Top 3 Renaults you need to take for a test drive
The well-established Renault brand sells thousands of Kwid models every year, yet there are some wonderful Renault models that South Africans should pay way more attention to. We picked three of our favourite cars from this French automaker.
Renault, which has been in South Africa for what seems like eons, has always offered cars that offer the driver a great experience, but some earlier models were plagued with reliability issues. This has all changed in recent years (also due in part to the Nissan/Renault/Mitsubishi alliance) and even WesBank agrees that dependability for Renault models has increased, significantly:
Over the years, we have seen Renault cars increase on South African roads. While they mostly cater for first-time car owners, Renault cars have been recommended by many long-term drivers too, because they are affordable, reliable, and safe. - WesBank
So without further ado, here is my list of the top 3 Renault models currently on sale in South Africa:
3. Renault Koleos
The Nissan X-Trail-based Koleos is classified as mid-size SUV but in all honesty, it feels much bigger on the inside, thanks to its long wheelbase and the omission of a third row of seats. This means that your second row passengers have more legroom than they know what to do with, which is perfect for when adults have to ride along, and the boot is a very generous 464 litres for everyone's holiday luggage.
While the 2.5-litre petrol-engine (with 126 kW and 233 Nm) is not new (it's the same tried-and-tested unit doing duty in the much-loved Nissan X-Trail) or particularly frugal, it is smooth, quiet, and offers potential owners peace of mind. With no turbocharging, there's simply less that can go wrong over time (it's the same with the CVT gearbox; a caring owner can help a CVT last much longer), and the Koleos gets a 5-star safety rating from the stringent testers at EuroNCAP.
The Koleos may not blow your hair back from a 0 - 100 km/h acceleration perspective, but its exemplary ride quality and quiet cabin make up for it. All in all, the Koleos offers luxury-seeking South Africans a well-rounded and roomy SUV package.
There is currently only one Koleos in the lineup, the front-wheel-driven 2.5 Intens model, and it retails at R620 999.
Should you prefer your Koleos in all-wheel-drive, you'll surely find a pre-loved model on AutoTrader, here.
Read ALL Renault Koleos reviews here.
2. Renault Captur
The Renault Captur spent quite a bit of time with the AutoTrader team in Johannesburg as our long-term test car, and I also had the pleasure of piloting the Captur around the Overberg's dusty, winding roads (the Captur has a practical 200 mm of ground clearance!) and mountain passes here in the Western Cape, where I reside.
What I love most about the Captur is its practical outlay (with a variety of clever storage solutions), stylish seats, and user-friendly portrait-style infotainment system, but its zesty 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol-engine with 113kW and 270 Nm of torque doesn't hurt either; (did you know that this engine also does duty in the Mercedes-Benz A-class?), you flatten your foot and the engine springs to life, while steering is light, but responsive and direct, considerably upping the fun-factor. Plus, it's a light sipper, registering 6.5 litres per 100 km during its time with us.
The Captur is definitely one of the best compact crossovers in the local South African lineup. It may not come cheap, but value rarely does. Plus, you can always buy a demo or nearly-new model on AutoTrader, search for a used Captur here!
The Renault Captur is the most exciting product the French marque has launched to the local market in recent memory, the limited-run Megane RS Trophy excluded, of course. We recently had a chance to spend some time with the top-of-the-range Intens variant and feel that this may be the best Renault currently on sale locally. -Sean Nurse
Read his Captur 1.3 Turbo Intens (2023) Captur review here.
A new Renault Captur retails from R489 999.
1. Renault Duster
The Duster needs no introduction, and has come a long way from the slightly frumpy first-generation model.
The latest Duster is designed to be your ultimate everyday-and-weekend companion, and is at home on every surface. It features a big boot, advanced safety systems, and an ultra-frugal diesel powertrain that will save you loads of money at the pumps, especially when you're out on the open road. Read our latest Duster 1.5dCi Intens EDC 4x2 Review here.
We've driven every Duster model since its inception and the 4WD model is tough as nails, as we discovered on an advanced off-road trail in Clarens a few years back. Despite the heavier low-range transfer case, diesel consumption from the 1.5DCi turbodiesel powerplant was still highly impressive.
But, you need not opt for a 4x4 model unless you really want to go very far off the beaten track; the front-wheel driven Dusters don't shy away from poor dirt roads either and if you have to, you can climb a sidewalk with ease. Thus, if you need one car that can do it all, the Duster is your vehicle - that's why it takes the number 1-spot. Visit the Renault SA website here to view the full list of specs for every Duster.
A new Duster will cost from R397 999 new. Find a used Duster here.
