The Renault Koleos is a compact family SUV that made its debut back in 2007. The second generation of the Koleos came about in 2016 when the Koleos brand actually started attracting more buyers all around the world. So, is Renault Koleos a good car?
In reality, the Renault Koleos is all the car you will ever need as it is relatively compact but spacious enough for a smaller family. It also offers good, efficient, and fairly sophisticated engines, 4WD, and is also quite the looker. The interior is fairly well appointed with all the usual kit both in regards to technology and safety.
Reliability is also really good, especially with the 2nd generation of the Koleos which improved a lot over the 1st generation and is the one to consider if you want to buy it used. The driving experience is quite relaxing and docile which is perfect for this type of car.
Financially, the Koleos is relatively attainable which means that it does not cost much to buy or to run. Practicality is also really good as there is lots of seating space in both rows while trunk space is really good for its class. Getting in and out of the Koleos is easy, and so is the visibility which is class-leading.
You might be interested in knowing about the problems that Renault Koleos has.
The Powertrain
The Renault Koleos is available with diesel engines and the latest post-2019 Koleos model offers two of those. The entry-level 1.7L dCi 4-cylinder offers 150hp and is able to return around 46MPG while the larger 2.0L 4-cylinder Blue dCi with 190hp is good for about 41MPG. The 2.0L model also comes with 4WD which does lower its fuel efficiency a bit.
Both models are mostly equipped with the automatic X-Tronic gearbox which is fairly smooth and responsive for the car’s size. The older 2016 Koleos is available with even more diesel engines to choose from. The top-spec 2.5L dCi is also equipped with 4WD, but it offers up to 180hp and is able to return around 34MPG.
This engine was abandoned due to emissions regulations which is why you can now only get the Koleos with the aforementioned 2.0L diesel and the aforementioned 1.7L. All in all, the Koleos could do with a slightly more refined gasoline option while a hybrid is also expected for a modern-day crossover SUV.
Design and Driving Experience
The design of the Renault Koleos is fairly sharp and in line with the rest of the Renault range. The front end is dominated by large LED running lights and a prominent Renault badge in the center grille. The rear also features oversized LED lights and the SUV looks rather boxy. The interior is starting to show its age a bit but is still able to deliver easily.
The driving experience is unmistakably SUV-ish, especially when you feel the 4WD system. This means that the Koleos does lean into corners quite a bit and isn’t really fond of faster cornering. Other than that, it is a relaxing car to travel in as it is fairly quiet and fairly soft.
Reliability and Common Issues
The Renault Koleos reliability is also really good as there aren’t too many serious issues to talk about. Most owners are pretty happy with the Koleos as not many things are known to break if you take proper care of it. Even if something does break, the replacement costs usually aren’t serious which is indeed a really good thing.
The most common Renault Koleos problems include potential fuel leaks, issues with the door locks, issues with the A/C, issues with the front control arms breaking, and potential issues with the 4WD software malfunctioning.
Pricing and Practicality
The Koleos is priced between £27,610 and £37,145 in the UK while European entry prices typically hover around the €24,000 mark. The Koleos has lost quite a bit of value over the years which makes 3 to 5-year-old used models really tempting as a second hand lightly used cars.
Practicality is really good with the Koleos as there is more than enough space to pack in all of your friends and your luggage. It is really easy to get in and out of the Koleos while all-around visibility is also really good.
FAQ Section
How Safe is the Renault Koleos?
As you’d expect, the Renault Koleos is a 5-star safety-rated car which means that safety shouldn’t be one of your concerns when shopping for one of these. With an impressive 90% adult protection safety rating, the Koleos is one of the safest cars in its segment while a 79% child occupant safety isn’t near the top of its segment.
A 72% active safety assist score also isn’t all that impressive, but that makes sense since the Koleos has been around for a while now. We will have to wait and see what the next-gen of the Koleos is going to offer, but we can expect it to be a really safe car as it is likely going to get most Renault active safety features.
Is Renault Discontinuing the Koleos?
There has been quite a bit of uncertainty about the Koleos in both Europe and Australia, especially since Renault stopped offering the Koleos in the UK after 2020. This was due to really poor sales numbers which really affected Renault’s plans with the Koleos. However, the car has been kept for Australia and most other markets.
The sales in South Korea have been on a rise for the past few years even though the Koleos is getting on a bit now. Some say that Renault is going to keep it until 2025 and later replace it with a 3-row Kadjar while others believe that the Koleos is going to go away for good sometime in the next two years.
Is the Renault Koleos a Luxury Car?
If you see a highly-specified Renault Koleos out and about, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it looks like a true luxury SUV. However, the Koleos is not a luxury SUV as that is rather apparent the moment you step inside one.
It is a bit too plastic inside and the overall buttons and controls are far from a luxury car. Of course, this is understandable since the Koleos undercuts true compact luxury SUVs by a huge margin.
