Spotted: Renault Taliant

What is the Renault Taliant?

The Renault Taliant is a compact sedan to be produced since 2021, mainly for emerging markets. The car is a direct derivative of the Dacia Logan, but in a Renault jacket. The model replaces the aging Renault Symbol, which in turn was based on earlier generations of the Logan, in Turkey and elsewhere. Even longer back, the Symbol was a sedan version of the Renault Clio.

So despite its familiar brand name, the Taliant is not a typical “western” Renault. It is built on the CMF-B platform – the same platform found under models such as the Renault Clio and Dacia Sandero – but its trim and design are simpler and more purposeful.

You can think of the Taliant as a kind of distant cousin of the Clio: they share their genetic base, but grew up in completely different cultures. The Clio is designed for a picky Western European audience that values style, equipment and handling. The Taliant caters to customers looking primarily for space, low cost and reliability – often with a preference for sedans.

Why this Renault will not be sold in the Netherlands

The Taliant is designed for markets where affordability, simplicity and practicality outweigh luxury, design and infotainment. In many of these countries, the demand for compact sedans with hefty trunks is high, while hatchbacks are less popular.

In the Netherlands, the opposite is true. Here, sedans in the B-segment are practically extinct. Cars like the Peugeot 301, Citroën C-Elysée or even the Volkswagen Polo Sedan have never gained a foothold here. The Dutch prefer to opt for hatchbacks, estate cars or SUVs. So the Renault Taliant would simply not attract enough buyers in the Netherlands.

Designed for a different lifestyle

In countries where the Renault Taliant is popular, conditions and preferences are different. Roads are sometimes less well maintained, fuel prices differ, and many people are primarily looking for a car that will last for years without too much fuss. The Taliant answers exactly that demand.

Renault Taliant and Clio

Like the Renault Clio V, the Renault Taliant is on the CMF-B platform of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. That means they share a lot under the skin:

• suspension components
• security structure
• electronics and infotainment
• powertrains (such as the 1.0 TCe engine)

Different focus

Yet the two cars are designed for very different markets:

Extra nice detail

In countries like Turkey, both the Clio and the Taliant are built locally, at the Oyak-Renault plant in Bursa. So Renault makes two cars there on the same platform, each for a different type of buyer.