[THE INVESTOR] Renault Samsung’s latest rollout SM6 diesel is ready to repeat the popularity of its gasoline model unveiled early this year.

During a test drive last week, the new diesel model offered a stable driving experience at speeds of more than 100 kilometers per hour.

The vehicle got 15.5 kilometers per liter on a 900-kilometer round-trip between Seoul and Tongyeong, located on the nation’s southern coast. It is slightly lower than its official fuel efficiency of 17 kilometers per liter apparently, as the car traveled at high speeds most of the time with the air conditioner fully turned on. 

The SM6 diesel offers five different driving modes: eco, comfort, sport, neutral and personal. Each mode provides different active damping control, steering reaction and response of engine, engine sound and inside lighting.

The sport mode appeared to be the most efficient both on general roads and highways, as the pedals were the most responsive and steering was crisp. The excitement of the roaring engine also brought dynamism to the journey.

When switched to the comfort mode, the suspension smoothened the steering and the noise was detected at a minimum level. This mode gave the most comfortable driving experience.

The most fuel efficient setting was the eco mode. The dashboard, which serves as a guideline for fuel economy, shows information to induce drivers to hit the accelerator appropriately. When the engine stops, the dashboard shows how much mileage was saved.

Despite higher fuel-economy, the driving performance of the diesel model still left something to be desired.

The 1.5 diesel engine model delivers maximum 110 horsepower with a 25.5 kilogram-meter torque, much less than the 1.6 petrol turbo model, which generates maximum 190 horsepower with a 26.5 kilogram-meter torque. Overall, the engine generated less brisk and potent responses except for the sport mode

The local unit of French automaker Renault, which ranked fifth in sales last year after being overtaken by GM Korea and Ssangyong Motor, aims to reclaim its status as the nation’s third-largest automaker with its flagship model SM6 alongside its new sport utility vehicle QM6.

Park Dong-hoon, executive president of Renault Samsung, earlier said, “We aim to sell more than 6,000 units of SM6 and around 5,000 units of QM6 monthly this year to rank third in the Korean market.”

By Shin Ji-hye/ The Korea Herald (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)