The keenly priced Koleos arrives in SA
First’there we re back was to the Koleos, then Kadjar, and now Koleos. Renault SA has oscillated between the two vehicles since entering the popular medium SUV market a few years ago, but the French firm has now decided that the larger Koleos makes a better value-formoney proposition.
At 4,673mm in length the allnew Koleos is one of the largest SUVs in a very competitive segment, outsizing the Honda CR-V (4,591mm), Toyota Rav4 (4,605mm), Mazda CX-5 (4,550mm), Nissan X-Trail (4,640mm), Kia Sportage (4,480mm), Hyundai Tucson (4,475mm) and Ford Kuga (4,524mm), although the VW Tiguan is a little longer at 4,702mm.
The Renault is exceptionally roomy, and buyers who don’t need seven seats will find plenty of stretch-out space and legroom in the five-seater Koleos. A large 464l boot, which includes a full-sized spare wheel instead of a space-saver, takes a decent amount of luggage and extends to a cavernous 1,700l with the rear seats flipped down.
Oddments space is also plentiful with 35l of hidey-holes around the cabin. Two trim grades are available, Expression and the more comprehensively equipped Dynamique.
Renault has introduced the Koleos with very competitive pricing, undercutting most rivals in the mid-SUV market, and the range-topping 2.5 Dynamique 4x4 is one of very few all-wheel-drive segment contenders selling for under R500,000. This isn’t achieved with any noticeable costcutting, and standard features across the range are quite plentiful, incorporating six airbags, stability control, cruise control, auto headlights and wipers, cornering fog lamps, and a touchscreen infotainment system including navigation and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability.
The higher-grade Dynamique lays on features like a 360° parking camera, blind spot warning, electrically adjustable front seats, leather upholstery and a larger 22cm touchscreen.
The C-shaped daytime running lights worn by the Koleos are part of Renault’s new styling identity, while the Dynamique comes with full LED headlights.
The interior looks smart, styled with satin-chrome finishes and soft materials for all the surfaces that occupants come into contact with. Customisable LED cabin lighting provides a palette of hues for mood lighting.
There’s a choice of front- or all-wheel drive, but the Koleos offers just one powertrain across the three derivatives on sale: a 2.5l normally aspirated petrol four-cylinder engine with outputs of 126kW and 233Nm, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Many prospective buyers might be scared off by the mention of CVT, but Renault has done a fairly good job of reducing the dreaded “rubber band” effect that often afflicts this transmission type, and there are programmed steps to simulate gearshifts like a regular automatic.
The performance isn’t particularly sporting but the nonturbo 2.5 engine hustles along with fair pace, answering all the questions asked of it in urban driving and open-road cruising without feeling underpowered.
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