Renault Koleos

NEW CAR ROAD TEST
RENAULT KOLEOS RANGE
CAN YOU CC YOURSELF IN THIS?
By Steve Walker
There are lots of compact 4x4s out there but family buyers in particular should not overlook Renault's Koleos. It might not be the most exciting thing to look at but the 4x4 versions are decent off-road, the interior is practical, build quality is strong and the ride is brilliantly smooth.
The Koleos feels like so many other small 4x4s with a modicum of off-road capability in that its body control is a little wayward in the corners but it's a revelation in terms of ride quality and comfort - even on poor surfaces. The two engines on offer are both 2.0-litre dCi diesel units. The first has 150bhp and the second manages 175bhp. They are whisper quiet at cruising speeds in the well-insulated cabin and pull strongly once into their stride. As a result, long distance trips are expertly handled by the Koleos, even if the steering and gearbox aren't tactile enough to inject a significant fun factor. Both units are similar in terms of performance with the crucial torque figures pegged at 320Nm for the 150bhp unit and 360Nm for the 175bhp. Both of these figures are forthcoming at 2,000rpm but a slight lag in the power delivery combined with the sharp clutch mean you do need revs on the board to make sharp getaways. 0-60mph acceleration is measured at 11.6s for the less powerful unit and 9.9s for the range-topper.

Far from being all mouth and no trousers when it comes to off-roading, the Koleos has a decent collection of kit. There's no low range gearbox or locking centre differential, the kit that any serious off-roader would need, but the 4x4 system fitted to plusher variants is Nissan's All Mode 4x4-i system and i, we're told, stands for intelligent. Further inclusions run to a hill decent control system, hill start assist and amongst the best ramp and departure angles in the class. The suspension is extremely good at absorbing the hits that vehicles being driven away from the public highway inevitably take. The sort that result in horrendous crashing and groaning noises in vehicles less elegantly sprung than the Koleos. First gear on the standard six-speed gearbox is a little too tall for accurately controlling your speed off-road and the six-speed auto that's available with the smaller engine might be worth considering for this reason.

The Koleos is practical too. At the rear, the tailgate opens in two sections. The hatch lifts up so items can be quickly lowered in if space is tight, then the lower section can be dropped down to give improved access. This forms a handy shelf that can sit two people or objects totalling 200kg and allows bulky items to be slid inside. The rear seating can be folded down from the boot so luggage capacity can be extended without the need to open the rear side doors. It's a simple operation that boosts the available volume from a generous 450 litres to 1,380 litres.

Koleos buyers will need at least £17,995 to get their name on the registration document, making it competitive against leading rivals when the Renault's all-diesel engine range is taken into account.

FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Renault Koleos
PRICES: £17,995-£24,695
INSURANCE GROUPS: 12-14 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 191-209g/km
PERFORMANCE: [dCi 175] 0-60mph 9.9s / Top Speed
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [dCi 175] (combined) 36.6mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front, lateral and curtain airbags, ABS, ISOFIX compatible seats.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height 4520/1855/1710mm
WHO TO SEE:
May 8th 2008