Renault Vel Satis

Renault Vel Satis: which version to buy

If you are choosing a Renault Vel Satis, the decision is not “which model year looks newer.” The catalogue has two slices of 1 generation: March 2001–March 2005, then 1 generation, restyling from March 2005 to November 2009. Both are Hatchback 5-door, FWD only.

If you are choosing a Renault Vel Satis, the decision is not “which model year looks newer.” The catalogue has two slices of 1 generation: March 2001–March 2005, then 1 generation, restyling from March 2005 to November 2009. Both are Hatchback 5-door, FWD only. The restyle is where the 2.0-litre Gasoline engine gained 7 hp, the 3.0 AT Diesel gained 4 hp and 50 Nm, two extra 2.0 MT Diesel calibrations appeared, and most versions rose from 120 mm to 140 mm ground clearance. The 3.5 AT Gasoline 241 hp is the same acceleration story in both slices. There are no prices in this dataset, so “what the extra displacement buys” means extra horsepower, torque, speed, and fuel use — not money.

Generations: what actually changed between 2001 and 2005

1 generation (2001-03-01 to 2005-03-31) lists 7 versions: two Gasoline 2.0-litre cars (2.0 MT 163 hp and 2.0 AT 163 hp), two 2.2 MT Diesels that share a name but not power (115 hp and 150 hp), 2.2 AT 150 hp, 3.0 AT 177 hp Diesel, and 3.5 AT 241 hp Gasoline. Ground clearance is 120 mm on every listed version. Wheel sizes 225/55 R17 and 245/45 R18 are measured on all seven.

1 generation, restyling (2005-03-01 to 2009-11-30) lists 8 versions. The Gasoline 2.0 pair becomes 2.0 MT 170 hp and 2.0 AT 170 hp. The 2.2 MT 115 hp Diesel disappears. In its place come two 2.0 MT Diesels that also share a name: 150 hp and 173 hp. 2.2 MT 150 hp, 2.2 AT 150 hp, 3.0 AT (now 181 hp), and 3.5 AT 241 hp remain. Clearance is 140 mm on six of the eight restyle versions; the two 2.2 Diesels stay at 120 mm. Wheel sizes on restyle 2.0 AT, 2.0 MT (all three), 3.5 AT, and 3.0 AT are not measured; only 2.2 MT and 2.2 AT still list 225/55 R17 and 245/45 R18.

That is the whole generation map: one generation, one restyle, 15 named rows if you count duplicate names separately by power.

Engines and specs: every named version

Use the names exactly as listed. Same badge, different engine: restyle 2.0 MT exists as Gasoline 170 hp, Diesel 150 hp, and Diesel 173 hp. Original 2.2 MT exists as Diesel 115 hp and Diesel 150 hp.

All engines sit Front, transverse. Gasoline 2.0 and 3.5 use Distributed injection (multi-point). Diesel injection system is not measured on every Diesel row. Fuel is 95 for Gasoline, Diesel for Diesel. Compression: Gasoline 2.0 is 9.5; 3.5 AT is 10.3; restyle 2.0 Diesels 15.7; 2.2 Diesels 150 hp 18; 3.0 AT 18.5. Original 2.2 MT 115 hp compression and bore × stroke are not measured. Bore × stroke where measured: 2.0 Gasoline 82.7 × 93; 2.0 Diesel 84 × 90; 2.2 150 hp 87 × 92; 3.0 87.5 × 82; 3.5 95.5 × 81.4. Valves per cylinder: 4 on every version.

Power per litre (hp ÷ litres): restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 173 hp is about 86.7 hp/l; restyle 2.0 Gasoline 170 hp about 85.1 hp/l; original 2.0 Gasoline 163 hp about 81.6 hp/l; restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 150 hp about 75.2 hp/l; 3.5 AT about 68.9 hp/l; 2.2 MT/AT 150 hp about 68.6 hp/l; restyle 3.0 AT about 61.2 hp/l; original 3.0 AT about 59.8 hp/l; original 2.2 MT 115 hp about 52.6 hp/l. The 3.5 AT is the most powerful car and among the least specific; the restyle 2.0 Diesels and Gasoline turbos extract more horsepower from each litre.

Performance and economy (mpg in l/100 km as measured)

0–100 km/h and top speed decide the “fast” shortlist. Combined consumption decides the daily shortlist. CO2 and eco class are not measured on any version.

Fastest: 3.5 AT in both generations — 8.3 s to 100 km/h, 235 km/h. That is 1.1 s quicker than restyle 2.0 MT Gasoline 170 hp (9.4 s, 211 km/h) and 5.2 s quicker than original 2.2 MT 115 hp (13.5 s, 182 km/h). Original 2.0 MT 163 hp is 9.6 s / 210 km/h. Restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 173 hp is 9.5 s / 211 km/h — 0.1 s slower than restyle 2.0 MT Gasoline 170 hp, same 211 km/h top speed.

Automatic vs Manual on the same engine. Original 2.0 AT 163 hp is 0.6 s slower than original 2.0 MT 163 hp (10.2 vs 9.6) and 5 km/h slower (205 vs 210). Restyle 2.0 AT 170 hp is 0.6 s slower than restyle 2.0 MT Gasoline 170 hp (10.0 vs 9.4) and 5 km/h slower (206 vs 211). 2.2 MT 150 hp and 2.2 AT 150 hp are identical on paper in both generations: 10.9 s and 200 km/h.

Diesel 2.0 vs Diesel 2.2 after the restyle. Restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 150 hp: 10.3 s, 200 km/h. Restyle 2.2 MT 150 hp: 10.9 s, 200 km/h. Same 150 hp, same 200 km/h, 0.6 s difference. Restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 173 hp: 9.5 s, 211 km/h — 1.4 s and 11 km/h better than the 2.2 MT 150 hp.

3.0 AT Diesel vs 3.5 AT Gasoline. Restyle 3.0 AT: 10.5 s, 212 km/h, 400 Nm at 1800 rpm. 3.5 AT: 8.3 s, 235 km/h, 330 Nm at 3600 rpm. The Diesel has 70 Nm more and peaks 1800 rpm earlier; the Gasoline is 2.2 s and 23 km/h quicker. Original 3.0 AT is also 10.5 s but 210 km/h with 350 Nm — restyle adds 4 hp, 50 Nm, 2 km/h, same 10.5 s.

Fuel use (city / highway / combined, l/100 km). Lowest combined: 2.2 MT and 2.2 AT in both generations, 7.1 (9.2 / 5.9 / 7.1). Restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 150 hp: 7.2 (9.3 / 6 / 7.2) — 0.1 more combined than the 2.2. Restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 173 hp: 7.8 (9.2 / 6.4 / 7.8) — 0.7 more combined than the 2.2 for 23 extra hp versus 2.2 MT 150 hp. 3.0 AT both generations: 8.7 (12 / 6.8 / 8.7). Gasoline 2.0 MT both generations: 9.4 (12.6 / 7.6 / 9.4). Original 2.0 AT: 10.2; restyle 2.0 AT: 10.8 — restyle Automatic Gasoline uses 0.6 more combined despite +7 hp. 3.5 AT: 11.5 (16.8 / 8.5 / 11.5) in both generations, 4.4 l/100 km more combined than 2.2 MT 150 hp.

An 80-litre tank is on every version. Combined range from that tank is arithmetic only: about 1127 km on 7.1 l/100 km (2.2), about 1111 km on 7.2, about 1026 km on 7.8, about 920 km on 8.7, about 851 km on 9.4, about 698 km on 11.5.

Dimensions, weight, wheels

Kerb weight spans 1640 kg (original 2.0 MT, original 2.0 AT, restyle 2.0 MT Gasoline 170 hp) to 1740 kg (original 3.0 AT). Restyle 3.0 AT is 1735 kg — 5 kg lighter than the original 3.0 AT. 3.5 AT is 1720 kg both times. Restyle 2.0 AT is 1660 kg, 20 kg heavier than original 2.0 AT. Restyle 2.0 MT Diesels are 1665 kg.

Gross weight: 2190 kg on restyle 2.0 MT Gasoline 170 hp (lightest payload envelope among Gasoline manuals); 2200 kg original 2.0 pair; 2210 kg restyle 2.0 AT; 2255 kg restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 150 hp; 2260 kg all 2.2 versions; 2270 kg 3.5 AT; 2320 kg both 3.0 AT cars. Restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 173 hp lists 2555 kg gross — 300 kg more than the 150 hp 2.0 MT Diesel’s 2255 kg at the same 1665 kg kerb weight.

Weight per horsepower (kerb ÷ hp): 3.5 AT about 7.14 kg/hp; restyle 3.0 AT about 9.59; restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 173 hp about 9.62; restyle 2.0 MT Gasoline about 9.65; restyle 2.0 AT about 9.76; original 3.0 AT about 9.83; original 2.0 about 10.06; 2.2 150 hp about 11.07; restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 150 hp about 11.10; original 2.2 MT 115 hp about 14.43 kg/hp.

Ground clearance: 120 mm on the entire 1 generation and on restyle 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT; 140 mm on restyle 2.0 AT, 3.5 AT, 2.0 MT (all three), and 3.0 AT — 20 mm more than the 2.2 restyle pair.

Wheels: original generation all versions 225/55 R17 and 245/45 R18 (3.5 AT lists 245/45 R18 then 225/55 R17). Restyle 2.2 MT and 2.2 AT: same pair. Restyle 2.0 AT, 2.0 MT Gasoline, 2.0 MT Diesel 150, 2.0 MT Diesel 173, 3.5 AT, 3.0 AT: wheel size not measured. Suspension is Independent, spring front and rear on every version. Brakes: Ventilated disc front, Disc rear (label as in data) on every version.

Interior dimensions are not measured. Exterior length, width, height are not measured.

Which version to choose

Buy restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 173 hp if you want the best Diesel arithmetic after 2005. Versus restyle 2.2 MT 150 hp you gain 23 hp, 40 Nm, 1.4 s, 11 km/h, and 20 mm clearance, and you pay 0.7 l/100 km combined (7.8 vs 7.1). Versus restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 150 hp you gain 23 hp, 20 Nm, 0.8 s, 11 km/h, and 0.6 l/100 km combined. Specific output is the highest in the table (~86.7 hp/l). Watch the 2555 kg gross figure: it is the outlier in the catalogue.

Buy 2.2 MT 150 hp (either generation) if combined consumption is the ranking rule. 7.1 l/100 km, 10.9 s, 200 km/h, 320 Nm, 1660 kg, 120 mm, wheels measured. Original 2.2 AT 150 hp and restyle 2.2 AT 150 hp match those performance and economy numbers with Automatic 5 instead of Manual 6 — the gearbox is the only measured difference in that comparison. Original 2.2 MT 115 hp uses the same 7.1 combined as the 150 hp 2.2 but is 2.6 s slower (13.5 vs 10.9) and 18 km/h slower (182 vs 200) at the same 320 Nm. There is no measured reason to take 115 hp over 150 hp on this page.

Buy restyle 2.0 MT Gasoline 170 hp if you want the lightest, quickest four-cylinder Gasoline. 1640 kg, 9.4 s, 211 km/h, 270 Nm, 9.4 combined. Versus original 2.0 MT 163 hp: +7 hp, +20 Nm, 0.2 s quicker, +1 km/h, same 9.4 combined, +20 mm clearance, wheels not measured, gross 2190 vs 2200. Versus restyle 2.0 AT 170 hp: Manual is 0.6 s and 5 km/h better and 1.4 l/100 km better combined (9.4 vs 10.8), and 20 kg lighter.

Buy 3.5 AT if the question is horsepower. 241 hp, 8.3 s, 235 km/h in both generations. You accept 11.5 combined, 16.8 city, 330 Nm that arrives at 3600 rpm, and No boost. Restyle 3.5 AT adds 20 mm clearance versus original 3.5 AT (140 vs 120); acceleration, speed, fuel, 1720/2270 kg, and 3498 cc do not change. Versus restyle 3.0 AT Diesel you are 60 hp up, 70 Nm down, 2.2 s quicker, 23 km/h faster, and 2.8 l/100 km thirstier combined (11.5 vs 8.7).

Buy restyle 3.0 AT if you want Automatic Diesel with the most torque. 400 Nm at 1800 rpm, 181 hp, 10.5 s, 212 km/h, 8.7 combined, 1735 kg, 140 mm. Versus original 3.0 AT: +4 hp, +50 Nm, +2 km/h, −5 kg, +20 mm, same 10.5 s and same 8.7 combined. It is still 2.2 s slower than 3.5 AT.

Do not treat restyle 2.0 AT as a free upgrade over original 2.0 AT. You gain 7 hp, 20 Nm, 0.2 s, 1 km/h, 20 mm clearance — and 20 kg, 0.6 l/100 km combined (10.8 vs 10.2), with wheels not measured.

Problems and reliability are not measured in this dataset. Service-manual content is not measured. Sale listings are not in the data.

Short ranking by job. Lowest combined: 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT 150 hp (7.1). Best restyle Diesel speed: 2.0 MT Diesel 173 hp (9.5 s, 211 km/h). Best Gasoline speed: 3.5 AT (8.3 s, 235 km/h). Lightest kerb: 1640 kg on original 2.0 MT, original 2.0 AT, restyle 2.0 MT Gasoline 170 hp. Highest torque: restyle 3.0 AT 400 Nm. Highest specific output: restyle 2.0 MT Diesel 173 hp. Lowest specific output and slowest car: original 2.2 MT 115 hp. Every version is FWD Hatchback 5-door; there is no AWD row to choose.