In the latest instalment of Keo’s Garage, Mark Keohane chats about a week spent in the comfort of the Renault Koleos, the French manufacturer’s flagship SUV offering.
When I asked my daughter what she thought of the latest car in the garage her answer proved to be such a succinct response that encapsulated what the general theme of this review will be; “Probably the most reasonable car to come into the garage recently paps”.
I laughed and thought “Ja, I suppose so” but as the week went on her comment proved to be spot on. Bear in mind that the last couple of weeks have seen Mercedes’ V300d, C220d and most imposingly, the GLE 400d Coupe all come into the care of the Keohane household. Add to the mix the rarity that I drove over December –Alfa Romeo’s Giulia – and the enormous Isuzu D-Max that Oliver tested not too long ago.
In the context of these very pricey – albeit very impressive – vehicles, yes the Koleos is rather reasonable. But as I got to know the car it became clear that the spacious four-seater SUV really is just a practical, cost effective car that falls short on nothing stylistically, but passes the test of reliability with flying colours.
Related: Renault Koleos range revised for South Africa – 4WD model dropped
I found the interior to be classy and comfortable, leather seats and a nice added touch of ambient LED lighting, which is reminiscent of the AMG package Mercs and M-line BMWs. I did find the infotainment system to be a bit illogical in layout, but once I figured it out it was smooth sailing.
The general drive was smooth sailing too – lovely handling on the wheel, soft suspension and a cabin well-insulated from outside rumblings. The drivetrain may prove divisive. A naturally aspirated 2.5L, four-cylinder engine means that the Koleos is far from an explosive car (126kW and 233Nm) – where many SUVs do possess impressive performance capabilities. However, it is also a very reliable motor (given the lack of turbos and other complexities that come coupled with higher-specced engine) and allows for a relaxing ride.
It’s a big machine, and one would not be amiss to assume that there are seven seats inside. Nope, just four – but the extra room in the cabin and the backseats, coupled with a big boot, makes it a great transporter for your average family. An added comfort of the Koleos is its safety, having scored five stars on the EuroNCAP crash rating and coming kitted with 6 airbags, an anti-lock/electronic braking system, stability control, blind-spot warnings and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
One is encouraged to cruise in the Renault Koleos, and given you would be spending R534 900 on a more than capable, spacious and reliable vehicle, that leisurely ride would be accompanied by the peace of mind that you’ve exercised sound spending habits!
I found Renault’s Koleos a pleasure on the road, easy on the eye and ultimately a reasonable intersection between pricing, performance and comfort. If you’re looking for that little bit extra, Renault have also released a four-wheel drive version of the Koleos.
The Koleos at a glance:
- Price: R534 900
- Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
- Power: 126 kW
- Torque: 233 Nm
- Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
- Fuel efficiency: 8.1 L/100 km (claimed)
- Boot capacity: 464 litres