Renault Koleos

Overview

Renault Koleos is a premium midsize SUV offering from the Renault. Before its launch in 2007, it was first revealed as a concept car in 2000 and 2006 at the Geneva Motor Show and the Paris Motor Show, respectively. Furthermore, its first facelift was unveiled in 2011 and its second generation was introduced in 2016.

To the Malaysian people, it is available in three variants namely, 2WD, Signature 2WD, and a more premium 4WD.

The first and foremost things for which the SUV deserves words of compliment for its look. It really looks wonderful in every direction. This well-crafted chassis also houses creditable features for comfort, all necessary safety equipment and a powerful mill under the hood.

Interior & Features

Hop in the vehicle and it will welcome you with a range of luxury and a raft of features. At first, there is an 8.7-inch fully coloured panel with a portrait layout that serves as a display unit for the R-Link 2 infotainment system. Not only for general multimedia and navigational purpose, but this display can also be used for controlling a set of things like customizing the ambient lighting. This is followed by a seven-inch colour TFT instrument cluster, power adjustable driver’s seat and leather upholstery. Moreover, it also equips the Arkamys 3D sounds system with eight speakers, dual-zone climate control and charging ports. However, the best part is that all these modules are standard across all the three variants, unlike the other cars, which reserve different lots for different variants.

The interior is also spacious and offers an ample head and leg room along with foldable rear seats.

Exterior

The very first elucidation of a ‘good’ car is whether or not it has ‘good’ looks, without which, it will deliberately fail to pull any attention. But this not the case with Renault Koleos, which has got all admirable styling cues and an overall stunning outlook. This starts with a large metal grille at the front that gets chrome lining. At the loin, there is the company’s signature LED headlights with a lengthy daytime running lights. Moving downwards, it flaunts a bold bumper, which, in turn, is flanked by foglamps that have shiny borders along half of its perimeter. Moreover, the bonnet is highlighted by a number of lines to pronounce the vehicle’s sporty nature.

To its side, the profile has a flowing body design and a chrome skidding below the front and rear gates.

The back is more eye-catching than the front. It features large LED taillights that have P-shaped light strips for illumination. However, the most admirable part is the alluring lining on the rear bumper that also houses the dual exhaust outlet.

Ride & Handling

Koleos offers an estimable driving experience thanks to the capable suspension units. At the front, there is a MacPherson Strut suspension and MultiLink for the rear. The combination eliminates hiccups-free drive even on irregular and bumpy roads.

Furthermore, the 18-inch radial allows wheels along with 5.7 m turning radius renders great handling. This is also supplemented by an adjustable steering column.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

A 2,488cc four-cylinder 16 Valve DOHC 2.5-litre petrol engine makes its way across all the three versions, but with a slightly different tuning for the range-topping 4WD variant. To be specific, the 2WD and the Signature 2WD gets a maximum power of 170 PS and a peak torque of 226 Nm. On the other hand, the 4WD gets a maximum power of 171 PS, while the maximum torque remains the same.

As the name of the variants suggests, the 2WD and the Signature 2WD gets a two-wheel drive, whereas the 4WD has an all-drive layout. The drive transmission type is CVT that comes with a variable speed gearbox.

Braking & Safety

The braking layout is composed of Ventilated Discs for the front wheels and regular Discs for the rear. No doubt, the stopping power is more than sufficient and thanks to the presence of Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) that obliterates fret of undesirable braking management.

Safety features include driver and passenger airbags, child safety lock, brake assist, traction control, the crash sensor and parking sensors as standard. It also gets central locking and anti-theft device but lacks smart card access entry.

Verdict

There can be no objection to the fact that Renault Koleos is a premium SUV and in general a powerful machine. With stunning looks and a feature-rich interior, the SUV procures every glance put at it. Things don’t end here, as a generous powertrain awaits to bolster every throttle.

Well, it is always hard to find any fault in premium vehicles, hence, it's up to the vehicle itself to prove its might in its segment.