Renault Koleos

Expert Rating:

Introduction

The Koleos is the product of a tie-up between Renault and Nissan that saw development of the 4x4 shared between the two makers. That's great from a cost point of view for both parties - providing savings that should, in theory, be passed down to the customer. Yet at the same time, Nissan makes arguably the Koleos's main rival: the Qashqai. Isn't that like Arsenal asking Alex Ferguson to pick its tactics for a cup final against Manchester United?

The Koleos is actually based on the Nissan X-Trail and Renault is pitching it as a more luxurious affair than the Qashqai's 'bloated hatchback' sort of vibe. It has also endowed the crossover with some proper off-roading ability. So, it seems like a winner then, right?

What are its rivals?

The aforementioned Qashqai is the obvious one; Nissan's crossover is ground zero for this type of car and is still arguably the benchmark for sub-premium urban family 4x4s. The line between what is a 'proper' 4x4 and a niche satisfying 'crossover' like the Qashqai is getting blurrier, so the Koleos scraps with cars like the Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan, along with more traditional small SUVs from Japan like the Toyota RAV4 and the Suzuki Grand Vitara. There are premium options too, such as the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, though they're more expensive. The Land Rover Freelander 2 arguably bridges the gap between mainstream and premium too, and could be an alternative.

It's a bit of a minefield, as you can see, but that's because the Koleos has a wide price range, starting at £18,865 for a front-wheel drive, lower-powered diesel, going all the way to £25,565 for a top spec version; that's well into VW and Land Rover territory.

How does it drive?

Like it's resting not on traditional wheels, but on tiny bouncy castles. Body control is non-existent, which means that on bumpy ground, during gear changes, or while braking (basically anything that has a physical impact on the car) the Koleos responds by throwing its body around like a whale having a seizure.

We reckon this is because Renault has seen fit to imbue the Koleos with some off-roading credibility, so all but the most basic front-wheel drive models get a quite complex and capable 4x4 system - developed by Nissan - coupled with high ground clearance and softly-sprung suspension gauged to allow lots of wheel travel over rough, uneven surfaces. That's great for people who live in the sticks, but for most it means being hurled around the cabin. Some will enjoy its softness though, because in very casual driving it lends itself to a feeling of comfort.

Only one engine is available - a 2.0-litre dCi diesel unit in 148- or 173bhp states of tune. Our test car came with the lower-powered engine linked to a five-speed manual auto 'box - and by heck it's slow. It takes more than 12 seconds to reach 62mph, but it feels even slower because the 'box takes so long to change gears - exacerbated by the amount of front-to-back body roll that induces too. By comparison, the higher-powered diesel with a manual 'box feels far stronger and is less frustrating, but this is never a car you'd buy for involving driving dynamics - they're just not there.

What's impressive?

The quality of the materials is laudable; the wallowing monotony of piloting the Koleos is pleasantly punctured by the feeling that it's also reassuringly high quality. It's not an Audi, obviously, but it's as good as you could hope to get this side of a Volkswagen. It also has a big boot and the comforting perceived safety of a high, commanding SUV driving position. Because it's inherently a lazy beast, it can prove a satisfying cruiser too, despite its crashy ride.

It has a big boot as well, with enhanced loading abilities courtesy of a split rear bench that folds flat easily, leaving a proper, level loading space.

What's not?

Well, it will come as no surprise to learn that we don't like the blancmange-like driving experience the Koleos dishes out. It billows rather than wafts, so unless all your regular routes are perfectly paved, you're going to struggle getting along with something that throws you about so much. It follows, too, that any feeling of attachment to the road is minimal.

It also, for all its chubbiness and generous cargo and cubbyhole space, has a difficult to comprehend lack of legroom; put a child seat in the back and there's precious little space left for whoever's sat in front. That's not good for a family car. Its pricing also runs from pleasantly cheap and good value at the bottom of the range - lower end cars get alloys, air conditioning, cruise control and chrome roof bars - to overly expensive at the top, albeit in a well-equipped sort of way: 'Privilege' versions come with leather, heated seats and satellite navigation - giving the cabin, at least, a near-premium feel. But running costs are high because the heavy Koleos drains its tank quickly - especially equipped with an automatic gearbox. Or test car's mid-thirties economy and 209g/km CO₂ rating (and associated £215 yearly tax burden) will be a bugbear.

Should I buy one?

For the day-to-day grind of transporting a family there is much better than the Renault Koleos for the same money. This will prove an eminent off-road machine, but even then, we'd argue the Koleos is too much the urban crossover in terms of looks and ambience for hardened mud-plugging types to consider. Renault should have focussed more on making it better at taking children to school and things - and, in our opinion, on its styling - and less on trying to make it a credible SUV. It's not terrible, but neither is it recommended.

Mark Nichol