Renault joins SUV fray with Koleos

What is it?

Renault has dabbled with four-wheel drive in the past with its below par Scenic RX4. The Koleos, however, is a proper 4x4 rather than an MPV-cum-pseudo SUV. Based on the Nissan X-Trail, the French SUV has decent off-road credentials and can handle a bit of the rough stuff. More importantly, it opens up a new market to Renault and offers buyers a staging post between the Mégane and Scenic and the larger Laguna and Espace models. Renault is unusual - though not unique - in this class because it will offer buyers the choice of two- and four-wheel drive models. The front-wheel drive version is the cheapest way into Koleos ownership and comes with Renault's excellent 150bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine. It produces 236lb.ft of pulling power from 2,000rpm, emits 191g/km of carbon dioxide and returns a respectable 39.2mpg combined economy. No wonder Renault fits this engine to all but the most expensive version, the Privilege dCi 175 - which uses the 175bhp version of the same 2.0-litre turbodiesel.

Is it any good?

The four-wheel drive system normally sees the Koleos send power to the front wheels only. There's a button on the dash's centre console to flip into auto or full-time four-wheel drive modes. In auto mode, the car shoves some power to the rear wheels only when it detects the fronts begin to falter. Either way, the Renault is very much a soft-roader and is at its best on tarmac. It can handle rough tracks, but road tyres and ground clearance limit its abilities. On-road, the Koleos is a much more impressive package. The more powerful 175 dCi model has decent performance for this sector, but its 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds is only 0.1 second faster than the two-wheel drive 150bhp Koleos. Much more pertinent is that the turbodiesel engine in either guise does not have enough initial grunt to avoid the occasional stall. It needs a few revs and a smooth clutch foot to get cleanly off the mark, and the paucity of low-rev shove hampers any off-road ambitions. Still, on the move the engine is refined and pulls well through its standard six-speed manual gearbox, once spinning above 2,000rpm. The ride at low speeds is a mite fidgety, but compensation comes with fine high speed comfort and stability. It also means handling without much body roll, which puts the Koleos towards the top of its class for cornering prowess. The steering is also among the best in class thanks to plenty of feel and just the right amount of assistance at any given speed. It's direct without being twitchy and relaxed without needing too many turns between the stops. Add in a tight-ish turning circle for this sector and the Koleos is right up there with the class leaders in the driving stakes.

Should I call the bank manager?

With starting prices from £17,995, there will doubtless be quite a few budding Renault Scenic buyers reappraising their decisions. The Koleos may not quite have the MPV versatility of the Scenic's interior, but it's still spacious, well made and jammed with Renault's usual long list of safety equipment. The 150 dCi models are the ones to go for with the manual gearbox. Two-wheel drive makes most sense, as you get the looks along with lower emissions and higher economy. Four-wheel drive costs £1,000 more and will only really be of much use on the occasional wintry morning. The carbon dioxide emissions of the Koleos 175 dCi model come in at 209g/km, which places it at the upper end of the spectrum for this sector. With its substantial list price, the top spec Koleos is unlikely to draw many buyers from the company car sector concerned about their tax bill. There's also the small matter of the Koleos' looks. In a market packed with good looking machinery, the Renault's bland styling may not offend, but it doesn't dazzle in the way some of Renault's other cars have, notably the Mégane.

Summary

The entry level Koleos models come with air conditioning, cruise control, six airbags and alloy wheels. They have the same spacious and versatile cabin as the more expensive versions, including a CD stereo with MP3 connector, so there's little point spending more. Stick with the two-wheel drive Koleos versions and you get all of the looks and style of an SUV but with running costs closer to those of a small hatch. The Koleos appeals for its fine drive and the 150 dCi turbodiesel's economy and emissions. If you can live with the nondescript looks, it's one of the better small SUVs.

Alisdair Suttie