Post by Martin on Jun 5, 2024 9:52:33 GMT
Sixt were a silly cost, so I booked with Hertz this time (and again in October), a Premium SUV which is ‘BMW X1 or Similar’. Turns out that’s a Renault Austral and that’s the best car they have on the TFS fleet, I had no idea what an Austral was.
Turns out it’s a mid size SUV (X1 size) self charging hybrid with a 1.2 3 Cylinder petrol engine. It passed the first test, which was fitting the 4 of us and our luggage in comfortably, it was a bit of a squeeze getting everything in the boot but I subsequently found out the seats slide and were all the way back so there will be more space on the way back to the airport. It passed the second test which is an easy to use Sat Nav, it uses Google maps so just like using CarPlay (it has wireless CarPlay) and it’s connected to easy to enter destinations and it has live traffic as well.
It had about 50% charge, so pottered off in electric mode and the switch to petrol was Ok but not as smooth as I’m used to. It was fine switching at speed, but if it did it at very low speeds there’s quite a vibration, I initially thought something had broken but I just think it’s the 3 cylinder engine….I’ve never driven one I liked. Ride at low speed is good, but the roads here are generally excellent, it’s way too soft and vague (steering and suspension) at motorway speeds and quite noisy, mainly tyres but also a lot of wind noise from the mirrors.
Visibility is really poor, the A pillars get in the way all the time and it’s really difficult to line it up in a parking space as all you can see is bonnet.
It’s got a CVT gearbox which is never a good thing, especially when attached to a rough sounding engine and despite 200hp it feels quite slow. I had to pull off an overtake coming down from Mt Tiede and despite it being downhill and in sport mode, it felt like it was a struggle. It has 3 levels of regen braking plus off, which works really well, you can almost just use the throttle around town and when we were coming down a mountain pass the highest level was enough to slow it down for most of the hairpins.
Overall, it’s pretty dull to drive, but I guess most of this type of vehicle are the same. I think it’s doing around 40mpg which is pretty good and range when we picked it up was just under 900kms.
I think it’s the basic model, but even so it has matrix headlights, part leather trim, dual zone climate, proximity / keyless locking / unlocking, reversing camera, loads of parking sensors a few other bits. It’s a nice colour as well. Quite a few scars despite only having done 9k km’s.
Overall, it’s fine for the week and what we need it for, but I'm pleased Lindsay has no interest in this type of family vehicle.
Turns out it’s a mid size SUV (X1 size) self charging hybrid with a 1.2 3 Cylinder petrol engine. It passed the first test, which was fitting the 4 of us and our luggage in comfortably, it was a bit of a squeeze getting everything in the boot but I subsequently found out the seats slide and were all the way back so there will be more space on the way back to the airport. It passed the second test which is an easy to use Sat Nav, it uses Google maps so just like using CarPlay (it has wireless CarPlay) and it’s connected to easy to enter destinations and it has live traffic as well.
It had about 50% charge, so pottered off in electric mode and the switch to petrol was Ok but not as smooth as I’m used to. It was fine switching at speed, but if it did it at very low speeds there’s quite a vibration, I initially thought something had broken but I just think it’s the 3 cylinder engine….I’ve never driven one I liked. Ride at low speed is good, but the roads here are generally excellent, it’s way too soft and vague (steering and suspension) at motorway speeds and quite noisy, mainly tyres but also a lot of wind noise from the mirrors.
Visibility is really poor, the A pillars get in the way all the time and it’s really difficult to line it up in a parking space as all you can see is bonnet.
It’s got a CVT gearbox which is never a good thing, especially when attached to a rough sounding engine and despite 200hp it feels quite slow. I had to pull off an overtake coming down from Mt Tiede and despite it being downhill and in sport mode, it felt like it was a struggle. It has 3 levels of regen braking plus off, which works really well, you can almost just use the throttle around town and when we were coming down a mountain pass the highest level was enough to slow it down for most of the hairpins.
Overall, it’s pretty dull to drive, but I guess most of this type of vehicle are the same. I think it’s doing around 40mpg which is pretty good and range when we picked it up was just under 900kms.
I think it’s the basic model, but even so it has matrix headlights, part leather trim, dual zone climate, proximity / keyless locking / unlocking, reversing camera, loads of parking sensors a few other bits. It’s a nice colour as well. Quite a few scars despite only having done 9k km’s.
Overall, it’s fine for the week and what we need it for, but I'm pleased Lindsay has no interest in this type of family vehicle.
