5 Cool Things About the Renault Alaskan

We have driven the South African-bound Renault Alaskan double-cab bakkie in Slovenia and came away quite impressed with the Navara-based newcomer. Here are 5 things that stood out for us about the newcomer…

The Alaskan will join a now crowded leisure double-cab segment in the second half of 2018 where it will compete for sales against local favourites such as the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara, Volkswagen Amarok and the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz X-Class.

If you haven’t done so already, take some time to read our Renault Alaskan International Launch Review.

Take a look at 5 things we like most about the new Renault Alaskan!

1. Exterior styling

The Alaskan adopts a powerful and muscular stance. Much of its presence can be attributed to its front-end design where its chrome-accented grille and large diamond-shaped Renault logo make a bold statement. The Renault-inspired C-shaped lighting motif seen in the LED daytime running lights and fog light surrounds gives the Alaskan some familiar French flair.

We think that the Alaskan has got the looks to compete with its rivals. What do you think?

2. On-road comfort and refinement

In our brief experience with the Alaskan, we found its on-road comfort and refinement to be a major highlight. Although the Alaskan adopts the same 140 kW/450 Nm 2.3-litre twin-turbodiesel engine found in the Navara, Renault has tuned it to offer higher levels of refinement, even when the revs climb. More than this, unlike the overwhelming majority of bakkies in the market, the Alaskan adopts a similar 5-link rear coil suspension setup as the Navara, one which is claimed to suppress vibrations and enhance ride quality to a class-leading level. We found this claim to be credible as the Alaskan provided impressive comfort on varied surfaces including Slovenian roads, which are very similar in quality to the roads in South Africa. We can’t wait to test the Alaskan on local roads.

3. Off-road capability

The Alaskan is well-equipped for offroading and it proved itself in dire conditions in Slovenia where it faced rain, mud, slippery grass, raging rivers and a host of obstacles.

A total of 3 driving modes are at the driver’s disposal and can be quickly activated by turning dial in the cabin. 2WD is used under normal driving conditions with power sent to the rear wheels. In more demanding terrain, high-ratio 4-wheel drive (4H) can be engaged "on the fly" at speeds up to 60 kph and you can remain in 4H at speeds up to 100 kph, making it ideal for optimum traction on gravel or in slippery conditions.

In addition to this, low-ratio 4-wheel drive (4LO) can be used to further maximise traction in severe terrain. An electronic limited-slip differential provides increased stability and a mechanically-controlled, self-locking rear differential will direct equal power to the rear wheels when traversing tough obstacles. Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist provide further reassurance.

4. Practicality

The Alaskan we drove was equipped with a nifty C-channel tie-down system that comprises fixed rails with 4 sliding hooks that allow you to effectively tie-down all types of cargo. More so, the tailgate can withstand weights of up to 500 kg and the Alaskan has an unbraked towing capacity of 3 500 kg, which is on par with the best-in-segment offerings.

5. Comprehensive infotainment system

The Alaskan we tested came fitted with an average-sized 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a CD player, Bluetooth capability and satellite navigation. We found the system easy to use and it offered a handy 360-degree camera display that employs a quartet of external cameras to produce an all-around view of the vehicle's surroundings, which helps you avoid obstacles while off-roading or when parking.

The system is far better and more legible than the system fitted in the new Navara and we hope that it will be offered in South Africa.