Renault’s South Korean unit Renault Samsung Motors said it has received 5,000 orders for the QM3 crossover only two weeks after opening the order books. The QM3, essentially a rebadged Renault Captur, went on sale in Korea on November 20, with Renault Samsung Motors receiving the first 1,000 orders within seven minutes after opening, with deliveries to take place by mid-December.

A further 4,000 orders have since been taken, with delivery for these vehicles scheduled for the first quarter of 2014. The Renault Samsung QM3 debuted at this year’s Seoul Motor Show on March 28 and was voted Best Car of the Show.

The small crossover is the fifth model in RSM’s lineup and targets young Korean customers looking for alternatives to traditional B-segment vehicles. Positioned below the QM5 (aka Renault Koleos) in the brand’s range, the QM3 is identical with the Renault Captur, with the exception of badges.

The QM3 is priced from 22,500,000 Korean Won ($21,265) and is only offered in three equipment grades: SE, LE and RE. For now, the crossover is only available with Renault’s 1.5-liter diesel engine that produces 90PS (89hp). Mated to a 6-speed DCT dual-clutch gearbox, the unit delivers an average fuel economy of 18.5 km/l (5.4 l/100 km or 43.5 mpg US).

By Dan Mihalascu

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