You won’t see the Renault Taliant in the open spaces of France or in Macron’s motorcade. It has a different purpose, which makes it valuable for our market, given the success of the Renault Logan in previous years.
Renault has been conquering our market for years. Competent loan programs, loyal prices and the right approach to commercial offers have gradually done their job and made the brand a leader in our market. And if the French have been lagging behind a bit lately, they will definitely catch up this year. They not only update almost the entire model line, but also selectively bring us interesting models that will definitely appeal to both fans of the brand and those who have long been looking for a decent option at a decent price.
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It could be the dream of a master craftsman, builder or tiler, but now they can earn enough to buy a top-of-the-line, fresh Skoda Octavia in six months. And our Renault Taliant is aiming for a narrow budget segment and definitely claims leadership there, just like its predecessor Renault Logan once did. That is because, although it is the great-grandson of Logan, this sedan has advanced much more in functionality. In general, it seems to me that this is still a different car, even though it has the same CMF-B platform.
Well, firstly, it is 50 mm longer, wider and lower compared to the previous generation Logan. So there is more space in the cabin, in the luggage compartment. A more adult and mature image. It has a ground clearance of 175 mm, which not every crossover can boast of. Plus, practical short overhangs that will not allow you to cling to curbs while parking. Believe me, the front bumper fits perfectly over the curb. Plus, practical and inexpensive wheels of 15 and 16 diameters, depending on the configuration of steel wheels with pads, but in our case, Randia — alloy wheels are an option for an additional 13,551 UAH.
And the exterior is much more modern than its ancestor. However, this is not a car that you will fall in love with at first sight and show off. Rather, the Renault Taliant should be approached solely from a practical perspective. Because this is exactly what it has in abundance. Starting at 629,900 hryvnias for the base version with a manual transmission and ending with the top sedan for 739,000 hryvnias.
You will not find a new car with an automatic transmission cheaper on the market. There is only the Citroen C-Elysee, which is offered only with a manual and costs a little more than UAH 653,200, and its materials and trim are much poorer. Even Chinese sedans have long since left our market, leaving room only for crossovers.
The Taliant’s front end seems to resemble the earlier 2015 Megane, which was simply amazing at the time, while the rear end is taken from the practical Logan. A combination of style and functionality — a kind of hybrid.
Large headlights with C-shaped branded marker lights, a modern logo, and similarly styled taillights behind. And there’s only reflective halogen light, conventional lamps everywhere. Only the diode marker lights create a single style of the front end. And if you look at the sedan for a long time, you even start to like it. Until a Hyundai Sonata passes by.
It seems that Renault Taliant was created for nostalgia for the previous more expensive models and for those who could not afford to buy them then. I am sure that in a little while we will see a restyle that will bring this sedan closer to a more modern style.
Unfortunately, in terms of technology, the Renault Taliant seems to be stuck somewhere at the level of 2015. The interior architecture also duplicates the prototypes, impressing with its simplicity. But this is only at first glance. In fact, there is smartphone integration, a convenient mount for installing the smartphone itself near the USB connector, climate control, and cruise with a speed limit.
Even the materials in the upholstery seem stronger, more solid, and even somehow cozy. There are no unnecessary design tricks — everything is laconic and restrained. Hard plastic, smooth joints — easy to wipe and hard to scratch. So what if it creaks a little and doesn’t make you want to touch it again — less dirt.
The seats are deeper, firmer, and more supportive. The adjustments are only mechanical, but the steering wheel can be set in terms of reach and height. However, it still seems that the dashboard tilt is more directed at the ceiling than at the driver. I want to turn it a little. But you get used to it, too.
The information on the 3.5-inch screen is minimal, but it shows everything you need: instantaneous, average, mileage, and remaining kilometers. Or you can switch to another mode and see the engine speed and temperature in figures.
The multimedia deserves a separate paragraph because it is a model of restraint, both in terms of information and settings, and in terms of overall appearance and colors. You don’t expect much from it, so the colors are restrained, and the settings are minimal. There are not many functions here either. But connecting a smartphone fixes the situation. And although Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are wireless in the optional offer, I still had to use a cable to connect for the first time. But then everything worked quite well.
By the way, the basic version will have only Bluetooth and a two-speaker radio. The second package already includes an 8-inch screen and four speakers for audio. An additional package with the Navi Link multimedia system, navigation and wireless connection will cost an additional 9,034 UAH. But the sound from the speakers is even decent and drowns out unnecessary noise from the road, wind, and engine that gets into the cabin.
Renault Taliant has keyless entry, which is not available in any budget and the only rival Citroen C-Elysee. It is realized only on a plastic card with buttons, which you don’t need to take out in principle. The car opens and locks itself when you leave. And you can configure which doors will be opened, all of them or just the driver’s, in the system. You can also use the key to open the trunk, but hold the lid because it’s light and the springs that hold it are strong, so it rattles both when opening and closing. And closing it is very inconvenient because the back is wide, and your hands are always dirty.
The luggage space itself is impressive with a volume of 510 liters, and in the C-Elysee it is only 506 liters. Spacious, nothing interferes with loading, and under the thin floor there is a large full spare tire and tools in niches. In general, it will be a practical thing if the car is used in a taxi because sometimes an old Logan or Aveo arrives, and two suitcases and two backpacks no longer fit in there. This is because there is also a gas cylinder installed.
Access to the rear row is not very convenient, because of the limited opening of the doors, but there is enough space for three people. There is room for both legs and head. There are even plastic tables that fold out and allow you to fill out documents, draw a child, or something else, the main thing is not to press hard because they will fold. There are also electric windows here, whereas in the C-Elysee they are only mechanical at the rear. The sofa is quite comfortable, but you need to adjust the headrest to feel this comfort. The backrests can be folded down, and you get good cargo space along with the trunk. That’s why I respect modern sedans because they are free of the restrictions that once existed.
No one will expect Mercedes comfort from a $15,000 sedan, but I would like to see a little less swaying in the rear. Passengers are dangled both during turns and on bumps. It’s not surprising because there’s the same reliable and good beam at the back with rather modest stabilizers and MacPherson — in front, so the driver is much more comfortable in the car than the passengers.
The suspension works out minor imperfections with elasticity, jumps up on «speed bumps» and sways in corners. It’s easy enough to drive, but there’s no directional stability, and you need to keep your eyes on the road at all times, as the car sometimes veers sideways. There is a lack of both steering response and clarity.
We are offered a single and unchanged unit under the hood: a one-liter 100-horsepower TCe. We know it from the Nissan Juke. And here it is also available with a six-speed manual or CVT. And believe me, the CVT is much better than the robot that Renault used to install in the Sandero, Logan, or other budget versions. There, the delay between shifts was so significant that you wanted to go out for a coffee, and fuel consumption required just the opposite — saving on coffee. Now, I can easily run out and get a cup of hot coffee for my wife before she gets out of the morning shower.
Yes, these 100 «horses» are enough for city driving, quick changes, thanks to the box, and even feel good on the highway up to 100 km/h. Just until the wind starts whistling too much through the windshield. If you want to overtake some «» car at speed, you’ll have to switch to L mode in the box. No, it’s not a sport mode, but it increases and maintains revs much better. And full torque will be available faster than in normal mode.
Of course, the car itself is not heavy, so its 1.5 tons is one of its advantages. Torque will be different with different gearboxes (160 Nm with 6MKP and 142 Nm with CVT), although the power remains the same. Of course, with a manual, this sedan will be capable of more, but comfort is now more important for those who spend a lot of time behind the wheel. Moreover, with the variator, the fuel consumption is quite decent, and you can stay within 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers. I think with a manual, the consumption will be even lower. So you can forget about gas.
We have no analogues of Renault Taliant in its price range of $15 to $22 thousand on the market, if we look at new cars with automatic transmission, warranty, and loan programs. I think very soon taxi fleets will be replenished with more pleasant sedan versions, both for drivers and passengers. Not to mention corporate fleets. This is a category that does not look at design and technology, but prefers practicality, safety, reliability, simplicity, and accessibility of service.
As a personal car — it’s also a good option, offering comfortable travel in any weather, low costs, and confidence. Perhaps someone has long dreamed of a new car that will allow them to avoid constantly looking for services and repairmen and will not upset them with unpleasant surprises like used cars.
PROS: economy, practicality, interior space, and capacity.
CONS: design, dynamics, manufacturability.
| Body, type | Sedan |
| Dimensions (LxWxH), mm | 4396/1848/1501 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2 649 |
| Declared ground clearance, mm | 175 |
| Trunk volume, liters. | 510 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1567 |
| Engine | TCe gasoline |
| Working volume, cubic cm | 999 |
| Power, hp. | 100 |
| Torque, Nm/rev | 142 |
| Type of drive | front |
| Suspension in front of. | Independent by the Macpherson type |
| Rear suspension | Torsion beam with stabilizers |
| CHECKPOINT | CVT |
| Dynamics 0-100, s | 11,8 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 177 |
| Fuel consumption, l (mixed) | 6,4 |
| Cost, UAH | 629 900 |
| The cost of the test car, UAH | 864 139 |
| Competitors | Citroen C-Elysee |