheel to wheel as the SVR screams off the line. Now comes the fun stuff. Not satisfied with 4.7 seconds on asphalt at a race track the whacky Range Rover guys decided to take their SVR to much more challenging surfaces. Firm sand seemed like a big no-no – as anyone who has ever bellied-down a 4WD on an Australian beach or desert road will tell you. Sand was no hassle for the SVR, its zero to 100 time? Just 5.5 seconds, that’s right 5.5. Slippery wet grass? Same time as the sand runs. How about an Aussie gravel road, the site of many unofficial drag races in this country? That was even less of a problem,
BATHURST BOUND? Crazy set of acceleration tests on the Range Rover SVR as engineers let their imaginations run wild. the Range Rover hit the 100 km/h mark only 5.3 seconds after blastoff. That was back in Pommy Land but I’m sure their gravel test roads are just as unforgiving as ours. A muddy, rutted road saw the big SVR come back to slower times than the Aussie hero cars at a still-not-leisurely 6.5 seconds - I’ve done electronically timed runs on Brocks and GTs on the straight at Oran Park in faster times. The only surface that did seriously challenge the Range Rover Sport SVR was snow and ice.
Tested in Sweden the Range Rover SVR took a leisurely 11.3 seconds. Can’t imagine how long it would have taken a revhead in a Blue Brock on ice… then again I can just picture the huge grin on their face as they did theatrical Summernats style burnouts including more than one 720 as they headed off for a huge distance waiting for that magic 100 on the speedo. The Range Rover SVR testing was done on standard fit Michelin 275/45 R21 All Season Tyres. Land Rover’s Terrain clever Response
2 technology system has modes for General Driving, Dynamic, Grass/Gravel/ Snow, Mud and Ruts, Sand, and Rock Crawl. The driver can let the vehicle make its own choices or use a simple rotary controller on the centre console to choose a specific mode. Might pick up the phone and talk to my mates at JLR Australia and see if they can spare an SVR for a while. Better check with my bank as well to make sure there’s enough in there to pay for the petrol…
Renault Koleos is a neat and capable mid-sized SUV From page 1
Intens has an automatic bootlid opening via the key fob and can be closed either the same way or with a button on the bottom of the lid. The opening height can be reduced if needed. Standard across the Koleos range are six airbags; ABS brakes with emergency brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution; electronic stability control; hill-start assist; IsoFix child seat anchors; reversing camera; rear parking sensors; tyre pressure monitoring; height adjustable headlights; and front and rear foglights. Zen adds front parking sensors; electronic parking brake; and automatic ‘walk-away’ door locking while the Intens tops off the safety package with advanced emergency braking; forward collision warning system; lane departure warning; blind spot monitoring; LED headlights with automatic high/low beam switching; side parking sensors; and parking assistance system. Koleos gets Renault’s latest R-Link 2 system for its infotainment technology. The premium Intens model displays onto an 8.7-inch tablet-style touchscreen with the Life and Zen getting a 7.0-inch portrait screen We felt that too many of the controls operate through the touchscreen including air conditioning temperature and fan speed adjustment. This requires too much attention to be diverted from the road, which is potentially dangerous.
COMPETITIVE: Despite its size the Koleos can cruise comfortably. There are USB ports both in the front console and the rear armrest. Bluetooth pairing is logical and quick. Surprisingly in these tech-conscious times neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto are available in any Koleos model. Life and Zen get an eight-speaker Arkamys sound system; Intens steps up to a 12-speaker Bose surround-sound system with 12 speakers, subwoofer and digital amplifier. Life has a key in ignition start/stop, Zen and Intens push button. The front seats are large, supportive and comfortable with the extra ground clearance (210 mm) in the AWD Intens providing a higher driving position and so better outward visibility. Our test was in the Koleos Intens and took in our usual mix of urban,
motorway and rural conditions with an off-road diversion to see how the AWD coped. School holidays meant that our slog through Sydney’s congested roads was a little easier than normal and this combined with the high driving position and good all-round visibility meant that we escaped the city in a far more relaxed mood. The motorway is the natural habitat of the new breed of largish SUVs and Koleos showed that it could cruise comfortably despite its fairly modest engine capacity and outputs. Peak torque at 4400 rpm is relatively high in a class which is increasingly using turbo power. However, our test runs showed good pulling power from about 2000 revs
with the added benefit of having no turbo lag. Once into the Central Coast hinterland road handling is fine, although the balance in the inevitable clash between comfort and handling is on the former. Again though, that is the case with most vehicles in this class. Off-road Koleos had no trouble traversing some bumpy and corrugated dirt backroads with help from the 210 mm ground clearance. We’d be wary of trying anything too serious because the approach and departure angles are fairly shallow but most if its rivals are in the same situation. Fuel consumption is listed at 8.3 litres per 100 kilometres from the 4WD models (8.1 L/100km in the 2WD). We averaged in the high nines during our week in the Intens, reasonably good for a large 4WD wagon. Renault Koleos is a handsome midsized crossover SUV with excellent comfort and interior space. Pricing is competitive, as it needs to be in its booming market segment, with an eye-catching $29,990 tag for the base model. Despite its previous low profile in the market this second generation Renault Koleos is certainly worth adding to any potential buyers’ shopping list. Renault is one of the growing number of car companies that have moved above the three-year / 100,000 km warranty limit, providing five years with unlimited kilometres.
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Feb 3 - 9 | 2017
CLASSIFIEDS
MAZDA BT50 4x2 space saver ute, 2011, December 2017 rego (1JJ2VT), 87,000km, manual, diesel, excellent condition, one owner, RWC, $19,850. Ph 0429 662 209.
S AVA G E 3 . 5 m t runabout with 10hp Merc, just been serviced, boat and trailer registered, hand winch on trailer, 2 life jackets and 2 boat rods, very good condition, $1980. Ph 0488 298 410.
1989 Toyota Hiace, 8 months reg, double bed, awning, provision for fridge, lots of extras, (UIW209), $4500 no fridge, $5000 fridge. Ph 0428 731 494.
TO Y O TA C o r o l l a Ascent, 2010. Purchased n e w J u n e 2 0 11 , 48,600kms, 6sp manual, 7 airbags, bluetooth, AC, tinting, rego to June 2017, (YMH594), excellent condition, $10,000 ono. Ph 0422 401 458.
SOLD
TOYOTA Echo 2001, 2 door hatchback, 5 speed manual, 1.3 litre 4cyl engine, low mileage 159,527km, car in very good condition, new tyres, comes with road worthy and registration to May 2017 (1DI4AV), $2500 ono. Please phone 0408 762 881.
1997 Porsche Boxster 986, auto, excellent condition, 6 months rego, 116,000km, comes with books, comes with RWC, (TW077), personalised plates not 2011 Auto Holden Bariincluded, $17,500. Ph na (YJX249), 38,000km. Registered until July 17. 0428 318 661. One owner since new - excellent condition. $9000 ono. Ph 0438 003 043.
NISSAN Patrol GU wagon, 2003, 3 litre diesel, bull bar, driving lights, new motor, 70,000km, reg (ZFJ759), $11,000. Ph 0432 793 748.
03/04 wr450 $3500 ono, really good condition well looked after. For more info call Tenny on 0400 232 760.
Selling your car has never been easier or cheaper!
2015 Nissan Qashqai Ti, Ink blue, 6 speed manual, 44,000km, registered to February 2017 (ADP683), Sat Nav, Keyless start, Blind spot sensor, lane departure warning, surround cameras, park distance sensors front and rear, dual zone climate control, tinted windows, electric driver’s seat, heated seats, cruise control, excellent condition, will come with RWC, $27,000 negotiable. Ph 0448 980 886.
MUST SELL J AY C O H e r i t a g e caravan, (Q05032), toilet, shower, washing machine, Hayman Reece with anti-sway bar, reversing camera, dual axle, new tyres, electric brakes, large fridge, full stove, hot water, single beds, 2 water tanks, TV, microwave, radio, electric awning with curtain, $27,000 neg. Ph 5722 1991.
SOLD STESSCO 3.85 Mercury 20HP, 4str electric start, power tilt, VW, POLO MUST travel cover, sounder, SELL REDUCED TO many extras, $8490. Ph $11,500 Neg, 2014 TSI 0427 727 790. MY15, 6R manual/ Bluetooth/cruise, low 41,000km, legendry fuel economy 4.8l per 100km, new car warranty and registration to October 2017 (1CE3ZU), Ph. Phone: 0407 844 527.
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