Renault Koleos review

What is it? The Renault Koleos is an all-new large SUV to sit above the Captur and Kadjar models. Key features Quality interior, lots of space, plentiful equipment. Our view The Renault Koleos is an effective new SUV which may surprise buyers in an overcrowded market. More Renaut news, reviews, features and offers Renault Koleos – have we not been here before? Yes – the first Koleos was a compact SUV launched by Renault in 2007. By 2010 it had been withdrawn from the UK market, because nobody was buying it – less than 2,600 finding owners. That was then, however, and this is now. In the time since the crossover market has mushroomed. Today everybody it seems wants one, and the cars they are abandoning most for crossovers are MPVs – which Renault used to sell lots of. The French brand has already plunged into the compact SUV market with the Captur and Kadjar models – now the Renault Koleos arrives as a larger sister with the emphasis on upmarket. This is designed to be a halo model – Renault is offering it in five-seater form only, and expects only modest numbers of sales for the car. Introduction | Design | Powertrains | On the Road | Equipment | Summary and Specifications Introduction | Design | Powertrains | On the Road | Equipment | Summary and Specifications Exterior and Interior. The Koleos takes its exterior design cues from Renault’s executive-class offerings, principally the Talisman, a model one can’t buy in the UK because evidence suggests we no longer like large, French cars. The SUV that results is quite attractive – the exterior visuals don’t exactly say anything new, but the profile is muscular and purposeful without being outlandish. Common to the Koleos and the Talisman is the platform. Both use the Renault-Nissan Alliance Common Module Family unit, which also underpins the Kadjar, Megane, Scenic – and the Nissan X-Trail which is one of the direct rivals to the Koleos. Renault says that the major focus when designing the new car was interior space – which is why despite sitting on one of the longest wheelbases in the class at 2710mm, the model is only being offered as a five-seater. If you want seven seats, they say, you can buy the Grand Scenic MPV… There certainly is a lot of space, except in one area, rear seat headroom being somewhat cosy. But one can easily stretch the legs out and get comfortable in front or rear. The boot of 579 litres is among the larger in the class – more than the X-Trail, although less than in the Skoda Kodiaq (which by the way you can buy as a seven-seater). Mind you, the Koleos does boast a whole load of extra storage dotted around the car. When you do stretch out and look around, you will find yourself in quality surroundings. The interior is both well designed and well put together, creating the premium impression that Renault strived for. Dominating the driver’s controls is the centre console. Cars on the launch event were all to the top-level Signature trim, which sees Renault following the lead of Volvo (or perhaps Tesla?) in turning the screen to a much more practical portrait format – we predict many other manufacturers will follow suit. The touchscreen is a big 8.7-inch unit with equally big buttons on it, making use on the move easy and reducing the number of extra controls, which in turn creates a clean, uncluttered console. Lower-spec Dynamique trim models get a seven-inch landscape version which we have yet to try. Introduction | Design | Powertrains | On the Road | Equipment | Summary and Specifications Read more Renault news, reviews and features at The Car Expert Introduction | Design | Powertrains | On the Road | Equipment | Summary and Specifications Powertrains. Powertrain choices for the Renault Koleos are pretty simple, at least for now. They consist of two diesel units, a 1.6-litre with 130hp, and a 2.0-litre with 175hp. The 1.6 is matched to a front-wheel-drive transmission only, the 2.0 only to all-wheel-drive, though one gets a choice with this unit of a six-speed manual or seven-speed X- The 1.6 is matched to a front-wheel-drive transmission only, the 2.0 only to all-wheel-drive, though one gets a choice with this unit of a six-speed manual or seven-speed X-tronic auto gearbox. Less than a year ago, the lack of a petrol option might not have raised an eyebrow, as virtually all SUVs were bought with diesel propulsion. But the market is changing very quickly in the face of negative, and in many cases politcally-led, publicity being thrown at diesel engines. As this is written, sales of such units in the UK have plummeted 20% in the last month, which is the fourth month in a row to see falls of such a magnitude. Renault is unfazed, however – the Koleos is available with petrol power in other markets, and apparently such versions could easily be added to the UK right-hand market if required. We reckon that decision won’t be long in coming… On the road. The test cars for the UK launch event were all fitted with the top spec 175hp 2-litre engine, all-wheel-drive and auto transmission. The X-tronic gearbox is actually a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), and traditionally such units have been pretty poor. Renault insists this one is “unlike previous CVTs” and under sharp acceleration acts more like an auto with multiple ratios. It is better, yes, though this reviewer would still prefer a twin-clutch DSG-style unit. Unsurprisingly the engine does not lack in pace – the fastest 0-62mph time is achieved with the X-tronic and dips under 10 seconds. It is a refined unit too, and on the motorway the Koleos cruises in an assured manner that achieves the premium experience Renault was aiming at. It’s a comfortable car to travel in, the chassis tuning clearly majoring on cosseting the occupants rather than attacking corners. Once in the bends, however, what is a big car stays pleasingly upright, and the steering feels confident and predictable. Overall it’s a pleasant, rather than exciting, experience. Renault also took the opportunity on the launch event to demonstrate the off-road prowess of the Koleos. Included in 4×4 versions of the car is a lock mode, engaging permanent all-wheel-drive at speeds under 25mph. With this selected, climbing quite steep muddy tracks, and even restarting from stationary on them, is a task of ease. Mind you, it is also a task very few examples of the Koleos are ever likely to be asked to perform… Introduction | Design | Powertrains | On the Road | Equipment | Summary and Specifications Read more Renault news, reviews and features at The Car Expert Introduction | Design | Powertrains | On the Road | Equipment | Summary and Specifications Equipment. The upmarket positioning of the Renault Koleos is reflected in its trim levels. The car is available only in Dynamique S Nav or Signature Nav trims, which are the upper levels on other Renault models. Cars on the launch were only in the top Signature trim, the highlight of which in this reviewer’s opinion is the portrait-format touchscreen. It also includes such niceties as black leather upholstery, front heated seats with electronic adjustment on the driver’s seat, and even the means to open the tailgate by waving one’s foot under it, Monty Python style. Yet, leaving aside the touchscreen, the lower Dynamique level appears to offer all one needs, while cutting the price tag by £2,300. It includes a pleasing level of equipment, notable elements including parking sensors front and rear with a rear camera, auto headlamps and wipers, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control and connectivity to a similar level as the Signature, just with a smaller, horizontal screen. The safety specification is impressive too – among the active features on all models are blind spot and lane departure warnings, emergency braking and traffic sign recognition. And all cars also get Renault’s four-year warranty. Summary. In the Koleos, Renault has created a very good SUV, and one with enough upmarket features to justify its pitch as the halo model of the brand’s crossover line-up. It doesn’t make headlines, it simply performs very effectively in every area it needs to. The problem Renault will have is that the crossover market is now very crowded, and there are plenty of other cars to choose from. Quite simply, buyers may not consider the Renault Koleos, because they will not expect it to be quite as complete a package as it is. Renault Koleos – key specifications. Models Tested: Renault Koleos Signature dCi 175 4×4 X-Tronic On Sale: July 2017 Range price: £27,500-£34,200 Insurance groups: 18E-23E Engines: Diesel 1.6, 2.0. Power (hp): 130, 175. Torque (Nm): 320, 380. 0-62mph (sec): 11.4, 10.7 (9.5*). Top speed (mph): 115, 126 (125*). Fuel economy (combined, mpg): 57.6, 50.4 (47.9*). CO2 emissions (g/km): 128, 148 (156*). Key rivals: Nissan X-Trail, Ford Edge, Skoda Kodiaq, Kia Sorento Test Date: July 2017. * = with X-Tronic auto gearbox. Read more Renault news, reviews and features at The Car Expert

Design 8.0
Performance 7.0
Handling 7.0
Economy 8.0
Value 8.0

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