2026 Renault Master E-Tech Reviews

It has taken a long time for Renault to join the four-wheel-drive club. There is no real reason for the delay, when you remember that it was Frenchman Thierry Sabine who created the famous Paris-Dakar off-road rally 30 years ago to spark a new European boom in 4WDs.Sabine is gone now, but Renault revived plenty of memories when it chose Morocco — always on the classic Paris-Dakar route — to preview its Koleos.The Koleos, named after a European butterfly, is far from a typically aggressive Dakar rally vehicle, even though it trumps the earlier Renault Scenic RX4 with genuine off-road capability.It comes thanks to Nissan. The Koleos gets the all-mode 4x4-i running gear from the latest X-Trail, even if it is tailored more for young urbanites with a sense of weekend adventure than intrepid transcontinental explorers.Renault admits it has been slow to join the 4WD movement, but plans to catch up fast.“We were a bit slow. It's a cultural thing: the French don't have much of a need for an SUV,” Renault's Christophe Deville says.“But now we want to be in this SUV segment because it is progressing,” he says.Based on the Nissan X-Trail and the first product of the alliance between the French and Japanese carmakers, Koleos is being built in South Korea by Renault Samsung Motors.Renault Australia senior communications manager Craig Smith says South Korean manufacture means pricing will be keen — starting at $30,000 and ranging up to the low $40,000 — when the Koleos arrives in Australia in September.There will be three trim levels, with 4x4 and 4x2 petrol models and a diesel 4x4, with a 4x2 diesel to come within six months of launch.Transmission options range from a six-speed automatic to a six-speed manual and continually-variable transmission.ON THE ROADQuite opposite to the boxy X-Trail, the 4.5m Koleos is elegant with a swooping roofline and rising waistline. The only hint of aggression is in the front and rear skid plates.The cabin is stylish and modern, with an attractive wave-design dashboard.Luxury features include a seven-speaker Bose system with subwoofer, cruise control with speed limiter, electronic handbrake, optional panoramic sunroof (about $2500), trip computer and a start/stop button.“It certainly won't be a spartan model,” Renault Australia senior communications manager Craig Smith says, even if Bluetooth and satellite navigation will not be available and iPod connectivity is only an option.Some interesting features are a chilled glovebox, a horizontally split rear tailgate with a 200kg limit on the lowered door, and automatically folding rear seats at the push of a latch by the tailgate.Other features are B pillar air vents with airconditioning fan controls in the rear and aircraft-style trays on the backs of the front seats.The 2.0-litre diesel engine will come in 110kW/320Nm and 127kW/360Nm. Renault claims fuel economy of 7.2 litres for 100km for the lower output model with CO2 emissions of 191g/km in the 4x2 six-speed manual.The diesel engine features in other Renaults and will be available in the X-Trail in Australia from July.The 2.5-litre petrol engine has 126kW at 6000 revs and 226Nm at 4400 revs, with thirsty fuel consumption ranging from 9.3 to 9.9 litres for 100km depending on transmission and drive, with emissions from 223-230g/km.Koleos is the first Renault with 4WD from launch. The all-mode 4x4-i drive system developed by Nissan for the new X-Trail can be operated in 2WD, auto and 4WD modes with a switch.In auto mode, it runs in front-wheel-drive until sensors detect slip. The electronic coupler then diverts a maximum of 50 per cent of torque to the rear.It takes into account wheel speed, yaw, forward and sideways acceleration, steering wheel angle and accelerator pedal position.Renault claims torque is split fast enough in most conditions to avoid intervention by stability control.From standstill, torque is evenly split for the first 50m for better launch grip and the Koleos also has an automatic hill-start assist.Safety gear runs from electronic stability control to anti-skid brakes and six airbags with curtain airbags that extend to the second row.The Koleos will be the second Renault in Australia with a three-year 150,000km warranty after the launch in July of the Laguna diesel hatch.Smith says Renault Australia plans to sell 100 to 150 a month, making it the biggest-selling model, topping the Megane sedan at 70-80.“We have 25 per cent of the market segments covered, but with Koleos that will lift to about 40 per cent,” Smith says.

The hot diesel arrives in Australia in October and will cost about $40,000. It blows most of the small-car oil-burners out of the water in power and torque and marginally tops the current benchmark, the Golf GT TDI ($39,990).ENGINE AND ECONOMYThe engine is the same as in the Laguna, new Koleos SUV and Trafic van, but with improved engine mapping, earlier turbo boost and mated to a more aggressive six-speed manual. The five-door Megane pumps out 127kW of power and 360Nm of torque, compared with the Golf's 125kW/350Nm.Meanwhile, RenaultSport claims it sips fuel at just 6.5 litres per 100km, against Golf's 6.6, proving you can have your gateaux and eat it too.While its power may be down on the turbo model's 165kW, it more than makes up for it with a huge dollop of peak torque from just 2000rpm. ON THE ROADThat makes it fun to drive; not just off the mark but heading towards the 5000rpm limit. Its acceleration and feeling of power is more akin to a petrol car than a diesel. And the 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine is very quiet, only giving away the hint of clatter at idle. There's also a tasty exhaust note that resembles a bigger petrol car.Brakes are big and Brembo, so there is plenty of stopping power on board. On a short blast through the Parisienne countryside, the little diesel displayed predictable driving manners and despite all that low-down torque and heavy diesel engine there was minimal misbehaviour such as wicked torque steer or massive understeer. Indeed, turn-in is very good, although the electronic steering is somewhat numb.CHASSIS RenaultSport has fitted the engine to the chassis originally developed for Megane Renault Sport 2.0 Turbo. It features independent steering-axis front suspension and a 20mm-diameter anti-roll bar, but RenaultSport has stiffened the front springs and damper settings to cope with the extra 80kg weight of the diesel engine and gearbox.The rear suspension is based on a programmed-deflection flexible beam with torsional stiffness of 80Nm which is equivalent to the Cup chassis version of Megane Renault Sport 2.0T.TRIM LEVELRenault Australia senior communications manager Craig Smith says trim level will be similar to the current three-door model with leather upholstery as an option.Inside and out there are several RenaultSport plates, badges and seat stitching, but it doesn't look like a tacky “boy racer”. However, missing from the badges is the word “diesel”.“We did not want to put a diesel badge on the back,” Smith says. “The 2.0-litre diesel is the main stay of our range. This diesel shows what it is capable of.”It certainly is a more attractive car than the standard Megane, the dual pipes and big rear diffuser shaving some vital kilos off the notoriously fat bottom.And with safety features the same as those on all Meganes which scored five stars in EuroNCAP crash tests, it makes good sense. Smith says they're expecting to sell about 70-100 a year. 

There are few more glamorous events than the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix. That is why Renault chose these two A-list occasions to unveil its Laguna coupe, before its official Paris motor show debut in October.The coupe has already been seen testing in Australia, along with the new Laguna hatch, which goes on sale this month.The coupe is firmly in Renault Australia's sights, says spokesman Craig Smith. He says it would be a perfect star car in the Renault line-up, but he could not confirm specification, a likely price or when it could arrive.“We have to justify some numbers to France,” Smith says. “But we'd love to get it.”He says the Laguna coupe could be aimed at Peugeot 407 coupe and Alfa Romeo GT buyers, which means pricing from $55,000 if it reaches this country.Renault has tried to give the coupe a technological point of difference with a new active chassis and four-wheel steering, shared with the GT sedan and similar to systems used by Honda.The swoopy front-wheel-drive coupe gets two new V6 petrol and diesel engines.In Europe it will also be available with 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines.Australia will probably stick to the performance V6s, a 3.0-litre dCi and 3.5-litre petrol that deliver zero to 100km/h times of less than seven seconds. The V6 dCi delivers 175kW/450Nm. The V6 petrol has 178kW/330Nm. Both engines are mated to a AJ0 six-speed automatic sequential transmission built by Jatco.The coupe is a full four-seater and is close to the concept car revealed at last year's Frankfurt motor show.The production car shares some design features with the new Laguna hatch. Compared with the hatch, it is slightly shorter, wider and lower. At 2690mm, it sits on a 66mm shorter wheelbase. The four-seater is 4640mm long and 1830mm wide. In keeping with its sleek profile, the car is 1400mm high.The proportions are nicely balanced. A character line from the grille rises into the shoulder line and sweeps into the rear hatch, underpinning the coupe's design cohesiveness.At the front, designers have created a purposeful air with a wide under-bumper air intake, long bonnet and new headlight design.At the back, the car has a stumpy but broad rear end and slimline LED tail-lights.The four-wheel-steering system was developed jointly by Renault engineers and Renault Sport Technologies and is designed to enhance performance, stability and agility.At low speeds, the active drive chassis and four-wheel-steering system enhance manoeuvrability. The turning circle is 10.8m. 

The sleek and modern urban-designed but off-road-capable Koleos, will arrive in Australia in September in three trim levels in four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive with diesel and petrol engine choices.Prices will start at $30,000 and range up to the low $40,000s, according to Renault Australia senior communications manager Craig Smith.“We plan to sell 100 to 150 a month, making it our biggest-selling model in the range,” he said. The current top-selling Renault in Australia is the Megane sedan, which sells some 70 to 80 a month.“We now have 25 per cent of the market segments covered, but Koleos will lift that to about 40 per cent.”Koleos is built on the Nissan X-Trail platform with the same running gear.In a multi-national focus, the Koleos is the first product of the alliance between the Japanese and French car companies and will be built in Korea by Renault Samsung Motors.At launch, the Koleos, which means butterfly, will be available in 4x4 and 4x2 petrol models and 4x4 in diesel, with a 4x2 diesel to come later.Smith said there would be no issues with supply, but if customers ordered a model not in stock it would take about 10 to 12 weeks to arrive from Korea.He said the vehicles would be well-equipped, including standard curtain airbags and stability control.“We expect younger buyers to be attracted by the urban-centric vehicle with weekday practicalities, weekend leisure capabilities and a quiet cabin,” Smith said.The Koleos comes with 112kW and 131kW versions of the two-litre diesel engine or a 2.5-litre 127kW petrol engine, both with six-speed auto or manual transmissions.While specific features have yet to be confirmed for Australia, Smith said Bluetooth and satellite navigation would not be available.It also comes with a horizontally split rear tailgate, automatically folding rear seats, a host of stowage areas and will be the first Renault in Australia with a three-year 150,000km warranty.The Koleos is part of a Renault product assault this year which continues next month with the Laguna diesel hatch in six-speed manual and auto, the Clio RenaultSport in July, the Laguna estate in September, followed by a two-litre turbo hatch and the Sport Megane DCI in October. 

New French cars are doing it tough Down Under.The top-secret prototypes were seen in Townsville this week as they completed a Down Under durability trial, part of a regular test program in Australia for all the French carmaker's new models.The cars were heavily disguised. All badges had been removed and false panels covered noses and tails, but they were the Laguna Coupe and the successor to the current Megane hatchback.The two-door Laguna is expected to break cover next month at the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix but the Megane will not be ready for showrooms until late next year.The delay on local deliveries will probably be 12 to 18 months for both cars.Renault Australia refused to confirm the identity of the cars, or even any involvement in a program with the Megane and Laguna Coupe, but their escort was a giveaway.They were pictured leaving a Townsville motel after an overnight stop with the latest Renault Koleos four-wheel drive, undisguised, carrying the support crew for the French engineering team.“We do not discuss future products,” Renault Australia spokesman Craig Smith says.But he admits Renault is using Australia to test its future models, for final certification and advanced engineering on hand-built prototypes.“Every product we bring out in Australia from now on will have an element of local testing,” he says. “The new Laguna did about 30,000km of testing in Australia before it was launched in Europe.”The five-door Laguna hatch will be in showrooms here in June, first with a diesel engine as the company's local flagship.It will be followed several months later by a petrol-engined model. The Laguna Estate wagon will go on sale in September.Testing of the Laguna Coupe is part of the car's durability certification, which includes hot-weather running and trials on rough-road conditions with cars built on the regular production line in the build-up to full capacity.The Megane will probably be an engineering prototype, hand-built and undergoing much more fundamental test work.The car is at least 12 months from its European debut, though it could break cover at the Paris Motor Show in October.Smith was more open about the Koleos, which Renault Australia will introduce to the Australian motoring press in Morocco next month.“The Koleos will be on sale here in September,” he says. “It will be available in petrol and diesel, starting at just over $30,000.”

Meet the Megane Coupe Cabriolet concept, the standout star of the Geneva Motor Show stacked with designer fantasies and production test beds.“This show car emphatically showcases the evolution of Renault design,” says Renault's Patrick Le Quemont. “Its squatter proportions and powerful, energetic styling talk directly to the driver's senses. The spectacular door-opening kinematics add that little touch of magic.”Those doors, which open upwards in two stages - first the glass swings up followed by the metal bottom section - are the standout feature but are unlikely to carry through to the expected appearance of the production Megane Coupe at the Paris Motor Show in September. Renault is not about to confirm any features of future models but does concede the Megane Concept is a taste of a later compact production coupe.Inside, the concept has been styled with a funky future theme featuring ultra-thin seating, acres of red plastic, brushed aluminium and leather with a full suite of electronic gadgetry, including full Bluetooth connectivity, rear-vision cameras and a locking system operated by a mobile phone. The concept rides on 21in wheels, has Brembo brakes and is powered by a conventional 147kW, two-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with drive through a six-speed automatic box. One element of the exterior design likely to make production is the front-end treatment.Meanwhile, Hyundai continues its journey to mainstream innovator with the HED-5 i-Mode minivan concept - a six-seat vision of future urban transport.The i-Mode concept on display in Geneva showcased advanced materials and construction with an interior inspired by natural forms and landscapes. The seating is a unique swivel technology from automotive seating specialists Keiper. Powered by a 2.2-litre diesel with sequential turbochargers with 158kW of power and 450Nm of torque, the concept appears to be built off a modified i30 platform. Hyundai's sister company Kia rolled out three versions of its Soul concept, first shown two years ago in Detroit, but this time the boxy hatch is close to production.As the Soul Diva, the Soul Burner and the Soul Searcher, the three concepts are exterior studies of the same vehicle but, judging from the lack of out-there gadgetry in the interior - and ignoring the fanciful interior trim and colour treatments - the model is very close to a production future.Honda moved another step closer to its promised hybrid vehicle to sit side-by-side with Civic by the end of next year, unveiling the stylish CR-Z concept. A three-door hatch with attitude to burn, the CR-Z has already been anointed by Honda as a hybrid sports car of the future.The CR-Z's sleek look is highlighted by minimalist LED headlights and driving lights, nose-down stance and truncated tail with upright rear glass. 

In only a few months the new Renault Laguna will arrive. But Renault Australia is casting its net wider after the French carmaker showed off the new GT version in Europe.“We're looking at it, but it's too early to confirm either way,” Renault Australia spokesman Craig Smith says.“The success of the new Laguna launch will be a big factor.”If the Laguna is a sales success, the GT could be here by the middle of next year.In Europe, the GT has an 'active drive' chassis with four-wheel steering and the choice of two high-performance engines; the 134kW/400Nm 2.0-litre dCi turbo-diesel and the 152kW/300Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol.If Renault Australia were to decide to bring in either version, the five-seater could sit comfortably above the Clio RenaultSport.The active-drive chassis and four-wheel steering provide enhanced levels of roadholding, secure emergency braking and high-speed manoeuvrability.Visually, Renault has adopted a less-is-more approach. The GT has no garish go-fast enhancements. Instead, there's a deeper grille, twin exhausts, sports alloys and a premium interior.The car's subtle character is underpinned by lateral air intakes and headlights with black masks.The Laguna GT sits on specific, generously sized 225/45 18-inch Bridgestone Potenza tyres, which had their origins in Formula One, and the special Celsium wheels barely conceal 320mm diameter discs at the front and 300mm discs at the rear.Inside there's pale grey alcantara and leather sports seats, cross-drilled aluminium pedals, a sports gearshift lever and a special steering wheel.The GT's turbo-diesel and turbo-petrol engines are geared for performance. The 2.0-litre dCi delivers its peak power at 3750 revs and peak torque comes in at 2000 revs. The 2.0-litre petrol turbo delivers peak power at 5000 revs and peak torque from 3000 revs.The petrol engine is derived from Renault Sport technology, as featured on Megane RS, but specifically optimised for Laguna GT.The 110kW/340Nm 2.0-litre Laguna dCi goes on sale in August, the petrol models in September. 

It was cute, small and “fantastic”, but it was a car he'd never seen before. It was a Renault 5 and although it was unusual to Sprague, it wasn't for Europeans. Between 1972 and 1985 Renault built nea

Renault MD Rudi Koenig unveiled the new Laguna Estate as the cornerstone and product flagship of the French brand, with its emphasis on safety.

Diesel will power Renault sales within two years, with the company conservatively estimating that 30 per cent of its passenger sales will be dCi models.In reality, that figure's more likely to be half, which is why Renault views the new 1.9-litre Scenic diesel as a key car to build recognition of the dCi range, even though the people mover is projected to sell at only 15-20 vehicles a month.Renault already sells the Megane and Laguna diesels here but sees the need - sooner rather than later - to offer an oil burner in every segment.For a company that sold a mere 2897 passenger cars in Australia last year, the Scenic fills a small but crucial niche.Renault managing director Rudi Koenig concedes the diesel will take sales off the petrol models, but says it's what customers want.“We're seeing customers who go overseas, and often end up renting a Scenic diesel, coming back and asking for the diesel model here,” Mr Koenig says.“It's fair to say we've lost some sales because we haven't had the diesel.”The dCi stacks up well against the two-litre Scenic petrol models, with 96kW of power and 250Nm of torque compared with 98kW/191Nm.While performance is comparable, the diesel has a much more moderate thirst, downing 7.1 litres of fuel every 100km to the petrol's 8.6 litres/100km, with an equal drop in exhaust emissions.In a car park filled with soft-roaders and crossover wagons, the Scenic stands out as a car-based people mover - and for that prominent rear end.Like the engine, the styling is lifted from the Megane hatch and Mr Koenig says it's slowly gaining acceptance with buyers.“The Megane was ahead of its time when it was introduced but now other companies have followed that (bulging rear-end) trend and it's become accepted,” he says.“The Scenic for me is a real disappointment . . . it is a very good product that hasn't found it's place in this market.”Mr Koenig concedes the Scenic's compact external dimensions can work against the car, with families not putting it on the shopping list because they don't realise how much interior space is available. “It's a genuine five or seven-seat people mover that doesn't have the weight penalty of a four-wheel drive, but still has the same hip-point access to easily load and unload kids and prams,” he says.The diesel model is only available with five seats and as a four-speed auto. It is priced at $37,990.And there aren't many options you'll need to tick - the standard kit includes electronic stability control, brake force distribution and curtain airbags.Under typical acceleration it's a quiet and smooth-driving unit, with enough mid-range urge to make urban-speed overtaking a breeze. Heavy use of the right foot will produce a muted drone as the engine holds second gear until you've built up to cruising speed, but the noise of the kids is likely to drown that out anyway.The handling is reassuringly benign - this is a vehicle you'll be carrying the little treasures in, after all - with the stability control intervening at the first loss of front-end grip.Visibility is another strong suit, with the Scenic easy to park and reverse. There's enough storage under the seats and in the doors to stash the toys, pens and books required to amuse the family, and the rear seats will slide back for more legroom should you have extra adults to transport.