When someone mentions medium to large SUV's, the Renault name isn't the first one rolling off your tongue as a suggestion to get one, well that is possibly due to the fact they only have one model in that segment, namely the Koleos. The French manufacturer stood firm with its decision to keep this model on their showroom floors locally and only after really paying attention when driving did I realise there is a good number of them on the roads. This is the 3rd time I've had the Koleos on test in the past 4 years and to be 100% honest, I really enjoyed my time with it. There were a few things that did bother me, mostly that annoying CVT automatic gearbox but other than that, it's a solid vehicle. The updates that came with it have been minor to say the least so when the latest model came rolling into my driveway last month, I was intrigued to see what changed.
DESIGN
This Renault Koleos design platform has been around for a while and like I said earlier, it's received a few updates along its journey but it still maintains that classy French sophisticated look. This latest update see's minor revisions to the front with the added chrome and silver accents on the grille and bottom bumper. The headlights now come in LED with LED daytime running lights and indicators housed in the iconic C shaped lights. The rear lights also get the new LED treatment and look magnificent when illuminated at night. The rest of the car remains pretty much the same, it's not timeless but at the same time looks more classy than the modern and sharp designs we're seeing from a lot of the Chinese brands coming into the market, while I wouldn't call it French flair, there is definitely an element of class and a bit of executive to it, making it very pleasing on the eye. The Koleos has a 210mm ride height, giving it that full SUV look and while it's design language has similarities to other models in the Renault line-up, especially the Megane, the Koleos still has that sense of uniqueness to it. Previous models I tested were in silver and blue, this particular model was solid white, I thought it would be boring but in the metal it did suit the car rather well.
PERFORMANCE
Powered by the 2.5L, in-line 4 cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine, the motor produces 126kW of power and 233Nm of torque. Not sterling figures for an SUV this size and while its fine when there's just you driving around in it, soon as you get a cabin full of people with some luggage, it does become noticeably sluggish. Renault has changed the gearbox to a new X-Tronic CVT gearbox that does feel a bit different and better than the older version, I know many locals aren't a fan of it the CVT, it tends to work given the type of car and application and that is why many brands still swear by it. The Koleos does give you the option to switch to manual mode to create the feeling of gears should there be a need for it. The cars driving and handling is superb, with the high ground clearance and large tyres, the drive feel of the car is smooth and refined with minimal road noise in the cabin. Renault claim an 8.1L per 100km average and during my seven days with the car, it was pretty bang on to that which is pretty impressive for a large SUV like this and being front wheel drive. Towing capacity on the Koleos is up to 2000kg's, which is also decent but with a front wheel drive car, it could be tricky.
COMFORT
The interior remains largely unchanged which is a good thing in most aspects but also a bit disappointing in others. It's a very stylish interior with high quality materials being used. Lots of soft leather, nice stitching, good quality plastics and piano black finishing, the build quality is faultless but while the safety options have increased, the tech stayed the same which is the disappointing part for me. The Koleos still comes with the 7-inch R-Link 2 touch screen with the thick piano black border. A 9 or 10-inch screen would have been nice but what would have been ever better is if they upgraded to the latest Renault OS that comes in the new Clio and Captur, but maybe they saving that update for the brand new model which I'm not sure when we will be seeing it break cover. It has built-in mobile apps which can only be accessed via USB B cables, so you know the tech is a bit dated but the main thing is that it works I guess. The Koleos has dual climate control which is control by the two large dial controllers on the dash. The car comes with Renault's trademark card key, which has built-in proximity sensor that still is one of the best from the all the brands on the market. The space in the second row seats is more than decent with me fitting quite comfortably behind the driver seat after I adjusted the seat to my driving preference. Luggage space is a great too with the trunk having a 464L capacity, complete with automatic tailgate to make it easier for you to load and off load.
VERDICT
While the Koleos is a bit dated in terms of tech and styling, but it still remains a decent offering from the French brand as it offers the minimalist a decent option on the SUV front. The car is comfortable and practical, which is why there still remains a market for it in the current climate. There are certain people who don't care for the fancy stuff and overly complicated bells and whistles that is coming in with the latest trends of vehicles and this Koleos is perfect for those individuals. While this could be this current shape last hurrah, it's the perfect way to bow out from the market, with Renault bringing timely updates to it, it just made the car get better and better over the time with this latest iteration being their pièce de résistance.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Engine | 2.5L 16V 4cylinder NA |
| X-tronic CVT | |
233Nm | |
0-100km/h | 9.5 seconds |
R596,999* |
*base price
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