Renault Koleos : CAN YOU CC YOURSELF IN THIS?

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Renault's first stab at a compact 4x4 is called the Koleos and the sector's established names should be concerned. Steve Walker reports

There are lots of compact 4x4s out there but family buyers in particular should not overlook Renault's Koleos. It might not be the most exciting thing to look at but it's decent off-road, the interior is practical, build quality is strong and the ride is brilliantly smooth.

Renault isn't a brand with any obvious link to 4x4 vehicles and until recently, it seemed content to stick with what it knows in the conventional passenger car segment. And why not? Surely, specialisation is as valid a business model as diversification. The problem is that the compact SUV market sector has been experiencing steady growth for over a decade while more traditional model types have suffered a similarly inexorable decline. Market forces dictate that major manufacturers need a 4x4, preferably a compact one, and who is Renault to argue? The French marque bowed to the pressure to branch out and the Koleos is the outcome. The Koleos is the first Renault to feature four-wheel-drive from launch. The brand dabbled with a 4x4 version of the Scenic MPV, dubbed the `RX4' and more recently the `Conquest', but the Koleos is its first stab at any kind of purpose-built SUV. This, in some buyers' books would be a fine reason for avoiding the Koleos. They'd do well to wait though because Renault HQ isn't as devoid of off-road know-how as it might seem. The French marque's stake in Japan's Nissan gives it access to a vast wealth of 4x4 experience. It's experience that has been brought to bear in the development of the Renault Koleos and its sister vehicle, the Nissan X-TRAIL. The Koleos feels like so many other small 4x4s with a modicum of off-road capability in that its body control is a little wayward in the corners but it's a revelation in terms of ride quality and comfort - even on poor surfaces. Just one engine is now on offer, a 2.0-litre dCi diesel unit with 150bhp. It's whisper quiet at cruising speeds in the well-insulated cabin and pulls strongly once into its stride. As a result, long distance trips are expertly handled by the Koleos, even if the steering and gearbox aren't tactile enough to inject a significant fun factor. There's 320Nm of torque from 2,000rpm, so pulling power is reasonable once you get going but a slight lag in the power delivery combined with the sharp clutch mean you do need revs on the board to make sharp getaways. 0-60mph acceleration is measured at 11.6s.

"Renault seems intent on marketing the Koleos as a crossover between the MPVs it's well known for and more conventional compact 4x4sâ€¦."

Far from being all mouth and no trousers when it comes to off-roading, the Koleos has a decent collection of kit. There's no low range gearbox or locking centre differential, the kit that any serious off-roader would need, but the 4x4 system is Nissan's All Mode 4x4-i system and i, we're told, stands for intelligent. Further inclusions run to a hill decent control system, hill start assist and amongst the best ramp and departure angles in the class. The suspension is extremely good at absorbing the hits that vehicles being driven away from the public highway inevitably take. The sort that result in horrendous crashing and groaning noises in vehicles less elegantly sprung than the Koleos. First gear on the standard six-speed gearbox is a little too tall for accurately controlling your speed off-road and the six-speed auto that's available with the smaller engine might be worth considering for this reason. A big part of what's behind the growth in popularity of compact 4x4s like Renault's Koleos is to do with their assertive, go-anywhere image but there are doubts surrounding the Koleos on this score. The Renault isn't the most visually striking exponent of the soft-roader theme you'll encounter. Its stubby overhangs couples with bulging flanks and the angled rear windscreen make it inconspicuous and slightly chubby from certain angles. It's not as purposeful or aggressive as the sector's best lookers. Inside, any complaints from a design standpoint quickly melt away as Renault's new-found knack for creating cleanly-designed, excellently constructed cabins comes to the fore. Materials are first class, the fit and finish even better. The Koleos is practical too. At the rear, the tailgate opens in two sections. The hatch lifts up so items can be quickly lowered in if space is tight, then the lower section can be dropped down to give improved access. This forms a handy shelf that can sit two people or objects totalling 200kg and allows bulky items to be slid inside. The rear seating can be folded down from the boot so luggage capacity can be extended without the need to open the rear side doors. It's a simple operation that boosts the available volume from a generous 450 litres to 1,380 litres. There are some really clever and usefully-proportioned storage compartments in the cabin too and while the driver's seat base may be tilted forward too much for some tastes, it's comfortable and forward visibility is first rate. The stubby extremities of the Koleos also make for a nifty 11.6m turning circle. Koleos buyers will need around £23,000 to get their name on the registration document of the single Dynamique S dCi 150 4x4 model now on offer. That sounds a lot but it's competitive against leading rivals when the Renault's specification is taken into account. You get climate control, Renault's hands free key card, electrically heated and folding door mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, roof rails and automatic lights and wipers. Additional equipment includes a BOSE sound system that includes a digital amplifier, seven loudspeakers and a sub-woofer, a six-CD/MP3-compatabile multi-changer, 3D Satellite Navigation with a 16/9, seven-inch screen and DVD atlas, a hands-free Bluetooth telephone link and metallic paint. You'd need to spend around £3,000 more to get a comparably-specced Volkswagen Tiguan. Renault seems intent on marketing the Koleos as a crossover between the MPVs it's well known for and more conventional compact 4x4s. This gives the Nissan X-TRAIL which the Renault shares a platform with more room for manoeuvre. Such positioning could also attract existing MPV owners who may be willing see past the unadventurous looks of the Koleos to its family-friendly interior design. The punchy diesel engine in the Koleos is also reasonably good on grounds of economy. The dCi 150 unit makes 38mpg on the combined cycle with emissions of 191g/km. All Koleos models get a 3-year/100,000-mile warranty. Any concerns about the reliability of the Renault Koleos or the marque's lack of experience with 4x4 vehicles can be tempered greatly by the fact that the car and its electrical system was developed by Nissan. The Japanese marque has an enviable reputation for reliability and the Koleos should fall in line with that. Renault's Koleos differentiates itself in the crowded compact 4x4 marketplace by combining the interior versatility for which Renault's MPVs have become famous with 4x4 technology borrowed from Nissan. It's a useful combination and buyers who aren't bothered about the low-key styling will find the Koleos a well-rounded family vehicle. Yes, the Renault Koleos isn't half bad off road but that will be an irrelevance to most of its UK buyers who will be almost exclusively concerned with its on-road performance. Here it majors on comfort with an excellent ride and refinement package that is slightly at the expense of driver involvement. For most, Renault will have got the balance just about right with the Koleos. The car's strong safety provision, good diesel engines and user-friendly features just sweeten the deal further.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Renault Koleos dCi S 150 4x4
PRICE: £22,805
INSURANCE GROUP: 10
CO2 EMISSIONS: 191g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.9s / Top Speed
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 31.0mpg / (extra urban) 44.8mpg / (combined) 38.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front, lateral and curtain airbags, ABS, ISOFIX compatible seats.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height 4520/1855/1710mm