The tax benefits that consumers could receive when purchasing eco-friendly vehicles in the country will decrease starting next year. As a result, there has been a rush of consumers trying to catch the 'last train' of tax benefits, drawing attention to the eco-friendly model of the mid-size sports utility vehicle (SUV) Grancoleos, released by Renault Korea this year.
According to the complete automobile industry on the 26th, due to changes in some contents of the eco-friendly vehicle tax system starting next year, the benefits that consumers can receive are expected to reduce to about 1 million won. Currently, consumers can receive up to 1,830,000 won in tax benefits when purchasing a hybrid vehicle, including acquisition tax, special consumption tax, education tax, and value-added tax.
The Grancoleos, which Renault Korea started deliveries for on Sept. 9, recorded cumulative sales of 15,912 units within 54 business days by the end of November. Of these, the E-Tech hybrid model sold 15,323 units, gaining significant popularity in the hybrid market. The Grancoleos E-Tech hybrid can currently be purchased for between 37.77 million won and 45.67 million won when applying the eco-friendly vehicle purchase tax benefits.
The Grancoleos E-Tech hybrid is equipped with 245 horsepower output and a 1.64kWh battery. It enhances driving performance through a 'series-parallel hybrid' system that combines a 100kW electric drive motor and a 60kW high-voltage starter motor, which serves as a generator, with a 1.5-liter gasoline direct injection turbo engine.
The combined certified fuel economy is 15.7 km per liter. It can operate in electric mode for up to 75% of the time in urban areas, allowing for up to 40% fuel savings compared to gasoline engines on highways and motorways.
It has also received evaluations for excellent quietness. The 'active noise cancellation' feature, applied for the first time in its class, detects noise with microphones placed inside and analyzes its source to reduce noise through the vehicle's Bose sound speaker, creating a quiet cabin environment. In fact, tests showed that this feature reduced engine noise by 75%.
The Grancoleos comes equipped with up to 31 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including 'Active Driver Assist,' a level 2 autonomous driving assistance technology, and various convenience features. The body uses 24 ultra-high-strength 'hot press forming' components, which have a rigidity 2 to 3 times higher than regular steel plates, ensuring a high collision safety level equivalent to the top grade in automobile safety evaluations.
The Grancoleos includes the only 'three-zone independent full-auto air conditioning system' among its class that allows for area-based air conditioning adjustments, as well as the 'after blow' feature that can ventilate the indoor air. Additionally, it features a 'full auto parking system' that supports various parking situations and a 'clear view transparent chassis' that allows drivers to check surrounding roads and vehicles with a 540-degree camera.