When it comes time to buy a new car, it can often be quite daunting to make sure you think of everything you need to. That’s because there are so many different aspects to choosing a car, and you have to make so many decisions. You’ll need to think about the car make, the right choice of car type, features, fuel type, and so many other considerations before you sign on the dotted line. Let’s try and make some of these decisions a bit easier and look at the various models and options that French car maker Renault offers.
List It Out
The first thing you should do before buying any new car is to decide how much you can and want to spend on the car. Be realistic and once you’ve decided on a budget, stick to it. It’s this budget that is going to determine the car and the included extras you can opt for when you’re buying, and by deciding what it is before you go car shopping, you’ll be more likely to stick to the budget and don’t waiver over it.
Once your budget is set, it’s time to prioritize. Make a comprehensive list of all the features you’re likely to find in a modern car and remove those that are of no interest to you. Make this list as comprehensive as possible and list everything from simple things like air conditioning to more personalization wants, like a private number registration from Regtransfers. Take the list of remaining features and rank them in order of importance. Include things that are non-negotiable, things you’d love to have, and things that are nice to have, but you could live without.
After this exercise, you’ll have a budget and a list of things you’re looking for from your car. Now it’s time to visit a dealership and have a look at the different cars Renault makes and which one will best suit your budget and feature list.
Pick A Model
Renault offers models for just about any need, from small cars suited to town driving, to crossovers and larger SUVs and family cars, and even fast two-seater sports cars. The range comprises just under 20 different models, and while all of these might not be available in your region, choosing one still means knowing exactly what you want.
For the daily commuter, you could consider the Renault Clio, a small hatchback that is well-suited for your daily drive to and from work. It’s light on fuel and comfortable, and available in both fuel-only and hybrid versions. If you’re looking for a fully electric option, then the new Renault Zoe E-Tech is an electric vehicle option that is just perfect for commuting.
If you’re doing the school run on the way to work, you might want to opt for something more spacious, like the Renault Captur, which is modeled on the Clio and a bit bigger and more spacious and has consistently been the top-selling SUV crossover in Europe for many years. If your car is going to be used as a family car, or even employee transport where lots of space is needed, then the Renault Trafic is the model aimed at you.
If your car is used more often for leisure trips and longer drives, both the Captur and Arkana are great options since you might look for different features in a car most often used for a daily commute. For a sporty option, the Renault Megane is worth a look.
The Included And The Optional
Renault is well known for offering cars with many modern and desired features at excellent prices. Many features are included by default and not optional extras, which makes finding a Renault to meet your budget much easier.
The entry-level Renault Captur Evolution, for example, comes standard with many premium features, like a big 7” full-color touch screen, full electric windows, air conditioning, keyless entry with a hands-free keycard and touch button start, which on many other brands might be considered optional extras. Renault offers really great value without having to buy a more premium model.
Of course, you do have optional extras that are included in the more feature-fitted models. These optional extras might include simple things like a shark-fin antenna or the switch from cloth to leather seats, to the more technology-focused additions, like full climate control, ambient lighting zones, a rear reverse camera and parking assist, and Renault’s E-Tech plug-in hybrid technology.
Let’s Talk About E-Tech
Renault offers two different options when it comes to electric vehicles right now.
If you’re buying a Clio, Captur, or Arkana, you can choose a hybrid model. This includes Renault’s E-Tech hybrid system, which offers many of the features you can expect from a full-electric car with a fuel engine for when it’s needed. Renault refers to it as combustion-assisted electric, and that’s quite a good description.
By using a single combustion engine and two electric motors, with a battery that can be charged with kinetic energy, or plug-in options. It’s a rather complex system that requires a technical explanation, but the bottom line here is that Renault claims you can expect up to a 40% reduction in fuel use, which means not only cost savings but 40% less harmful pollution than a standard combustion engine car. It also has the added benefit of not needing to worry about the range of a hybrid.
Renault makes a full plug-in electric car too – the Renault Zoe. It’s a smaller car, so it will probably fit better into your life as a commuter car. Renault claims it will do up to 238 miles on a single charge. It’s also fitted with kinetic recovery systems, which can charge your battery while under braking as you drive.
There’s A Safety Rating For That
If you’re buying a new car, you’ll likely want to know how safe it is, and how well it stands up to accidents in the unlikely event you’ll end up in one, particularly if you’re buying a car for the family. Modern cars are tested for safety and many different things are assessed. By using high-tech and tried and tested simulations of real-world accident scenarios, these tests are designed to show us just what might happen if your car is involved in an accident and what features and safety equipment the car has to both deal with these accidents and to help you avoid them. If you want to check a car’s safety test result, have a look at the Euro NCAP website as the results are searchable.
Renault achieves great results when tested using the Euro NCAP rating system, and many of their cars achieve five stars for safety. Only the Renault Zoe didn’t fare too well in the NCAP tests, which is somewhat forgivable as you’re likely using it as a short-distance commuter car, but there is certainly room for improvement from the French car maker, particularly since the Captur, Clio and Megane all boast excellent five-star ratings.
Renault is an innovative car manufacturer with a range that has an option that suits just about anyone. Many of the technologies included in Renault cars are valuable and desirable, so consider them for your next family or commuter car.
Featured photo by Marcel Pirnay on Unsplash.
