2019 Renault Koleos review

By Farzana Chaumoo

Well packaged, useful equipment, a comfortable interior and competitive running costs. Let’s take a deeper look into the Koleos.

 

Styling

“That’s a beautiful Koleos you have there!”, a lady said to me in passing as I locked and walked away from the car to enter a supermarket. No doubt that “beautiful” is an understatement for this Renault SUV. It’s such a stylish looking and striking vehicle with a bold stance. It has a lot more presence than several other Renault models, but of course, it would since it’s the French automaker’s flagship SUV. The Koleos looks similar to the small Kadjar in the front but has much smarter trim that differentiates it from the cars in a lower position in Renault’s lineup.

The exclusiveness flows into the cabin whereby Renault’s R-LINK 2 infotainment system with an 8.7-inch portrait display can be found. It’s not only good looking but it’s also simple to use. On the opposing end, the ventilation system controls on the infotainment system can be frustrating to use. The satin-finish chrome accents around the cabin (steering wheel inserts, gear lever and air vent surrounds) compliment the black interior very nicely. Stitched leather is mixed with plastics to give a premium touch to certain elements like the handbrake handle and door armrests.

Enhancing your travel mood in the car is done by means of customisable ambient LED cabin lighting (front and rear). Such a lovely touch in a cabin. You have the choice from a palette of hues ranging from green and red, to blue, purple or yellow. I drove with a different colour every day. The system also allows you to adjust the intensity of the light and individually select between having the rear and front lights on/off.

 

The Drive & Performance

The Koleos feels like a large car to drive because it is pretty large. Its soft suspension irons a lot of bumps while it’s nice and quiet in the cabin, even at higher speeds. The body lean is relatively well contained unless you’re turning very quickly into a corner. 

There is only one engine in the Koleos range that consists of the 2.5-litre petrol engine with a CVT automatic gearbox that puts out maximum power of 126 kW and maximum torque of 233 Nm. With this CVT gearbox, the shifts are smooth and you don’t hear the annoying whine that these gearboxes usually make. 

The Koleos feels pretty quick and was very responsive, all the while holding solidly to the road. It’s got a powerful engine that’s great for everyday use. Switch the button from 2WD to 4WD LOCK mode and you’ll benefit from the permanent full transmission that helps you deal with obstacles.

 

Space and Comfort

What cannot be criticized is the space and comfort in the Koleos. Seats are very comfortable because they have been composed with variable density foam and are said to be the biggest in the model class. These seats are also six-way electronically adjustable and allow for lumbar adjustability which makes finding a good driving position easy. There’s also electric windows and the steering wheel is fully equipped with functions for the Limiter and Cruise Control on the left and the volume and phone buttons are on the right. 

The setup is very clean and minimalistic in true Renault fashion with everything in good reach for the driver. There’s plenty of storage space in the doors, center cubby, center tray and in front of the gears. The 2019 Koleos has additional storage of 35 litres around the cabin, which include an 11-litre glove box and a 7-litre cubby in the centre console.

In the boot, you’re getting 464 litres of space. The rear seats allow for a 60/40-split and opens the space to accommodate an impressive total carrying capacity of 1,795 litres. This factor alone could be the reason why some buyers would pick the Koleos over the Kadjar.

Many people have questioned why Renault didn’t make the Koleos with a seven-seater option, like the Nissan X-Trail, however, the benefit of this for its five occupants is that they are treated to acres of head and legroom and the wide rear seats will keep everyone happy in the back. For your convenience, 4 USB ports can found around the cabin, two in the front and two in the rear. 

 

Safety

Renault doesn’t compromise on safety and the Koleos has received, at the highest level, a 5-star Euro NCAP rating for crash tests.

Standard safety features include:

• ABS + EBD + EBA + ESP + ASR + HAS
• Cornering Fog Lights
• Electrochromic rear-view mirror
• Blind Spot Warning
• Park Assist with a rear view camera and all-round sensors

 

Other active and passive safety features consist of:

• 6 airbags – 2 Frontal/ 2 Lateral Thorax/ 2 Curtain plus an Active Vent for Passenger Airbag
• Satellite Sensors – To detect lateral impact early
• G Sensors – 2 on the side, and 1 on the front
• Seat Track Position Sensor – Controlling airbag deployment by seat track position
• Seat Belt Reminder

 

Fuel Consumption

When I received the test car, it displayed 10.2l/100km as the average fuel consumption. But then I saw several other journos, who were also testing the Koleos, talk about their figures on Facebook which were measured between 4.0- and 6.0l/100 km. And mine had arrived with an oddly high figure, so I reset my clocks and by the time I had to return the vehicle, my average consumption was measured at 8.0l/100 km. Claimed fuel consumption for the Koleos is rated “from 8.8l/100km”.

 

Price

The  Range offers 3 derivatives:

Koleos Expression 2.5 CVT 4x2      R399,900

Koleos Dynamique 2.5 CVT 4x2      R439,900

Koleos Dynamique 2.5 CVT 4x4      R479,900

 

The Verdict

If you’re looking for a premium feel SUV that’s extremely comfortable, offers a massive boot, and spacious enough for five people then the Koleos is worth considering. Its off-road capability, along with generous standard equipment, also make it a very attractive offer.

 

Read: Honda HR-V vs Nissan Juke vs Renault Koleos: which one has the best infotainment system?