Test drive Renault Talisman Initiale Paris: 225 CV under control

The Renault Talisman’s 4Control system elevates the art of driving and turns this French saloon into the perfect vehicle for devouring kilometres on the road. Its dynamics and comfortable cabin place it well ahead of the much-in-demand SUVs when it comes to travelling.

Despite sitting in a segment in decline (faced with the rise of SUVs) like that of the classic three-box saloons, the Renault Talisman represents everything a long-distance travelling vehicle should be. Well above the vast majority of SUVs in dynamism, consumption and comfort, this French saloon is an outstanding vehicle in most respects. Special mention goes to the 4Control technology of the Renault, which complements perfectly the 225 CV TCe engine fitted to our test unit. Below we share our impressions behind the wheel.

Renault Talisman Initiale TCe 225 CV

With exactly 1,798 cc and 225 CV, the new petrol engine of the Renault Talisman debuted in the saloon’s range at the end of last year, replacing the 1.6 TCe 200 CV as the more performance-oriented option. This responded to the new WLTP real-world homologation protocol. But this engine is much more than that. Combined with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, the dynamics of the new Renault Talisman take a step forward to position it as one of the benchmarks in its segment. And we can vouch for that.

During the days of testing in which we lived with the new Renault Talisman, we found it to be a vehicle perfectly suited to travelling. The performance of this new TCe engine left us fully satisfied. And the overall dynamics of the vehicle, both in town and, above all, on the open road, have plenty of arguments to stand out from the competition. Starting with its improved agility in all kinds of situations, through to the practicality and comfort of its interior, and the extra quality of the Initiale trim or its relatively moderate consumption levels.

The official WLTP figures for the new engine give average consumption of 7.3 l/100 km, very close to the 7.6 l/100 km we managed to record as an average on a mixed urban and open-road cycle. On the open road, with favourable motorway traffic conditions, we even got the figure down to an average of 5.7 litres. This is a very pleasant engine thanks to the way it delivers its thrust, with 300 Nm of peak torque. And with good acceleration: 0 to 100 in 7.4 seconds.

Driving pleasure

In a saloon of its characteristics, it is obvious that we are not looking for sportiness, but what we do have is agile, quick and tremendously effective dynamics. The 4Control technology of the Renault Talisman, with 4-wheel steering, makes the vehicle gain agility in urban areas and precision on the open road. At speeds below 50 km/h, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the direction of travel, improving the manoeuvrability of a vehicle 4.84 metres long. Conversely, when travelling at higher speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels, keeping the car “on rails” through the most demanding bends. In other words, the Talisman is far more interesting with this technology fitted.

This is truly the perfect complement to crown the dynamism of a vehicle that is already outstanding in engine and chassis. The 225 CV of peak power is reached at 5,000 rpm, while peak torque is available from as low as 2,000 rpm. Beyond the engine’s wide rev range, it offers outstanding refinement, and the smoothness with which it operates ensures ride comfort, with no noise or uncomfortable vibrations. But a good engine alone would not achieve the dynamic heights the new Renault Talisman offers. Both the gearbox and the various configurable parameters of the chassis (damping, steering, engine and sound) adapt really well to the 4 different driving modes preset by the Multi-sense system of the Renault (Eco, Comfort, Neutral and Sport), plus a fully adjustable option.

The Sport mode, while not especially sporty, adds a touch of spice to driving on twistier roads. During our test on mountain roads, on a more demanding route, the response of the Renault Talisman was always fun with this mode activated. Naturally we are not talking about sporty driving, but we do have agile and quick cornering, along with a more refined chassis and 4Control setup to hold the vehicle, ease the line and instil total confidence in the car’s composure. It is true that consumption levels will comfortably exceed 8.5 l/100 here, but you will surely enjoy a spell of fun behind the wheel. That said, it is advisable to take care with your right foot when accelerating from low speed or while the car is still turning into the bend, because despite the pleasant sound it makes, you may lose some traction with all that power going straight to the front axle.

What does not change depending on the type of driving undertaken is the ride comfort, beyond a greater or lesser degree of firmness in the suspension. Both the front seats and the rear passenger seats are spacious and genuinely comfortable, with the driver and front passenger seats having a slight edge thanks to the massage function they offer while driving. Load capacity is also outstanding thanks to the 515-litre boot, placing the Renault Talisman at the top of its segment, ahead of rivals such as the Peugeot 508, Mazda 6 or Kia Stinger.

In short, we find a combination of practical and dynamic qualities that lead us to ask ourselves the following question:

Family SUV or saloon?

If we go by market trends, the debate does not exist. SUVs remain fashionable and are the only segment still growing its sales, while saloons and family compacts have a lot of work to do to win back the public’s favour. However, in terms of driving feel, practicality and consumption figures, models like this Renault Talisman should be on the mind of any driver looking for a vehicle that is pleasant to drive and extremely versatile. This is an area where the French saloon, in our view, is ahead of an SUV of the same size.

And the fact is that there is no crossover of almost 5 metres, with 225 CV, that consumes between 7.2 and 8 litres per hundred and has a 515-litre boot for less than €40,000. If we add to that the driving dynamics of a vehicle with a much lower centre of gravity, together with the Renault’s 4Control technology, the equation clearly tips in favour of the Renault Talisman. I will not be the one to question the qualities of SUVs, but not everything is about a high driving position and being able to venture onto dirt tracks.

The Renault Talisman against the competition

Within the segment, the Renault Talisman competes with very serious vehicles. The Volkswagen Arteon, Opel Insignia, Mazda 6 or Peugeot 508 are top-level rivals against which to weigh everything the Talisman offers in Initiale Paris trim with 225 CV at a starting price of €38,900 (taking advantage of the current financing campaign from Renault).

In terms of performance, the Peugeot 508 GT PureTech 225 CV offers identical levels of performance and efficiency to the Renault Talisman, but its starting price is €41,300 and boot capacity is “only” 487 litres. The ranges of the Volkswagen Arteon and Kia Stinger that exceed 200 CV also mean spending around €10,000 more than the Renault Talisman costs. While the Mazda 6 Sedan does remain at a more competitive price level in exchange for losing power and versatility, since the top petrol version, the 194 CV 2.5 SKYACTIV-G, is available from €36,800.

Those who could put the Renault Talisman’s offer under pressure are both the Opel Insignia Grand Sport and the Skoda Octavia RS. The Opel saloon, with its 200 CV 1.6 Turbo engine, loses some power and technology equipment compared with the Talisman, but its starting price is €32,400. For its part, the most performance-oriented version of the Skoda saloon, despite being somewhat more compact, offers more power (245 CV), a larger boot (590 litres) and a better price (from €32,700) in exchange for losing out on equipment, interior quality and driver assistance. In other words, a wide range of options among which the Renault Talisman can boast of offering a very well-balanced package at a genuinely competitive price.