City Slicker
Renault took a bold stance by dropping the Kadjar from their local lineup and putting forward the Koleos as their offering for the segment. It was an even bolder choice to give this city SUV, AWD (4x4) and fit it with luxury items such as an e-handbrake and power tailgate. We scooped up the keys for this French city slicker and prepared to put it to the tests in the wilds of suburbia.
Related: Which Renault Koleos trim retains its value best?
We were however slightly worried about losing it at the mall.....
Styling
The Koleos does have a very generic look to it. Its not offensive or problematic as much as it is...wall paper.
It doesn't stand out in a crowd or grab you by the back of your eyeballs and scream "BUY ME!", its just incredibly plain and that is not always a bad thing. If I had to choose a stand out feature it would be the headlights and DRL's. The wheels aren't bad looking either but to be honest I highly doubt that a design award will be gracing Renault's trophy cabinet any time soon.
I cant really fault Renault's design here, its just very generic and forgettable.
The Drive
It would seem that the reason for our test on this model was due to Renault updating the CVT drivetrain. Knowing what I do about CVTs in general (and the less than great reception the last Renault one received), I was pleasantly surprised by the drive in this one.
Barely a trace of the dreaded CVT drone and a very respectable response from the transmission's shift points were notable. I use the term "shift" because this doesn't feel like a gear change, and it definitely doesn't come across as the elastic band stretch that we've come to associate with CVT's.
In fact, I would hazard to say that this is probably one of the best ones I've driven.
Performance
Renault seems to marching to their own beat here, eschewing the need for a turbo charger and opting instead for a larger-displacement, naturally aspirated engine. The Koleos employs a 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that puts out 126kW and 233Nm, which is decent enough to lug around the Koleos's almost 2 tons. It does become slightly problematic at higher elevations, with it sometimes feeling sluggish in the mid range while cruising on the highway.
You can realistically expect to a 0-100km of roughly 10 seconds and a very comfortable time behind the wheel. The derivative that we tested allows for 4WD switching from a small control panel next to the steering wheel, allowing you to tackle a rocky dirt road or even sand.
We didn't get a chance to test this feature, but can confirm that power delivery is split 50/50 to the front and rear when LOCK mode is enabled, will should be sufficient to extricate yourself from a ditch, should you park off the road and find yourself stuck.
Space and Comfort
The Koleos measures in at 4.6m long, 2.3m wide and 1.6m high, making the interior simply cavernous.
There is a generous amount of space for the rear passengers' legroom and shoulder room, while the front passenger will enjoy even more of both. The Dynamique is a very well-equipped, and comes with just about every conceivable convenience on offer in this segment. The interior is clad in leather upholstery, and there is electric adjustment for the driver’s seat. The new electronic parking brake works well and is a welcome addition.
The other big change is the automatic tailgate, making use of either the key remote or waving a foot under the rear bumper. The boot space is good at 464 litres, and can be expanded by dropping the rear seats.
Safety
As far as safety is concerned, there are six airbags and ISOFIX child seat mountings, as well as various electronic driver assists, such as EBD, Brake Assist, TSC and electronic cornering assistance. The Koleos also sports a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, making it one of the safest cars in this segment.
Fuel Consumption
Renault claims 8.3l /100km for urban driving, although our consumption figures hovered between 9.8 and 13 /100km - depending on traffic situations.
Price
The Renault Koleos 2.5 Dynamique 4X4 option will set you back R499 900, while the two lower-trim models cost R409 900 and R459 900, respectively. All Renault Koleos's are sold with a 5 year / 150 000km warranty and a 5 year / 90 000km service plan.
Koleos Expression 2.5 - R 409 900
Koleos Dynamique 2.5 - R 459 900
Koleos Dynamique AWD - R 499 900
Verdict
The Koleos is a good, solid offering in this segment. If I have to fault it, it would be that it is simply too generic: nothing ultimately stands out, and in a segment where everyone else is screaming, I think the Koleos, no matter how good it is, is simply being drowned out.
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