Renault: The Alaskan is an all-rounder
PRACTICAL AND CONVENIENT The Renault Alaskan is one thing above all - a workhorse that is also fun to drive. It can handle rough terrain as well as heavy loads. But it can also offer a bit of lifestyle. A perfect combination in every situation. A short overhang at the front, a long one at the rear, a massive front end with the appropriate Renault rhombus, plus the typical [...]
A short overhang at the front, a long one at the rear, a bulky front with the matching Renault logo, plus the typical cargo area - the Alaskan looks like a pickup truck should look. And the interior feels like a sedan. It's a joy to drive. That's not always the case. If you don't let the 5.40-meter length and 1.81-meter height scare you, you'll make an impression even in the city.
The trailer load is 3.5 tons
You don't have to be a craftsman or farmer to take a liking to this primeval beast. But the payload of almost one ton, which can be accommodated on the two-and-a-half square meter loading area, is likely to be used only by professionals. The same applies to the towing capacity of 3.5 tons. A must in the pickup: all-wheel drive. The Alaskan's four-wheel drive is not there to show off, but because it is really needed - for example, to pull a two-axle trailer with a mini-excavator out of the construction site muck.
Everything under control with 360-degree camera
The 4×4 is wonderfully simple to operate: The driver simply switches it on with a rotary knob as soon as he needs it. Even a gear reduction can be set, which almost triples the torque on all four wheels. The power is not transmitted variably, but rigidly in a 50:50 ratio to both axles. A 360-degree all-round camera shows the driver what's going on in the immediate vicinity.
Bullish power comes out of the rev range
The robust diesel with 190 hp is a perfect match for the Alaskan. Thanks to its 2.3-liter displacement, the power is already available at low revs. This makes it easy to drive the Frenchman with an automatic transmission. If you don't use the all-wheel drive too often and don't push the top speed of 184 km/h, you'll get by with just under nine liters of diesel per hundred kilometers. Prices start at 34,141 francs.
