Renault Koleos

What we liked
>> Spaciousness
>> Absorbent ride
>> Style for price

Not so much
>> Dull steering
>> Body roll
>> No in-built sat-nav

About our ratings

OVERVIEW
Those shopping for compact four-wheel drives will know there's lots of choice from the Asian (Japanese and Korean) makers and recently more Europeans such as Volkswagen's Tiguan... and now French manufacturer Renault with Koleos.

Technically this is another Korean-built vehicle -- coming as it does from the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Samsung facility in Busan. But it's thoroughly French for its focus on safety and spaciousness. As Christophe di Perna, marketing boss for Renault Australia, put it: with France being such a small country and having such spirit, its people know how to package it well.

Renault's made spacious and versatile offerings to Aussie buyers before, in Scenic, but unlike the MPV, the company believes the Koleos will appeal to more buyers, including those insisting on four-wheel drive.

The Koleos will help the brand spread its product range to access up to 40 per cent of the local market and gives it "the chance to tap in to Australia's love affair with SUVs."

The addition of Koleos to the local range is "probably the most important for Renault since we relaunched in the Australian market in 2001," says Renault Australia's managing director, Rudi Koenig.

The company is aiming to sell 150 Koleos models a month; a sizable portion of its current turnover of around 300 sales per month. "A big move forward for us," he admitted.

We haven't seen an SUV from Renault before but the solid, well equipped and priced Koleos is just the trick to turn local attention to the brand. It won't hurt the vehicle's fortunes that its underpinnings are straight from Nissan's well-regarded X-TRAIL softroader.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
Renault Australia believes its "extensive" Koleos range will cover all bases for compact SUV buyers. The local line-up includes front-drive and four-wheel drive models, and petrol and diesel options, starting from a competitive $29,990.

The entry 4x2 petrol model comes with six-speed manual. Add $3000 for continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the petrol 4x2 model.

All models are offered in Renault's Dynamique trim. Even at 'base' level the Koleos' standard-fit list is extensive, including dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers and foglights. In Europe the climate control system comes at the Dynamique S (mid-spec) level,

The Koleos also comes with an automatic park brake -- a Renault regular -- and the brand's unique 'aviation style' seatback tables for rear passengers. Occupants in the rear have access to adjustable vents for use of the heating and cooling system.

All Koleos' come with 17-inch alloys and full-size spare.

The four-wheel drive petrol-engined Koleos starts at $36,990 for CVT and the Dynamique trim.

The 4x4 petrol Koleos is also available in the up-spec Privilege trim, for $41,990 including leather upholstery, heated front seats and park assist. Koenig told the Carsales Network that Renault Australia would consider offering the specification on other Koleos models if there was sufficient demand.

Koleos Dynamique is equipped with a single CD, AM/FM audio system while the Privilege gains a Bose audio system. All models come with an aux input for MP3-players.

Standard-fit equipment includes Renault's keyless card and start button system, cruise control with speed limiter, power windows all 'round and roof-mounted child-minder mirror.

A panoramic sunroof and storage pack (see under PACKAGING) are among the Koleos' options.

At the time of launch, sat-nav was unavailable for the Koleos however Renault Australia says it will offer a device early next year. This won't be an in-built unit, however.

Renault Australia is also considering the addition of a turbodiesel two-wheel drive model.

MECHANICAL
As noted above, Renault is offering both diesel and petrol engine options for the 4x4 models, and petrol-only for the 4x2. Like the all-wheel-drive system, the powertrains have proven their mettle in the Nissan offroader with which the Renault will compete for buyers.

The 2.5-litre petrol model is rated at 126kW/226Nm and available with six-speed manual or CVT continuously variable transmission. The four-wheel drive version is offered with CVT only.

Equipped with the CVT, the petrol 4x2 Koleos uses 9.3L/100km while the 4x4 model wants 9.5L/100km, according to ADR figures.

The 2.0 turbodiesel Koleos is available with either six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, in different outputs. The manual model's diesel is rated at 127kW/360Nm and the auto gets a 110kW/320Nm version. As well as the recently introduced X-TRAIL diesel, the engine is also used by Laguna and Megane.

According to Renault (combined) fuel consumption for the manual-equipped diesel is 7.9L/100km and the automatic 8.3L/100km. The petrol 4x2 models use 9.6L/100km (manual) and 9.3L/100km (CVT), and the 4x4 version uses 9.5L/100km.

All units from the engine range are rated as Euro 4.

The Koleos uses the X-TRAIL's 'All-mode' four-wheel-drive system, strut-type front suspension and multi-link rear. The four-wheel drive models come standard with hill start assist and hill descent control.

For more on the technical aspects of the platform sharing, check out our international launch review here.

PACKAGING
Koleos is around the same size as the Scenic, with a longer wheelbase than the X-TRAIL's. Figures for ground clearance (206mm; 181mm for diesel models), and approach (27 degrees) and departure (31 degrees) angles rival that of the laudable Nissan.

Despite the offroad credentials and boasting "the best four-wheel-drive system in the segment", Renault Australia says the Koleos is ideal for the "urban jungle", with a focus on passenger comfort rather than rugged fit for recreation like the X-TRAIL.

Renault does offer a clever attachable tent (a la Torana Hatch Hutch) for outdoor types, however; and there's plenty of cargo room for equipment including high roof line in the rear storage area.

The Koleos has generous head, leg and shoulder room all 'round; comfortable seating and useful storage zones, including a super-sized chilled glovebox and underfloor space in the rear. The tailgate features two-piece rear entry; the lower part able to support 200kg.

Koleos is similar to softroaders the likes of Subaru Forester but offers even more space and cabin comfort, with family taxi must-haves including lots of storage, adjustable rear vents and good rear seating. Vision for rear occupants is also better than some softroaders we've tried, which matters of you're in charge of littlies.

An optional 'Modularity Pack' (standard on Privilege) system allows the 60/40-split rear bench seat to be folded away and includes a forward folding front seat back for items up to 2.6m long. The pack also includes adjustable incline on rear seat backs, a removable centre console insert, rear armrest storage and a 12-volt outlet in the cargo area.

SAFETY
All Koleos models come standard with ESP, and ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist. Airbag protection includes dual-front, dual-side and curtain types, and front passengers get pretensioning seatbelts.

Renault says the Koleos' body structure uses programmed crumple zones at the front and the rear, and the cabin was designed as a survival cell for passengers.

Koleos was awarded a five-star crash test rating by EuroNCAP.

Place your own value on a vehicle's safety strength and its safety ratings, but top marks is what Renault's after and is proud to say this is its 10th five-star car. The aim for top-end safety and its methods for going about it is certainly a Renault USP.

COMPETITORS
We've called the compact SUV segment crowded before and here's yet another, albeit uniquely French, entrant. It's the Koleos' style and packaging, and more importantly the maker's adherence to safety that helps it stand out from the crowd.

A good (sub $30K) starting price doesn't hurt, either. Koleos pips popular C-SUVs including CR-V, Forester and RAV4 on price alone, not to mention more expensive Euro offerings such as VW Tiguan.

In the latter's case, opting for additions like leather will make the sign-off price a lot different than the sticker. It's not difficult to imagine speccing a Tiguan to well over $50K, whereas a full-kit Koleos won't get near that with leather and park assist at the Privilege level.

ON THE ROAD
The Koleos' ride is a standout. It offers a soft, comfortable ride without any wallowing effect and the suspension is quiet and compliant at all times, even over poor surfaces. But the set-up is so soft that there's a fair degree of body roll if the Koleos is pushed around. Renault says Koleos is designed for the urban jungle so presumably most owners will keep it civil, and not detect anything other than a super comfortable ride.

Steering is lifeless which again suits the urban environment but it didn't 'weigh up' or offer much feel even in the semi-rough stuff, which was basically a short hilly run to try the hill start and descent control features.

We also found the brakes a touch too eager on initial bite. Unlike the compliant ride, this factor may not endear the Frenchy to country users who spend a lot of time on loose surfaces. That said, the Koleos was surprisingly composed during the offroad portion, making light of the steep, loose-surface inclines. Again, X-TRAIL's four-wheel-drive system bolsters Koleos' credentials here.

But Koleos is certainly a softroader… perhaps softer than most. Our latest long-term tester, the Subaru Forester also offers a compliant ride and its steering is light but in the latter case there's more feel and response behind the wheel.

Koleos' focus on passenger comfort may come at a detriment to driving dynamics, but there'll be few complaints from those onboard. Road and wind noise are near-undetectable; seating is comfortable over short and longer trips and its unique interior styling leads to an airy environment complete with all that clever storage.

Short overhangs give it a tidy appearance as well as helping its 'offroading' cause, and the cabin is light-filled and roomy. There's also good vision all around.

The automatic units (CVT for petrol models or 'conventional' six-speed for diesel) work well. The six-speed manual feels somewhat vague to shift but operates smoothly.

Both diesel options are quiet. No surprises the higher output diesel offers more response but it's a little noisier than the auto-only 110kW version.

The petrol version's demeanour is similar to the diesels', but without any of the oilers models' mid-range energy -- odd, really, considering there's at least 60kg difference between the 4WD models. Potential customers should try all three engine options.

Koleos' spaciousness and, dare we say it, style help its favour. This is not yet-another boxy Asian compact SUV, rather it looks and feels European all the way. Renault's first SUV won't bother segment stalwarts but a new badge in the arena is a nice option to have.

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