The All-New Renault Koleos - For The Discerning Buyer

 

By Chad Lückhoff

Renault has dropped the Kadjar but replaced its spot in the lineup with the larger, better equipped Koleos, aimed at the upmarket consumer.

In a market where new car sales are down by 1.2%, it's no mean feat to show positive growth, year on year. Renault has managed to do this, not only locally, but globally as well.

Sales in the Renault stable are up by 12% and this has bumped them up to the 4^th largest purveyor of new vehicles in the country. It's driven their market share up to 7% in 2018, up from the 6.1% that they celebrated in the year preceding.

Much of this can be attributed to a shift in the thinking from the team at Renault South Africa. We may have gained the successful, entry-level Kwid but we lost the remarkable Kadjar in the process. This has left a gap in their lineup that they are needing to fill.

 

Enter the Koleos... again.

Yes, we've seen the Koleos before and while sales figures were less than astronomical back then, Renault is hoping that the latest derivative will fill the gap left by the Kadjar, even if it's not a direct replacement.

It competes with the likes of the Honda CR-V, Toyota Rav4, Mazda CX-5 and its Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi (the holding company) sibling, the Nissan X-Trail – on which the Koleos is based. Across the pond, it shares the market with the Volkswagen Tiguan and Ford Kuga.

 

First impressions count.

From the onset, the Koleos is a rather attractive piece of kit. With the strong shoulder and waistlines and the imposing grille, the Koleos certainly appears to be a large, robust machine. The large, chrome grille that extends the width of the nose is flanked by headlights that replicate the LED light signature of Renault. Dynamique models make use of Pure Vision LED headlights while all derivatives feature the now-trademark C-shape Daytime Running Lights, making the Koleos unmistakeably Renault.

At the rear, the broad, permanently-lit LED element taillights draw your attention to the large Renault emblem on the rear hatch. A chrome trimming below the hatch ends in two trapezoids, giving the impression of a dual exit exhaust and creating the impression of performance.

Satin chrome detailing can be found down the flanks as well, adding an air of elegance to proceedings. 

Expression models will roll on a set of 17-inch alloy wheels while the range-topping Dynamique models are fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels.

 

“Your cabin, Sir...”

Inside, one can see that Renault is targeting a more discerning customer. Soft touch surfaces with padded leather trim adorn the majority of the touch interfaces and initial quality seems to be of a very high standard, better than Renault's already impressive fit and finish.

The dashboard is dominated by the large, 8.7-inch touchscreen infotainment interface. Positioned in a portrait orientation, the infotainment screen features a bank of capacitive buttons for shortcuts and volume control with the dual zone air-conditioning being controlled from the same screen. The operating system is clean and intuitive to use with input for BlueTooth, USB and is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. Navigation is standard fitment in Dynamique models.

Expression models will be fitted with a smaller, yet as capable, infotainment system with a slightly smaller 7-inch screen.

In the centre console, two large cup holders have passive heating and cooling for beverages using the vehicles air-conditioning/heating system to regulate their temperatures. Sometimes the simplest solution produces the best results.

Expression models have the option of leather upholstery but Dynamique models are trimmed in leather as standard. Dynamique models also benefit from electrically adjustable seats.

The cabin, while only accentuated by small dashes of satin chrome and silver detailing, feels spacious and airy, with good visibility for driver and passengers.

 

Engine and drivetrain.

At the moment, you only have one choice of engine, a 126 kW and 233 Nm 2.5-litre inline 4-cylinder petrol offering. Renault, who are known to be accurate with their claims, tout the mill at being able to return 8.1l/100km with only 188g/km.

There is also only one gearbox option, the X-Tronic CVT. Now, before you start picketing in front of the dealerships, allow me to state that if I hadn't told you it was a CVT, you probably wouldn't have guessed it. The reason for this is that the engineers and Renault recognised that consumers don't like the 'elastic band' feeling from a traditional CVT and programmed the electronics so that there would be a noticeable 'shift' as you accelerate in the Koleos. This feels more natural and as a result, the combination of engine and gearbox are extremely well matched.

Power is fed to the front wheels in the Expression and Dynamique 4x2 models while the Dynamique 4x4 model employs the new All-Mode 4x4-i system that offers a 50/50 power distribution (up to 40km/h) as well as an Auto mode that will use a bevvy of sensors and control units to ascertain which axles need the power and distribute it accordingly. There is also a 2WD mode for daily use on smooth surfaces that helps reduce fuel consumption.

 

Safety.

With a full 5-star Euro NCAP rating, the Koleos is as safe as houses. There's a full complement of airbags, 6 in total, as well as every acronym you can throw at a car; ABS, EBD, EBA, ESP, ASR and HAS (Anti-lock Braking, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Emergency Brake Assist, Electronic Skid Prevention, Anti-Slip Regulation/traction control, Hill-Start Assist).

There's also added safety in the way of cornering fog lamps, electrochromic rear-view mirror, blind spot warning, park assist with a reverse camera as well as seat belt reminders, g-sensors and seat track position sensors for calculated deployment of the airbags.

 

Verdict.

The Koleos is a well-designed, cleverly thought-out SUV that offers as much, and in some instances, more, than the competition. It's larger than the KIA Sportage, Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Qashqai yet still looks at home in traffic and parked outside the office. It's an elegant option with enough sportiness to the design to keep you satisfied.

The drive is smooth and the suspension supple with ample power for just about everything short of a formal drag race. It's spacious and offers from 464-litres of boot space with the parcel shelf in place and over 1700-litres with the parcel shelf removed and the rear seats folded flat.

 

Price.

Koleos Expression 2.5 CVT  4x2                                R  399 900

Koleos Dynamique 2.5 CVT 4x2                                R  439 900

Koleos Dynamique 2.5 CVT 4x4                                R  479 900

All models are sold with a 5-year/150 000km warranty and a 5-year/90 000km service plan.