Renault Korea eyes grand sales with new Grand Koleos

Renault Korea is staking its hopes on its new Grand Koleos, a hybrid SUV with a new look and updated interior features.

The Grand Koleos SUV, Renault Korea's first new vehicle in four years [RENAULT KOREA]

[TEST DRIVE]

BUSAN — Renault Korea is seeking a grand sales rebound with its Grand Koleos blending the two options that Korean drivers love most lately — a hybrid and an SUV.

The Grand Koleos, known as the Aurora 1 project, is Renault Korea's first new vehicle in four years after frequent criticism by Korean customers over its shallow lineup. The company has been suffering from a sales slump for years, with its domestic sales shrinking to around one-seventh last year compared to its peak in 2010.

The Auto Parking system allows the car to automatically find an empty parking spot and park without human interruption. It applies to all types of parking like pulling in, backing in and parallel parking. [SARAH CHEA]

Despite the teasing description of a "twin model to the Geely Xingyue L," the Grand Koleos got a complete overhaul from the exterior to very detailed functions in the interior.

The Korea JoongAng Daily recently got behind the wheel of the Grand Koleos SUV in Busan on an almost 200-kilometer (124-mile) journey covering various driving environments, from highways to winding mounting roads.

The interior of the Grand Koleos SUV [RENAULT KOREA]

Facing the Grand Koleos for the first time, Renault fans will probably be very surprised by its design — a far departure from the company's traditional designs, with a slightly round and soft vibe. The Grand Koleos, instead, is muscular and bold.

The newly changed diamond-shaped emblem, dubbed the Losange, matches well with the trendy new design. Certainly, in my opinion, it was a wise choice for Renault to ditch the "storm’s eyes” logo.

Measuring 4,780 millimeters (188 inches) in length and 1,880 millimeters in width, the car is similar in size to Kia's Sorento and Hyundai's Santa Fe, the two best sellers in Korea in the midsize SUV category.

Powered by its E-Tech hybrid system, the car guarantees quietness with no uncomfortable vibrating or shaking, holding to Renault Korea's marketing as "the most EV-like hybrid."

The display on the passenger seat allows people to search Google, watch videos via YouTube or use OTTs like Disney +. The driver cannot see the screen while driving. [RENAULT KOREA]

A very pleasing function was a display on the passenger's seat that allows people to use the internet or watch videos through YouTube or other OTT services like Disney +. The screen is not visible from the driver's seat unless the driver stops the engine.

The TMAP navigation service was also very satisfying, especially as this reporter could see it on the dashboard by simply swiping the display with two fingers.

Above all, the most fascinating function was the Auto Parking system, where the car automatically finds an empty parking spot and parks without human interruption. It applies to all types of parking like pulling in, backing in and parallel parking.

The TMAP navigation is also available on a display on the dashboard [RENAULT KOREA]

It certainly is a very useful function if it works properly. This reporter's test-drive car failed around five times as many people or cars were nearby. "It's for safety," Renault Korea's spokesperson explained, as it works better "in areas where there are no people or cars."

But honestly, Korea is a country with chronic parking issues and high car ownership. The auto-parking system is known to help people who find parking difficult, but does it suit Korea? That just doesn't add up, I think.

From a driving perspective, I could tell that Renault Korea put a lot of effort into safety. The car issues a warning when it exceeds the speed limit for over 10 seconds, which may be a good safety function for new drivers.

Truthfully, though, it was quite too much for this reporter as the never-ending alarm caused a headache for the entire test drive course. Maybe it would have been better if it was possible to deactivate the system depending on the situation.

The Grand Koleos SUV, Renault Korea's first new vehicle in four years [RENAULT KOREA]

A smooth ride is the biggest appeal but could also be the biggest disappointment at the same time. Despite the bulky body, it seemed like the car lacked power as it rolled back on a steep uphill. Powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, the Grand Koleos generates up to 245 horsepower.

The trunk contains a mini refrigerator, which could be a plus for camping lovers.

Above all, the fuel efficiency forgives all that's left to be desired. The Grand Koleos recorded a fuel economy of 15.3 kilometers per liter (36 miles per gallon) during the three-hour test drive, though this reporter tried every function and type of driving to test the vehicle.

The sticker price of Grand Koleos starts from 35 million won ($26,000). More than 17,000 orders have already been placed.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]