2026 Renault Master E-Tech Reviews

Two wagons typify their countries of origin: flair from France's Megane and efficiency from Germany's Golf.

Peter Huntington is more than happy with his 2009 Renault Koleos 6-speed auto diesel. He says the gear changes are seamless, the ride and handling is superb, and it returns around 8L/100km around the city and even less on country trips. His only quibble is the cost of engine oil and filters, which he says are expensive.Alan Sharp was looking for the flexibility of a wagon when he bought his two-wheel drive CVT Koleos in 2012 and he is happy with his decision. He says it is a pleasure to drive, is comfortable, has adequate performance, and there has been no problems to date. His only criticism is that it can be a tight squeeze with the rear seats occupied plus luggage.Superb is the word Bruce Barber uses to describe his 2009 Dynamique 4WD with the petrol engine and CVT transmission. It is smooth, quiet, comfortable, and powerful. It has done 65,000km and has been trouble-free. Brake pads were replaced at 50,000 km, and the original tyres were replaced at 60,000.Before his 2011 Koleos Expression CVT Bob Brown owned a Renault Scenic, which was unreliable and expensive to service. The Koleos, on the other hand, has done 90,000km and there have been no problem at all, and on top of that he's found the servicing costs to be much more reasonable. He adds that it's comfortable, has great storage, the folding seats allow great flexibility, and he gets 8.5L/100km.Norm Hill has done 65,000 km in his two-wheel drive 2011 Dynamique with great pleasure. The 2.5-litre motor pulls well and he likes the CVT transmission. His average fuel consumption is 9.5L/100km from a mix of city and country driving. To date there have been no problems with it, the tyres were replaced at 52,000km, but it's still on the same set of brake linings. He also loves the vast array of features it has, particularly the very practical two-piece tailgate.NEWThe Koleos was a product of the alliance between Renault and Nissan and made use of much of the all-wheel drive hardware available in the Nissan parts store.It was based on the Nissan X-Trail and used the same all-mode 4x4 running gear from the X-Trail.With its fresh, attractive looks there was little hint that the five-seater Koleos was a close corporate cousin of the conservative X-Trail.Renault introduced the Koleos with two levels of trim, the entry level Dynamique and the better-equipped Privilege, with 4x4 and 4x2 petrol and diesel models. The two-wheel drive Expression was added to the range in 2010 when it became the entry-level model.The petrol engine was a 2.5-litre four-cylinder unit producing 126kW at 6000 rpm and 226Nm at 4400 rpm, while the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel was available in two tune variants depending on whether you chose the manual or automatic transmission.When linked to the manual gearbox it put out 127kW and 360Nm, but was detuned for the CVT auto and put out 110kW and 440Nm in that combination.The transmission choices were a six-speed manual gearbox, a six-speed auto, and a CVT continuously variable transmission.Renault cleverly offered the Koleos in two-wheel drive form, in which it was a regular front driver, or four-wheel drive form when it had Nissan's well respected all-wheel drive 4x4-i system.With the 4x4 system the Koleos could be driven in two-wheel drive mode, auto or four-wheel drive with the flick of a switch.In auto mode, it ran in front-wheel drive until the system detected wheel slip when it would begin feeding drive to the rear wheels as well. The maximum torque split between front and rear wheels was set at 50 per cent.The cabin was stylish and modern, and quite roomy, although tall occupants would find the rear a little cramped.The fit and finish was generally of a good standard, and the materials used looked and felt of a decent quality. NOWAs can be seen from the feedback we've had from Koleos owners they are more than happy with their cars.None report any issues with them in the time they have been driving them, and they also report good mileage from brakes and tyres.Fuel mileage is also on the money with the claimed figures issued by Renault, which should give prospective owners good confidence of what they too can expect to get.No one has complained about the CVT transmission, or reported any problems with it, which should also give prospective owners some comfort in buying cars with this quirky transmission.As always check for a service record. Regular maintenance is critical to a long and reliable motoring life, so make sure the car you're thinking of buying has seen the inside of a workshop on a regular basis.Although the Koleos isn't a hardcore off-roader some owners could have taken them to the beach or down a bush track, and they're quite capable to doing that. Just make sure they haven't been beaten up in the process.Take a look around the body for dings and dents, check the rear bumper to see if it has ever been ripped off, and get down and peer underneath for damage to the underbody and components under the vehicle.SMITHY SAYSRefined, comfortable, safe and reliable. There is a lot to like about the Koleos.AT A GLANCE SPECSPrice new: $29,990 to $39,990Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cyl, 126 kW/226 Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 110 kW/320 NmTransmission: 6-speed man, CVT, FWD, 4WDEconomy: 9.5 L/100 km (2.5); 8.3 L/100 km (TD)Body: 4-door wagonVariants: Dynamique, Expression, PrivilegeSafety: 5-star ANCAP 

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the 2014 Renault Megane GT220 hatch, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the Renault Twizy in Australia.

Postman Pat never had it so good. If the affable postie ventured into a Renault showroom in Europe, he'd be able to do deliveries emissions-free in a Kangoo electric van.Renault has the Kangoo ZE (Zero Emissions) on trial with Australia Post, which already uses its light commercials.More than 14,000 examples of the plug-in Kangoo have been sold in Europe in its four-year life. Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar says the trial is aimed at starting Australian sales."Renault is a global leader in electric vehicle technology, with four models currently on the market worldwide," he says. "Kangoo ZE has already been a strong sales success."The little electric van is a comfortable operating environment, no different in operation from its mainstream counterparts. There is a battery level gauge and, instead of a tachometer, charge dials.There's no diesel chug at idle and it's eerily quiet when under way — the lights in the display are the only clue it's working. That's not to say it will slow traffic or inconvenience other road users.Fed by a 22kWh lithium-ion battery, the electric motor (44kW/226Nm) propels the Kangoo to 50km/h in 5.5 secs.Claiming a real-world range of 80km-125km, depending on driving style, the van seems well-suited to metro delivery work.A focused driver with deft throttle control could make good use of the regenerative braking — which sends charge back to the battery while slowing the vehicle — and leave the brake pedal largely alone.Without a load in the four-cubic metre cargo bay it's not going to ride with aplomb but nipping around corners at pace is not beyond its skills. Given the electric motor's instant torque delivery, a judicious right foot is needed to avoid spinning the front wheels.2014 Renault TwizyRenault has imported examples of its two-seater electric Twizy to show authorities and potential buyers it's a worthy alternative to a scooter. With scissor-doors and weighing 474kg, the Twizy has to go through many legal hoops and be classed as a quadricycle to be driven here.Sampled on a closed road circuit, the Twizy quickly endears itself. Fasten seat belts, drop the lightweight doors into place, turn a familiar key, release the handbrake and roll off silently, but for a faint whine from the 13kW/57Nm electric motor, fed by a 6.1kWh battery.The weight of two occupants settles the ride. It can keep up with traffic — 0-45km/h takes a claimed 6.1 seconds. A broad 191cm passenger can fit behind a 175cm driver — that's a pleasant surprise. It doesn't mind corners, though turn-in is not sharp. Range is 50km-80km, top speed is 80km/h and it takes 3.5 hour to charge from flat, for less than $2.

Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the 2014 Renault Megane GT-Line hatch, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The chunky Nissan Navara is about to get a French facelift to join the Renault family.The re-bodied and rebadged ute is being fast-tracked into the Renault line-up and could be in Australian showrooms as early as the final months of next year.The French connection is being forged as Hyundai and Kia both struggle to convince their head office in South Korea of the urgent need for a work-and-play pick-up to boost their rapid sales rise Down Under."Still nothing to report. We're still pushing but there is nothing in the plan," says Hyundai Australia chief operating officer John Elsworth.But there is plenty happening in the French direction, with global styling boss Laurens van den Acker confirming details of his styling makeover."We're going to do it. For sure," van den Acker confirms to CarsGuide at the Paris motor show.He also details the changes needed to ensure the latest Nissan Navara, only unveiled this year and being built in Thailand for Australian buyers, picks up DNA from the Renault gene pool."We have to make sure...that it's very different to Nissan. What we should do is share everything underneath and differentiate the visible parts." He says demand from Australia, where Renault is now the second-biggest global market for Renault Sport cars, helped swing the vote on the ute project."This opens up, because there are also South America and the US where 50 per cent of the market is pick-up trucks."So if you don't have it, then you don't play." Apart from the ute, Renault is also pressing ahead on expansion of its SUV line-up from today's Koleos, again tapping Nissan for the mechanical platforms used on the Qashqai, X-Trail and Pathfinder. 'We're very late, but thankfully the crossovers we are doing are quite successful. We are trying to share the platforms, so we're looking to the (Nissan-Renault) Alliance to share the platform," he says."Early next year we'll be launching the (compact) crossover, which is based on Qashqai. New Koleos will be the biggest, bigger than today, based on the Pathfinder." According to van den Acker, Renault is also going to try again for success with larger sedans in the Holden Commodore-Ford Falcon-Toyota Aurion size."It's an important segment to be in, for your image. If you don't have a (family) sedan you're not a real car company, in some way," he says."It is a segment under pressure but it holds your own." Without confirming it for Australia, he drops a solid hint in naming the factories that will build the newcomer."We will produce it in Korea and in Europe. Here (Europe) it is planned for 2016," van den Acker says."In the next two years we will roll out all the mid-sized and big ones."

Australian drivers are about to become real-life crash-test dummies, because from next year it will be easier for less safe cars to earn a five-star safety rating.The peak body that proudly closed a number of loopholes for crash rating requirements two years ago is about to reopen them so they are more closely aligned with European results, which are less stringent in two key areas. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) currently requires five-star cars to provide airbag protection for back seat passengers, and to score a minimum 12.5 points out of 16 in a head-on crash test, which measures a car’s ability to protect front seat passengers. However, from next year, Australia will accept EuroNCAP results even though they do not require five-star cars to provide airbag protection for back seat passengers. The European crash test body is also happy to elevate a car to five stars even if it scores less than 12.5 out of 16 in the critical frontal crash test. RELATED: Chinese ute safety slammed againMORE: Indian ute scores two stars ahead of upgradeVIDEO: Why side airbags are life savers“Any move to water down safety standards is a raw deal for the consumer,” said Tom Godfrey, the spokesman for Australia’s peak consumer body Choice. “Any move to compromise these ratings in a bid to align with apparently weaker international criteria would not be a good thing for consumers.” Choice said ANCAP had done good work in the past at improving vehicle safety, but adopting Europe’s weaker testing measures was a step backwards. “Choice believes Australia should maintain the highest standards possible when it comes to car safety,” said Mr Godfrey.Frontal crashes are more common but side impacts are more deadly, which is why ANCAP initially made side airbags mandatory for five-star cars. ANCAP is making the changes so its results become more closely aligned with EuroNCAP, to cut confusion among buyers, even though ANCAP preceded its European counterpart when it was established in 1993. The changes mean cars that would not qualify for a five-star rating in Australia today will get a five-star rating under the new rules. For example, the Renault Captur SUV, if it were launched in Australia this year as planned, would earn a four-star rating under the current guidelines because it lacks rear airbags.But because Renault has delayed the launch until 2015 — when the relaxed rules are introduced — it will get a five-star rating. Renault Australia spokeswoman Emily Fadeyev insists the late arrival is due to “global demand and shipping delays” and not to take advantage of the rule change. EuroNCAP is not due to make rear airbags mandatory for five-star ratings until 2016, and currently has no plans to reinstate the minimum requirement of a 12.5 score out of 16 in the frontal crash test. ANCAP chief executive officer Nicholas Clarke told News Corp Australia: “Rear airbags are important, there’s no doubt about that. But Europe will require them (for five star ratings) in due course. There might be room for a little bit of confusion but we will respond to consumers as they arise. It’s really those that have a very active interest in safety that would pursue issues of rear airbags over no rear airbags.”ANCAP is an independent body funded by the Federal Government, the roads and traffic authorities in each state and territory and some insurance companies. It has no power to stop a car from going on sale; instead it tests cars independently and then publishes the results in a star-rating system so consumers can distinguish the safety of new cars. ANCAP was the first body of its type in the world to insist cars must have airbag protection for back seat passengers if they are to be awarded five stars. ANCAP was also the first to mandate electronic stability control, which can prevent a skid in a corner and is viewed as the next big lifesaver after the seatbelt. The rules requiring rear airbags were initially made by ANCAP after a number of cars, including the 2008 Ford Falcon, scored a five-star rating even though they were not fitted with rear airbags. ANCAP changed the rules in 2013 to close the loophole and raise safety standards for family cars.However after just two years, following pressure from some car makers who sell some models without rear airbag protection, ANCAP has announced it will relax this rule and align its testing criteria with its European counterparts. 

The car of the future from Renault has no future here.The fourth-generation Espace people-mover, which has been re-imagined as an SUV-style crossover, will not be built in right-hand drive. Sales of right-hook examples dived in Britain during the global financial crisis.The Espace was unveiled at the Paris motor show with a seven-seater family cabin, in a body that looks more suitable for SUV duty.It is expected to surge after sales slumped to just 8000 cars a year for the previous model. The new package includes the latest in infotainment, power folding seats in all three rows and petrol and diesel engines.But, even though Renault Australia can see serious potential to put it up against seven-seater SUVs, the cost of adding right-hand drive will be prohibitive."It's a shame. At the time it didn't make business sense," Renault design boss Laurens van den Acker reveals exclusively to CarsGuide."Yes, we looked at it. But Britain, which is the biggest market for the Espace in right-hand drive, decided not to take it. Never say never but is very unlikely." Van den Acker says development of the Espace was driven by design, including an 80mm drop in overall height, achieved without affecting headroom. There is also more knee and legroom in all seats.Renault has trimmed weight by 250kg and the turning circle is as tight as Renault's baby Clio.Van den Acker says he also needed to make the car look tougher to entice SUV buyers at least to add it to their shopping list."Frankly, we had to innovate or it would die. The goal with Espace was to reinvent the big traveller. It's a car you want to pack up and head to the country," he says. "The old car was getting tired, a little bit old. I think what's nice about the new one is that it has a new attitude." He believes the Espace will set a style direction that other brands will follow in the move away from full-scale four-wheel drive packages to front-drive people-movers with SUV bodywork."We were inspired by the TGV, the high-speed French train. We worked very hard on it," he says. "Now you can look sexy when you drive a minivan. You don't have to look like you're driving in a giant aquarium." The good news for Australian families is that the next-generation Scenic, the Renault model below the Espace, is heading in a similar design direction."In two years there will be a new Scenic, our other seven-seater. We also want to re-invent the Scenic but that's another story. We need to give people a reason to come back to it, too."

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Renault Captur SUV ahead of its arrival in Australian showrooms.