New Renault Koleos challenges compact SUV market
New Renault Koleos will compete directly with the new Ford Kuga
Author: Robin Roberts
Published: 13 May 2008
The arrival of the Renault Koleos marks a new era for the company this summer. It is their first modern-day four-wheel-drive model and pitches itself into the booming crossover sector where the forthcoming Ford Kuga will also be competing against the Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V and VW Tiguan, amongst others.
The Koleos is also the first model range to be built in Korea as part of the Renault-Samsung production agreement.
Borrowing heavily from the mechanical elements under the Renault-Nissan agreement, the new Koleos has better than average potential off-road ability. Koleos has hill descent and hill hold features to simplify cross-country driving as well as ease of use on-road.
The Koleos range, much needed by Renault, will be available in eight versions with choice of two or four wheel drive, powered by 150 or 175bhp turbodiesel engines and six-speed manual or automatic boxes.
The models go on sale in Britain on 4 July and prices range from just under £18,000 to £24,700. These cover three trim levels and there’s a comprehensive three-year 100,000 miles warranty.
It is not Renault’s first 4x4 model; that appeared with the Espace Quadra in 1988, but it is their first 4x4 to be available from launch of a new model range. It is a product of the Renault-Nissan alliance which has seen their Japanese partners X-Trail and Qashqai doing particularly well in the crossover sector.
The modern family sized SUV effectively combines a versatile MPV body with the looks and sometimes running gear of a soft-roader. The vehicles are intended to give additional safety and ability on wintry roads as well as modest off-road work and towing capabilities. They are also fashionable ‘lifestyle’ vehicles for some buyers.
The five-seat Koleos has a split tailgate which opens to reveal a normal 450 litre loads area. This space can be increased to 1,380 litres in two-seater mode thanks to Renault’s Super-fold, quick release, seating system which will also prove popular on the new Laguna Sport Tourer.
For the activity users there is a ski-hatch and the front passenger seat folds to permit up to 2.6m long objects to be carried. Options include front and rear skid plates for additional protection off road.
Renault has a strong equipment list for Koleos. Standard items are air conditioning, cruise control, fog lights, heated mirrors and tinted glass, multiple airbags, MP3 compatible sound system and even a cooling box with a lot of oddments storage in the Dynamique versions.
Dynamique S gets climate control, hands-free facility, Super-fold seats, automatic lights and wipers, ESP with descent and hill start assistance and parking sensors among other features.
The top of the range Privilege, available only with four wheel drive, comes with full leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof and blinds, bi-Xenon lights, on and off-road satnav, dipping mirror and a superior sound system bespoke designed for Koleos.
The familiar 150 and 175hp 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines will NOT be joined by a petrol unit for the UK market as Renault believes there is unlikely to be demand for it. Four-wheel drive is available with both engines but the optional automatic six-speed transmission is only available with the 150bhp 4x4 versions.
The 150bhp models have a 0-62mph time of 10 to 12 seconds depending on whether two or four-wheel drive is chosen but the 175bhp 4x4 versions takes under 10 seconds. Maximum speed rises from 107mph for the 150 4x4 auto to 117mph for the 175 4x4 manual.
Emissions range between 191gkm to 221gkm depending on powertrain and the overall fuel economy shifts between 34mpg for the 150 4x4 auto to 39mpg for the 150 4x2.
Comprehensive list of SUV reviews, pictures and stats
The new Renault Koleos crossover SUV is now on sale, with prices starting from £17,995 and rising to £24,695.
The Ford Kuga compact SUV has received a maximum five NCAP stars for adult occupant protection, four stars from five for child protection and three stars from four for pedestrian protection.
All-new Ford Kuga Compact Crossover finds its more adventurous off-road feet with a little automotive persuasion from specialist SUV tuners, Delta 4X4. €35K will help the Kuga move any mountain that's capable of moving.
The new Ford Kuga crossover SUV has been named Best SUV and Ford S-MAX as Best Large MPV at the 2008 Fleet World awards.
advertisement
UK supermarkets take gloves off and knock petrol prices down, as Asda, Morrisons and other ring leaders square up for full-on fuel price ruck as the cost of crude oil takes a surprise hit. | 24/07/2008
Michael Schumacher still keeps car fans on edge of seats as end of testing all-new Ferrari California Grand Tourer in sight, ahead of official Paris Motor Show debut in October. It’s just his words they hang on now. | 24/07/2008
Subaru turned up at British Motor Show with new special edition brood of high-performing Imprezas. The highly volatile WRX-S, unpredictable WRX STI 330S and sinister omen that is the WRX STI 380S concept. Be scared. | 24/07/2008
All-new Alfa Romeo Mi.To will waste no time proving it's got the 8C Competizione-style mettle to become the definitive ‘super’ Mini when it goes on sale early in 2009, priced from £10,975. | 24/07/2008
New Vauxhall Insignia drops in on British Motor Show in saloon and hatchback guise, setting out its £15,935 premium, goody-laden stall to tempt fence-sitting Mondeo Men. And a certain German D-Segment car buyer. | 24/07/2008
|22/07/2008
New Ford Focus RS will burn more than just fingers in Spring 2009 when UK car buyers get first taste of almost too-hot-to-handle 300bhp Focus. For now, British Motor Showcase leaves hot-hatch fans salivating.
|22/07/2008
New Renault Megane RenaultSport R26.R puts its bottom into gear. Then proceeds to kiss it goodbye in 230bhp front-wheel drive insanity. Say Bonjour to £23K worth of bonkers Megane this October.
|23/07/2008
New Ford Fiesta Econetic is one green son of a diesel gun. Ford’s upcoming earth-embracing supermini will leave planet in tact and driver in pocket with sub 100g/km CO2 emissions and a staggering 76.3mpg, from £11,845.
|23/07/2008
All-new Lotus Evora undressed at British Motor Show, entering sports car fray as world’s only mid-engined 2+2 currently in production. Order books now open and expected to cost around £50K from Spring 2009.
|22/07/2008
British motorists face on-the-spot fines in France for flouting driving laws that came into effect this summer. Safety vests, GB stickers and warning triangles at the ready, if you’re not to be caught unawares.
|20/11/2007
Around 400 people a day risk damaging their car by misfuelling, and filling up with gas is a mistake that could cost thousands. So what do you do if you´ve filled up your diesel car with unleaded petrol?
|06/12/2007
Fuel protests similar to those that brought the UK to a halt in 2000 are being planned by a breakaway group of disaffected hauliers, according to press reports.
|28/03/2008
Volkswagen has been forced to issue a statement on the Polo singing dog advert after complaints that the dog was mistreated. VW says the animal was not harmed.
|16/10/2007
Top Gear in hot water again over smoking ban breach after Clarkson and May spark up Porsche ´911´ pipes.
|10/01/2008
The People´s car, the one-Lakh car, the cheapest car in the world, an environmental disaster or a seismic shift in the industry. Call it what you will, its manufacturer calls it the Tata Nano, and it costs less than £1,300.
Search Motortorque:
No readers comments
Be the first to write a comment on this article