Renault’s Koleos mid-size SUV has received another round of subtle updates to keep it in the running in this ultra-competitive segment of the market. Is the French contender, with its comfortable and spacious cabin, plus a multitude of standard features, still worthy of consideration?
We like: Attractive design, spacious cabin, standard features, comfy ride
We don’t like: Fuel consumption, dated ergonomics, lazy performance
Fast Facts
- Model Tested: Renault Koleos 2.5 Dynamique
- Price: R534 900 (November 2021, no options)
- Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
- Power/Torque: 126 kW/233 Nm
- Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
- Fuel efficiency: 8.1 L/100 km (claimed)
- 0-100 kph: 9.5 sec (claimed)
- Top speed: 185 kph (limited)
- Load capacity: 464–1 795 litres
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Where does the Renault Koleos fit in?
The facelifted Koleos is still based on the Nissan X-Trail.
This generation of the Koleos, which was launched as the flagship Renault SUV as long ago as 2016, has not exactly raced up the sales charts. In fact, the model has been discontinued in some markets (such as the UK) and, in South Africa, it only arrived three years into its product life cycle (in 2019). It doesn’t help that this family car segment is tightly contested, with the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 being the traditional sales leaders. To make matters more complicated for Renault, the Koleos now also has the strong-selling and well-priced Haval H6 to contend with.
All that said, there has never been much wrong with the Koleos and the latest model updates and line-up rejig seem to make sense on paper. Let’s see if the Koleos now makes a stronger case for itself…
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How the Renault Koleos fares in terms of…
Design & Packaging
The cabin feels spacious both up front, as well as for rear passengers.
The Koleos, which incorporates Renault design director Laurens van den Acker’s characteristic design language, remains an attractive and modern-looking vehicle. It’s based on the underpinnings of its cousin, the Nissan X-Trail, which is available in a seven-seater configuration. The Renault does, admittedly, not offer third-row seating, but as a result of its long wheelbase, the medium SUV’s cabin is generously sized (more on that later) and the entire vehicle looks bigger than most of its competitors.
The most obvious tweaks to the 2021 Koleos (compared with its pre-facelift predecessor) can be seen in the designs of the front and rear light units. Up front, the distinctive C-shaped daytime running lights extend beyond the new LED headlights to create a unique lighting signature. At the rear, the LED tail lights also extend further towards the Renault logo in the centre of the tailgate. This is the Dynamique flagship derivative, therefore it rides on two-tone 18-inch wheels and also gets some satin silver finishes (as opposed to black on the Expression variant) on, for example, the front skid plate.
Inside, the cabin feels instantly spacious. This Renault should fulfil most families’ requirements seeing as it offers a rare combination of a large load bay (464 litres), as well as limo-like rear legroom. The fascia design is pleasing to the eye and, although most of the modern features are present, it is soon evident that this is an inherently aged design that has been updated. Still, there are nice touches, such as adjustable LED ambient lighting and loads of oddments space. Build quality on our test unit seemed very good, with no rattles or squeaks; testers noted the pleasing sturdiness of the major touch points.
Performance & Efficiency
The engine is carried over from the pre-facelift model and it’s the only one offered in the Koleos range.
The Koleos is offered with only one engine in South Africa… and it’s quite an old powerplant. It uses the same (naturally aspirated) 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine that you’ll find in the Nissan X-Trail range and it’s mated with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that sends power to the front wheels (no all-wheel-drive version is offered at present).
Unsurprisingly, that powertrain doesn’t endow the Koleos with either explosive performance or fantastic fuel economy. The engine delivers 126 kW and 233 Nm of torque, the latter figure available at a heady 4 000 rpm. So, while the Koleos can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in under 10 seconds when you pin the throttle from rest, it runs out of steam at higher cruising speeds; you’ll need to keep that in mind when attempting overtaking manoeuvres on the open road with a fully laden car.
Renault claims average fuel consumption of 8.1 L/100 km, but you’re likely to achieve around 10 L/100 km in mixed driving. That means the cruising range on a full tank should be in the region of 600 km.
What the engine does offer, however, is proven reliability (no turbos or anything complicated to worry about), low noise levels, as well as smooth running, the latter talent further enhanced by the astute calibration of the CVT. So, in summary, this is by no means a vehicle that excels in cut-and-thrust environments, but rather one that encourages a relaxed, smooth driving style.
Ride & Handling
A reasonably sized sidewall makes for pleasing ride quality.
As befits a vehicle with such smooth drivetrain characteristics, the Koleos has been set up for ride comfort and “serene” dynamics. The suspension is softly-sprung, which allowed the Koleos to maintain a supple ride quality on the variety of road surfaces we traversed during the test. That’s not to say that the Renault is ponderous, however. Its steering has a nicely balanced weighting to it and offers pleasing directness. Combine all of this with a cabin that seems well insulated from road- and wind noise, and you have one of those cars that you can drive almost without thinking about it at all. It’s very relaxing.
To reiterate, the Koleos is no longer offered in all-wheel-drive guise and so those of you who want to tackle a course that’s more challenging than a gravel road may have to look at another option. For what it’s worth, however, the Koleos has one of the better ground clearances in this segment (210 mm) and, thanks to its well-sorted suspension, it’s not averse to covering long stretches of gravel-road driving.
Comfort & Safety features
Space and functionality are key selling points of the Koleos.
This top-spec 2.5 Dynamique is comprehensively specified, plus the smart black leather upholstery and an impressive 8.7-inch R-Link 2 portrait-type touchscreen lift the cabin’s ambience appreciably. R-Link 2 may not offer the most intuitive menu structure or layout in the market, but it does support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. To be fair, once you’re familiar with the system, you should be able to find and select the menu options a little quicker. The instrument cluster is fully digital and this Dynamique version features an Eco function that gives you real-time feedback on how “green-footed” your driving is.
Other nice-to-have standard features include dual-zone automatic climate control (but you need to adjust its settings by using the touchscreen interface, which is, unfortunately, a bit fiddly), an electrically powered tailgate, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, cruise control, as well as a reverse-view camera. Rear passengers are well-catered for with their own ventilation outlets and a pair of USB ports. The Koleos achieved a 5-star EuroNCAP crash rating and boasts 6 airbags, ABS/EBD, stability control, blind-spot warning and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Spec-wise, then, the Koleos Dynamique compares quite favourably with its traditional rivals, but the fly in the proverbial ointment is the Haval H6 which offers next-generation safety-, infotainment- and luxury features at a lower price point than the venerable Renault.
How much does the Renault Koleos cost in South Africa?
The Renault Koleos 2.5 Dynamique is priced at R534 900, which is competitive with some of the lower- to mid-level offerings from major rivals, such as the Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. The problem, however, is the Haval H6, which in top-spec Super Luxury form is not only R20 000 cheaper, but adds all-wheel drive, more power, and more features to the mix.
Included in the Koleos’s purchase price is a 5-year/150 000 km warranty and 5-year/90 000 km service plan.
Verdict
While Renault’s Koleos is a likeable family car, the segment has moved on with more enticing options available.
If you’re a fan of the French brand and can negotiate a good deal on the model at your local Renault dealer, you’re unlikely to be disappointed with this Koleos. It’s a very likeable, comfortable and easy-going family vehicle. It is, however, dated in some respects and the engine/transmission combination, though smooth, might be too lethargic for some. It’s a middle-of-the-road offering in most respects, which may have been good enough at the price if the competition was restricted to lower-spec offerings from traditional rival brands (such as Toyota, VW and Mazda). But with the arrival of the astonishingly well-priced Haval H6, that’s no longer the case. Sadly, we don’t see the latest (largely cosmetic) updates and line-up positioning as being sufficient to change the fortunes of the Koleos in South Africa…
