[Test Drive] Renault Samsung SM6 Adds Sophistication to High Efficiency

Test Drive of TCe260 Model... Small but Powerful Performance

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Geogeuikseon (巨巨益善). This is a recent trend sweeping the domestic completed car market. While sales of mid-sized vehicles such as Hyundai Motor Company's Sonata are declining, mid-large vehicles with lower price ranges are gaining popularity, reflecting this trend. In these challenging times, Renault Samsung Motors has unveiled a facelift model of its only sedan, the SM6. We test drove the new SM6 with anticipation to see if it can bring a fresh breeze to the shrinking mid-size sedan market.

On the 22nd, I drove the The New SM6 TCe260 model on a round trip of about 80 km from Gangnam-gu, Seoul to a cafe in Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province. As a novice driver, this was my second time test driving a Renault Samsung Motors vehicle, following the compact SUV XM3.

The first impression of The New SM6 was a sense of 'familiarity' reminiscent of its sibling models like the XM3 and QM6. Unlike other mass-market brands that feature flashy designs, the SM6’s exterior, based on a family look, added sophistication and stability. While some might find it 'boring,' I thought it would satisfy drivers who prefer a stable design.

The most eye-catching feature was the LED Matrix Vision Headlamps. Introduced for the first time in its class, these headlamps use a front camera to autonomously recognize driving conditions and precisely adjust brightness by multi-controlling the LEDs within the high beam in different zones.

Upon entering the vehicle, a surprisingly spacious interior unfolded. Especially, the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and the 9.3-inch Easy Connect display were arranged wide and long, giving a visually unconfined impression. The Easy Connect system included T-map, which is frequently used in daily driving, allowing convenient use.

The TCe260 engine equipped in the test vehicle is a 4-cylinder 1.3ℓ gasoline direct injection turbo engine jointly developed by Renault Group and Daimler, and is Renault Group’s next-generation core engine. Compared to competitors’ 1.6ℓ engines, it delivers equivalent power performance while boasting class-leading fuel efficiency (13.6 km/ℓ) and lower CO2 emissions.

Accordingly, highway driving was satisfying. Although there was some skepticism about the smaller 4-cylinder 1.3ℓ gasoline direct injection turbo engine compared to competitors, there was no feeling of power shortage even when driving at the highway speed limit of 100 km/h.

The enhanced Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) were also satisfying. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) was applied, making driving, stopping, and restarting convenient. On narrow roads, Lane Keeping Assist (LCA) and Lane Departure Warning Assist (LKA) functions operated, allowing easy detection of lane departure through steering wheel vibrations. However, it was noticeable that the system did not quickly recognize vehicles suddenly cutting in from adjacent lanes during driving. Because of this, in congested areas, there were occasional inconveniences of having to brake and restart the ACC.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.