COTY
Gallery 1
Space is the only real frontier in this profoundly un-French SUV.
RENAULT has such high hopes for the all-new Renault Koleos that Australia was the first market in the world to receive the redesign last August, underscoring the medium SUV’s importance.
Significantly larger than its 2007-era predecessor, the more wagonoid Mk2 version with its longer rear overhang looks beefy in a sort of scaled-down Audi Q7 way, which is no bad thing.
Obviously, the growth spurt ushers in meaningful increases in interior room, including a huge back-seat and vast cargo space. It’s the same deal up front. Along with oodles of storage, excellent forward vision, and an agreeable driving position, it highlights the family-orientated practicality engineered inside. A five-year warranty is another bonus.
With such a persuasive value argument, the Koleos possesses knockout showroom appeal. Who would have thought a European SUV could beat the Asian brands at their own game?
But scratch the surface and, aside from the left-hand side indicator stalk and diamond-shaped logo, there is nothing especially Renault or even French going on here. It won’t take long to spot the clumsy foot-operated park brake, charmless hard plastic trim, and dearth of cabin detailing flair found in the chic Renault Clio supermini, for instance.
The good news here is that this proven and reliable Japanese powertrain ought to provide years of faithful and durable operation. It’s also easy to drive, cheap to service, and relatively efficient – the official fuel figures state that consumption has fallen by over one litre per 100km in this larger and heavier vehicle.
Except when pottering around or cruising along the highway, the Koleos’s performance is way off the pace. Even under moderate acceleration it seems noisy and unsophisticated, and if you need instant go, reaction times can be frustratingly slow, before it will finally lunge forward. Stab the pedal. Wait. Then unrelenting droning as the CVT finally spools things up. The ageing X-Trail engine entrails cannot cut it in 2017.
Ultimately, Renault has rightly positioned the latest Koleos where it belongs – at the bottom of its segment. If you’re a loyalist searching for a true brand experience, there is no hope here…
Specs
BODY Type: 5-door wagon, 5 seats Boot capacity: 458 litres Weight: 1552 – 1608kg
DRIVETRAIN Layout: front engine (east-west), FWD/AWD Engine: 2488cc 4cyl (126kW/226Nm) Transmission: CVT automatic
CHASSIS Tyres: 225/65R17 – 225/60R18 ADR81 fuel consumption: 8.1 – 8.3L/100km CO2 emissions: 188 – 192g/km Collision mitigation: OPT Crash rating: not tested Prices: $29,990 – $43,490
