Renault Master E-Tech Reviews

Honda Civic and Renault Megane go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Renault Australia has had some success with its Koleos compact SUV particularly with incentive pricing and again when the cheaper front wheel drive model arrived. But in three years, it never really took off. That could change for the appealing Korean with French and Japanese antecedents following the arrival of a revised version complete with a cuter face, minor body tweaks and more features. It faces possibly the stiffest competition in a crowded compact SUV segment. But Renault Australia has puished the right buttons adding satellite navigation as standard to all models, and black leather upholstery with contrast stitching to the volume selling mid-specification Dynamique model. The top-of-the-range Privilege model comes with a panoramic glass roof and now adds bi-xenon headlamps with fixed cornering lights and 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. There's a new signature colour, Cayenne Orange, available across the range, that makes Koleos stand out in any car park. Koleos Dynamique and Privilege models score the innovative child-minder mirror which allows the driver to easily view the rear seat occupants a particularly useful feature for parents of young children. The Koleos benefits from family-adventure friendly storage cubbies, flexible seating adjustment and load carrying solutions, a full armoury of passive and active safety systems and the seal of approval of a five star EuroNCAP crash-test rating. Renault has been able to bring this generously equipped vehicle here with a kick off drive-away price of $29,990 for the Expression 4x2 manual. The Koleos range offers a choice of engines lifted from Nissan's X-Trail: a 2.5-litre petro and a Renault designed 2.0-litre dCi turbo-diesel, four-cylinder. The diesel delivers better fuel economy and lower emissions than the outgoing model. The all wheel drive model boasts  real off-road ability and Renault says it's ideal for escaping from the urban jungle to the great outdoors thanks to its Nissan-derived all-wheel drive traction system (4x4 only). There are three generously equipped trim levels, Expression (petrol only, 4x2 only), Dynamique and the range-topping Privilege (petrol only, 4x4 only). Numerous options are available including parking sensors, hands-free entry and ignition, joystick-operated integrated satellite navigation, Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist. Koleos gets a factory-backed,  five year/ unlimited kilometre warranty and five year road side assistance.

Renault, established in 1898, has always been as French as crepes suzettes, pommes frites and the guillotine. But its latest model, the Latitude, has a Nissan engine  and it's built in Korea by Samsung. That said, the luxury sedan, Renault's biggest yet in Australia, is quite a car.With a longitude of just on 4.9m, about the same as a Commodore or a BMW 5 Series, it has the panache to steal sales from any rivals in the $35,000 to $45,000 bracket. The elegant car comes in 2.5litre V6 petrol and 2.0litre turbo-diesel form and in standard and Luxe (say it 'looxe') trim.Prices are from $36,990, for the standard model and $42,490 for the Luxe version, in either petrol or diesel. It's considerably less than the Laguna, which is being phased out.A big attraction is a new five-year, unlimited distance warranty plus five years of 24/7 roadside assistance, which applies not only to the Latitude, but also most of the new Renault passenger range. Also new is the brand's own financial services arm.The Latitude is different in that it does not have the customary Renault quirky styling. It has conventional good looks and is very well-equipped.Standard high-end fare includes integrated SatNav, an Arkamys 3D sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, smart card key, power adjustable and heated driver's seat, rake and reach adjustable steering wheel and dual climate control.The car rides on 17-inch alloys, has an automatic parking brake, rear window sunblinds, tinted windows, leather trim and a 60/40 splitfold back seat. The Luxe has a Bose audio system, three-zone climate control, an air ioniser, power driver's seat with massage function, 18-inch alloys and a vast panoramic electric glass sunroof. There's also a reversing camera and an electrochromatic mirror.Owners don't really need to open the bonnet. All the info on essentials, like oil and coolant levels and even the tyre pressures, are available on the neat and conventional dashboard.That's all tres bien, but what about the ride?It's another plus.Sprung on MacPherson struts with a multi-link system in the tail, the spacious sedan was a pleasure on the fast sweeping roads and undulations of the terrain north-west of Byron Bay.Comfort levels are high, there's ample space for five and the boot, which holds a full-sized spare, is long and wide, with 477litres of cargo accommodation. More a comfy tourer than a sporty model, the Latitude has fine steering and handling qualities and we felt fresh as a young grenouille after a day's driving.The V6 produces 133kW and 235Nm and average fuel economy is 9.7litres/100km. The diesel whacks out 127kW and a mighty 380Nm, which handled the steep inclines with Gallic disdain and claims to deliver 6.5l/100km. We recorded 7.7litres/100km on our quicker than average run. Both engines drive the front wheels via a smooth six-speed automatic with manual sequential override.Safety gear includes six airbags, ABS, ESP, speed limiter, cruise control, parking radar and auto-on lights and wipers.As le package complete, the Latitude is a good proposition, especially for people who like a bit of individuality. It's a well-finished product of the combined expertise of Renault Samsung Motors and the latest Renault-Nissan Alliance  and it comes with the best warranty of any Euromobile.For our money, the pick would be the Luxe diesel, but Renault expects a 60/40 split in favour of the petrol version. Either way, it's a handsome smoothie that the makers see as an alternative to the ubiquitous machines cluttering up the landscape. Bon chance. 

Two of Italy’s top adventure athletes - Marco Ponteri, 38, and Telemaco Murgia, 37 - will contest the gruelling five-day event in Tasmania wilderness. The Team Pirelli pair are both champion mountain bike, trail running and kayaking athletes, but will be up against stiff competition from around the world. Created by the Formula One driver in 2003, the Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge raises funds for the Mark Webber Foundation which has donated than $1 million for charities such as the ‘Leukemia Foundation’ and ‘Save the Tasmanian Devil’ Appeal. During the event from December 7-11, teams will compete in stages of climbs and abseiling at Freycinet Peninsula, paddling along the coastal cliffs and hidden bays of the Tasman Peninsula, running and mountain biking across the forests of Bruny Island and Alpine terrain, plus a spectacular ropes course, a whitewater paddling leg and one of the longest stretches of downhill bike riding in the island state. Mark Webber says he welcomes the news that Pirelli had secured two of Italy’s best adventure athletes to compete in the Challenge. “The calibre of both Marco Ponteri and Telemaco Murgia as Team Pirelli raises the bar for all involved in the event,” Webber says. “It will be quite a sight to see them demonstrate their extraordinary skills and we are thrilled to have them on board.” Ponteri, who regularly competes in adventure events across the world, says he is eager to push himself to the limit in the Challenge. “It is an exciting opportunity to take part in such a unique competition in what must be one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in the world,” Ponteri says. “I am very proud to be representing Pirelli and Italy in such a wonderful event, which not only will test the strength and endurance of the athletes but ultimately deliver some good outcomes to a diverse range of charities.” Pirelli Tyres Australia managing director Alessandro Marchi says the event is a great fit for the Italian brand. “Our further engagement in this exciting adventure race and the causes it supports, through the Mark Webber Foundation, is part of a long Pirelli tradition of taking part in community projects and activities all over the world that contribute to education, health and research,” he says. “We look forward to welcoming ‘Team Pirelli’ to Tasmania and cheering them on as they test their skills and strength in some of the most pristine wilderness in the world.”

A mildly restyled Nissan Micra, it is scheduled for release in January 2012. Given Renault Australia's expansion plans, it may be under consideration for local consumption. The third of five vehicles to be launched in India in just over a year, Pulse is designed to appeal to the broadest customer segment. It follows on Fluence and Koleos launched earlier this year. This rapid rollout highlights Renault's commitment to the Indian market. Pulse comes equipped with the 1.5 dCi engine that ranks best-in-class in terms of fuel consumption and performance. Both car and engines are built in Chennai in the first dedicated Renault-Nissan vehicle manufacturing plant, inaugurated in 2010 to support the Alliance's ambitions on the Indian market.

While the focus until now has been cutting the harmful engine emissions of cars, commercial vehicles should not be overlooked. Utes and vans and the like make up about 20 per cent of the vehicles sold in Australia and most of them probably clock up more kilometres each year than the average family car.With this in mind it's comforting to learn French car maker Renault has produced an electric version of its small delivery van the Kangoo - as well as the electric Fluence sedan. We drove both vehicles on a recent visit to Portugal but to be frank it was the Kangoo ZE that was more impressive.The Kangoo is targeted at business customers looking for an economical solution but one that is more "respectful" of the environment.Maybe it was the fact that we had lower expectations of the van, but we reckon it was the better drive. To put this in perspective we drove the 1.5-litre diesel version of the Kangoo not too long ago.While its a tough little competitor, the electric version could easily replace it and save operators of small fleets money into the bargain. Imagine a dozen of these things with a range of 170km which that take less than $100 a month to charge? It'd be perfect for a city-based delivery service like a courier or florist for instance.In Europe the battery is leased through the Better Place company which charges the equivalent of $95 a month which includes the power. Over there 70 per cent of delivery vans travel less than 100km a day.Renault has not confirmed whether it is bringing the Kangoo ZE to Australia, but given its strong desire to have us drive the vehicle it's a fair bet.The Kangoo ZE comes in two sizes, short and long wheelbase as well as a five-seat passenger version  - all with a 650kg carrying capacity. With a 22kWh battery that weighs about 260kg the ZE it has a range of about 150km from a single charge. The electric motor produces 44kW of power and 226Nm of torque. More importantly maximum torque (the important half of the equation) is available from zero revs. The battery does not intrude in anyway into the cargo area of the van which has the same capacity as the diesel.Unlike the Fluence however the battery cannot be swapped for a fully charged one. It must be plugged into a charge point to be recharged which takes six to eight hours or less with a commercial grade charger. The battery is mounted horizontally beneath the floor.The smaller lighter van is surprisingly nippy to drive and the pick of the bunch. The larger versions feel considerably heavier but the extra weight has little impact on power consumption. The harder you drive the van less range it has, but an eco button limits the speed of the van and can boost range by up to 10 per cent.With less moving parts Renault estimates maintenance costs are 20 per cent less than a petrol or diesel powered vehicle. That will also appeal to savvy fleet operators. With electricity something like 10 cents a kilowatt hour, it's a powerful argument.

The electric-only Renault Kangoo ZE compact van is being hailed as an eco friendly model that will match the running costs of existing combustion-engined version. Renault Australia says the business case to bring the electric Kangoo is ‘well advanced’ although it is still waiting for the final green light. That means it is not clear when the vehicle might be available locally, but Working Wheels understands it could happen within the next two to three years. One of the vehicle’s advantages is the reduced maintenance cost, with estimated savings of 20 per cent. The savings would come from not having to worry about oil changes, timing belts, air filters or fuel filters. Running costs are also cut by a dramatic reduction in fuel bills, with the actual cost per km dependent on electricity prices in various areas. There is no way to tell how much the electric Kangoo would cost by the time it came to Australia, but the European model will cost the equivalent of $26,700. However, there will also be a $100 per month battery lease. Currently, there are no considerable incentives for eco-friendly vehicles in Australia, but many European governments offer financial assistance for electric vehicle purchases. For example, in France, the Kangoo would attract a $5000 subsidy. The Kangoo ZE features an electric motor (44kW and 226Nm) in the engine bay, which is fed by a 22kWh (kiloWatt hour) lithium ion battery that sits behind the front seats and below the load floor. Renault says the vehicle has a range of 170km, when driven according to the same test that determines the fuel consumption ratings for internal combustion-engined vehicles, although this is dependent on the way the vehicle is driven. The payload is 650kg, while the load volume ranges from 3m3 to 3.5m3. Renault says the recharging time, using a wall-mounted Renault charger, is between six and eight hours. It will be possible to top up at public charging centres (which are way more prominent in Europe than Australia), but it will take an hour to gain an extra 20km of range.

By 2020 it's predicted that 1 in 10 cars will be electric vehicles. At the moment there's only a smattering of electric vehicles or EVs as they are called in Australia and not all of them are for sale to the public yet.There's the tiny Mitsubishi i-MIEV, the Lotus-based Tesla sports car and Nissan's hatchback LEAF, 16 of which are being trialled by the Victorian Government.Joining them soon will be the Renault Fluence ZE, an electric, zero emissions version of the French car maker's mid-sized sedan. The big difference between Fluence and other EVs is that it's entire battery can be swapped for a fully charged one greatly extending its range.Range or more specifically lack of it is one of the major drawbacks of EVs that can normally travel only 100km or so before they need to be recharged.Also, being new technology, until now EVs have been prohibitively expensive. Due to to arrive in showrooms towards the end of next year, we travelled to Portugal this week where we were able to drive the Renault Fluence ZE.VALUERenault has not set a price yet but has indicated it will be under $40,000 and that it will be generously equipped. To that figure, however, must be added the cost of the battery which will be supplied separately under a lease arrangement by Better Place based in Melbourne.With branches in the Israel, Denmark and the United States, the company has been formed to provide the necessary infrastructure that will make electric vehicles possible.It's not talking prices either, but overseas customers are paying $110 a month which includes the power itself but there could be an additional charge for the home charging station. The power by the way is all `green' power.TECHNOLOGYAt 4.75m the ZE is 180kg heavier and 13cm longer than the standard model. The extra length accommodates the battery which sits vertically behind the rear seat. The electric motor generates 70kW of power and 226Nm of torque.There's no gears or gearbox as such, just forward and reverse and it has a top speed of 135km/h. Full torque is available from zero revs and it can accelerate to 100km/h in 13.0 seconds (petrol model does it in 10.1).With a capacity of 22kW/h the car has a range of 185km on a single charge, but this varies a lot depending on conditions and the way you drive. Apart from a smallish boot, it's in all other respects just a normal car.DRIVINGNot bad. It's certainly no golf buggy. It feels and performs like a real car, not some pretend one and could easily replace that gas guzzler in the driveway. It's much quieter of course and throttle response was slow at times but generally okay, providing you're not expecting a V8. It can even be punted hard through corners without coming unstuck.We particularly like the braking effect provided by the engine going downhill. But we suspect the hard, low roll resistance Goodyears could be harsh on our roads. A sophisticated GPS-based management system keeps track of power usage and let's you know when and where to find a charge or battery swap station if needed.RECHARGINGRenault and Better Place believe 90 per cent of customers will charge the car when they get home at night. This takes from 6 and 8 hours but for longer journeys the idea is to call into one of the Quick Drop stations that will be established where a depleted battery can be replaced with a fully charged one, a process which takes about five minutes.Both the power supplied this way and at home is provided free as part of the lease deal. If you spend $80 or more a week on petrol Better Place claims it will save you money.VERDICTYou better get used to the idea. It's the way of the future and as the technology gets better so will the cars (and their range). The price of oil is only going to go up, not to mention the environmental consequences of continuing to pump CO2 into the atmosphere.The very fact we've been driving this car suggests the change is closer than you think. It's simply a matter of making the decision to switch.

But that's the electric future, according to green infrastructure company Better Place, which is rolling out a network of charge points and battery switch stations. And it's not inner-city greenies, but fleets, that will be the driving force. At the moment, plug-in cars are a 'chicken and egg' situation. To be successful, they need the infrastructure to recharge quickly and conveniently - rather than being tied for 12 hours to a household socket -- but on the other hand, you need enough cars on the road to justify building the infrastructure. To bypass that hurdle, Renault and Better Place are partnering for the introduction of the electric Fluence sedan, which will be the first car to hit the market here with a swappable battery. And the first time a car has hit the market maked 'batteries not included'. You buy the car from Renault, but Better Place leases you the battery - which can be removed and switched for a full one in less than five minutes - and installs your charge point. But fleet sales are driver for the deal, which echoes a strategy already used in Israel and Denmark, with other countries also setting up. "Fleet sales are about 50 per cent of new car sales - taking in user-chooser leases - and we're talking a high percentage of fleet sales for this car," Better Place corporate affairs head Alison Terry says. However the company won't yet reveal lease prices or what the range of subscriptions is likely to be, except that there will be different plans based on distance - possibly ranging from 10,000km to 40,000/unlimited. But Better Place is confident there will be strong interest from fleets looking to reduce fuel bills, service costs - which are about 20 per cent cheaper on electric cars -- and also reduce emissions, of course. "It will be of benefit to anybody who spends $80 a week of more on fuel," Terry says, pointing out that the budget point is more relevant to newer cars. The average weekly distance in Australia is about 288km but that rises to 500km for vehicles less than two years old - which is largely the passenger fleet age. With average fuel consumption at 11.5L/100km, it's not hard to imagine a weekly fill of at least 50 litres - and that tips you over the $80 mark. "It also gives fleets the ability to predict their fuel expenditure far more readily than they could with internal combustion cars and the rising cost of fuel," Terry says. "We're talking to them about total cost of ownership -- but the (pricing) details will have to follow that." Terry says another key proposition for fleets is the prospect of zero emissions at no extra cost. "While people feel for the environment, they're not prepared to pay more to be green in Australia - we all know that. And commercial fleets completely are not prepared to pay more. While the fleet's business might have emission reduction targets, when it gets down and dirty to the fleet purchasing guy, he's not there to be green, he's there to meet his bottom line. Every petrol car that's replaced by an electric car saves between four and six tonnes of carbon emissions entering the atmosphere every year," she says. "So if you're a fleet owner and have carbon reduction targets, you can achieve that by introducing some electric cars into your fleet mix." The roll-out of the car and infrastructure will start in Canberra, where Better Place has sewn up a 10-year contract for the supply of 'green' electricity, mainly from wind farms.

There's no vehicle better suited to go electric than the small delivery van. Vast numbers of them spend their days idling around the cities and their nights sitting idle back at base - or at home, if they're owned by a small business. Most of them never stray far from town, their strongest features are practicality and economy, and their drivers would rarely spend red lights planning a screeching track start.So Renault has high hopes of success for the business case they're mounting to bring the Kangoo ZE plug-in van here. Of the three vans available in Europe, the most likely to arrive is the smallest two-seater, with the Maxi two-seater also on the wish list and the five-seater very much an outside chance.VALUEAs with the Fluence ZE, you buy the plug-in van but then enter into a 'battery subscription' with prices rising according to how much distance you buy.It's similar to buying a mobile phone and subscribing to a pre-paid plan - except that in this case the phone battery is part of the lease from the carrier. While that sounds awkward, it would be great if mobile phone batteries came with the Kangoo's guarantee of maintaining charging capacity and roadside breakdown assistance.There's no indication yet of what the plug-in van's price point will be in Australia, where - despite a succession of governments braying endlessly about the environment -- we still don't look like getting any tax incentives to drive green.In Europe where the pollies seem to be genuinely interested in advances other than salary review, a ?5000 deduction means the short wheelbase Kangoo ZE comes in at ?15,000 - the same price there as the internal-combustion version - with subscriptions starting at ?75 ($100) per month.So in Australia the little plug-in will have to fend for itself, arguing mainly on the basis of running costs. It will likely come in with a price above $30,000 but will be facing off against cheaper and cheerfully dirtier rivals - including the incumbent Kangoo, at $24,490 for both the 78kW/148Nm 1.6-litre petrol that uses 8.3L/100km and the 63kW/200Nm 1.5-litre turbodiesel (5.2L/100km).The bottom line is going to balance out sooner for those with high kilometres. But the running costs payoff includes about 20 per cent less in service costs with an electric motor, while medium to large businesses that have an emissions reduction target can use the Kangoo's zero output against their green bottom line. That will doubtless make them feel and look good, but in the end it's the dollars that count.TECHNOLOGYBehind the grille is a 44kW/226Nm electric motor powered by a 22kWh 400V lithium-ion battery pack - which Renault says has a 10-year lifespan.The 260kg pack is in a low central position under the rear floor, so there's nothing stolen from the 650kg payload and 3000-litre capacity (up to 4600 for the Maxi depending on the number of seats).The front wheels are driven via a CVT automatic - which is going to be welcomed by a lot of business drivers who find a manual shifter just adds to the day's chores in city traffic.Range is claimed to be 170km, but that will be with careful driving and unladen. Just as with petrol and diesel, carrying more weight will empty the 'tank' faster.However, unlike the fossil fuels, the erratic on-off pedal work of city traffic can help build reserves by capturing energy as you decelerate, although the Renault system doesn't scavenge during braking like the hybrid systems that are more familiar here.An 'eco' mode further conserves the charge by limiting the motor's torque, and shutting down the airconditioning, which means the button won't get touched during Aussie summers -- if ever.Recharging takes six to eight hours from the dedicated charge points, which increases to 10-12 hours from a standard household socket. But even an hour will top you up with about 20km range, Renault says.DESIGNFrom the outside, you can't tell it apart from any other Kangoo until you spot that there's a 'filler flap' in the grille for the charging socket - and that it's missing an exhaust system.In the cabin, the instrument cluster includes gauges for load and remaining charge, while you can keep an eye on the reserve of range through the trip computer.Built on the Scenic people mover platform, it's configured with choices of short or long wheelbases -- with the latter having a five-seat option - with a single sliding door and rear barn doors accessing the cargo area.The load floor height is a very accessible 575mm, which means it should continue to be popular for wheelchair mobility conversions.SAFETYIt doesn't have an ANCAP crash rating yet, and it's not reassuring that it only gets a single driver-side airbag - the passenger one is an extra option. However there are anti-skid disc brakes with brake assist for urgent stops and brakeforce distribution to compensate for the extra needed at some wheels when loading is uneven.DRIVINGYou slide into a high seat, but it's an uneasy spot with no reach adjustment on the steering wheel, and no rear-vision mirror on the 'blind box' smaller wheelbase of the two versions we tested.That leaves you relying entirely on side mirrors for reversing and parking. It's a manoeuvre that delivery vans do a lot of, and in the little European Kangoo it's not easy, but Renault Australia guarantees ours will have rear windows.Take-off is silent, with the motor giving a rising whine as speed climbs. But it's still very quiet at lower speeds, so an optional louder noise system is available for those who aren't keen on bouncing pedestrians off the bodywork.Both the short and long versions were quick to get going, but the smaller one kept the action up and switched direction more readily - although with a touch of jitters that suggested it would benefit from a load in the back.No surprise that the longer wheelbase felt calmer, but it was also a bit more reluctant to keep tipping in toque so smartly. It's just 160kg heavier, but it makes a noticeable difference, which suggests that the shorter wheelbase will be similarly less urgent with freight on board.The Renault electric system's 'motor braking' is so strong that the lift-off deceleration is often enough to slow you down by itself. We went for quite a while without hitting the brakes both in some urban stretches and a patch of gentle downhill bends.The steeper uphill runs meant jamming the throttle pedal to the floor to maintain speed, and that's going to suck up the charge and slash the range. But overall the Kangoo was an easy drive - even a fun one in the short wheelbase.VERDICTIt's going to do nearly everything the any other small van can -- except for more than 200km without stopping. If it comes in at a price that pays for itself in a reasonable amount of time, you'd have to consider it. That will change to 'buy it' if the government ever puts our money where its mouth is.RENAULT KANGOO ZEPrice: $30,000 + (est)Warranty: 3-year 150,000km (est)Engine: 44kW/226Nm electric motor and 22kWh 400V lithium-ion battery packTransmission: CVT, FWDBody: 2-door plus rear doors, seats 2Safety: no crash rating, 1 airbag, ABS, EBD, BAThirst: 0L/100km; 0g/km CO2Top speed: 130km/hRange: 170kmRecharge: 6 to 8 hours (16amp) 10-12 hours (10amp)Payload: 650kg, capacity 3000Weight: 1410kgDimensions (mm): length 4213mm, width 1829mm, height 1805mmWheelbase: 2697mm, tracks front/rear 1521/1533