Renault Koleos Review (2017-2020)

The second-generation Renault Koleos launched in 2016, at a time when the large SUV market was really on a roll. It dropped into a sea of very talented competitors and made at least a reasonable splash, thanks in no small part to its stylish looks.

It’s bigger than its stablemates of the time, the Captur and the Kadjar, and counts among its competition cars like the Skoda Kodiaq, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, as well as the Nissan X-Trail, with which it shares its mechanical underpinnings.

You’ll likely be attracted to the Koleos by its styling, which includes some distinctive daytime running lights at the front. It’s also got strong safety credentials, which is always attractive in a family car, and it’s nice inside, too. The design is classy, with a portrait infotainment system dominating the centre of the dashboard, and lots of plush-feeling materials adorning the various surfaces. Some of the controls and switches could feel a bit more solid, though.

The Koleos is pretty spacious inside, with lots of legroom in the back, although the standard panoramic sunroof means headspace is tight for taller rear-seat passengers.

The boot is roomy at 458 litres, but the rear seats fold down only in a 60/40 split, rather than the 40/20/40 split offered by many competitors. There’s no option to slide the rear seats forward, either, which is another feature rivals can boast.

Renault decided not to make the Koleos with seven seats, which won’t be an issue for some, but is a glaring omission when compared to a lot of rivals.

Another omission is a choice of petrol power. Despite the public turning away from the fuel following the Dieselgate scandal, you can only get a Koleos with diesel engines. If that doesn’t bother you, however, you’ll be pleased to know that they’re rather good power units.

Early cars came with a 1.6-litre dCi 130 engine with 128bhp and front-wheel drive, available only with a six-speed manual transmission. It’s not to be rushed, and is a bit noisy if you do try and push it, but it’ll do the job for a good chunk of customers. For more pep, the 2.0-litre dCi 175 model had 173bhp and all-wheel drive and a choice of manual gearbox or X-Tronic transmission. It feels less strained, but is actually slightly slower to accelerate, due to the extra weight.

Although the X-Tronic drives as an automatic, it’s actually a continuously variable transmission, or CVT. It’s efficient, but has a tendency to send revs sky high and hold them there under acceleration, which can be a bit disconcerting. To combat this, Renault added in ‘steps’ to make it feel like it has seven gears, a move that actually works quite well and make it feel more like a ‘normal’ gearbox. Still, it’s not as smooth as the dual-clutch automatics found in some rivals.

The Koleos is set up to cruise rather than have any kind of dynamism or exhilaration to its driving experience. For something family-friendly and fun you’d be better off with a Seat Tarraco, or even a Ford S-Max. But the Koleos isn’t bad. Higher-spec models with 19-inch wheels are best avoided if you’re after the most comfortable ride, as they’ll make you wince when you ride over potholes, but for the most part the ride quality is good. It does feel a bit wallowy through the corners when compared to the great all-rounder that is the Skoda Kodiaq, and the steering is rather light, but keep things sedate and you shouldn't have too many complaints. The light steering is a plus when manoeuvring around town.

Although more powerful models have four-wheel drive as standard, don’t expect to use the Koleos on serious off-road terrain. It’ll tackle gravel paths and muddy fields well, thanks to a high ride height and a locking differential, but it’s no Land Rover.

Early Koleos models came either in Dynamique S or Signature Nav trim levels, both of which were lavishly equipped. The former had 18-inch alloy wheels and a panoramic sunroof, as well as heated and cooled cupholders and climate control. The Signature Nav added 19-inch alloy wheels, leather seats and bright LED headlights. An Initiale Paris model was added to the top of the range in 2018, with a Bose sound system, powered tailgate and larger infotainment screen. Later that same year, the Iconic was introduced as the entry-level Koleos, with rear parking camera and 19-inch wheels, and a GT-Line model was the top-spec car, with similar spec to its predecessor.

Early models all came with 7.0-inch touchscreens, or an 8.7-inch version on the later, top-spec Signature Nav model. The system isn’t the most intuitive to use though, and it’s easy to get lost in menus. There are plenty of features, though, with satnav, Bluetooth and DAB radio included across the range, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on every model.

One of the benefits of the diesel-only engine range in the Koleos is that fuel efficiency is better than a petrol option would be. It’s slightly tricky to compare the pre- and post-facelift engines as the method of measuring efficiency changed between them, but it’s safe to say that later front-wheel drive models will be the most frugal when it comes to MPG, and also emit the least CO2.

When it comes to Vehicle Excise Duty, all models will cost you £155 a year.

You’ll need to service your Koleos every year or 18,000 miles, whichever comes sooner. Renault offers service plans called EasyLife on cars over 12 months old, with one-off costs to cover various different services. Prices start at £265.

Insurance costs range between group 18 and 23 of 50, which means premiums shouldn’t cost you too much. In comparison, the Skoda Kodiaq (which has a broader spread of model choice) ranges between groups 12 and 27.

Renault has a mixed reputation for reliability, with a below-average score in the JD Power 2019 UK Vehicle Dependability Study. Having said that, we’ve not heard of too many issues with the Koleos. Many of its components were well tested out in the mechanically similar Nissan X-Trail.

That said, there was a single recall on the Koleos, which related to the risk of a nut on the steering column coming loose. All affected models should have been sorted out by now, but it’s worth double checking with a Renault dealer before you buy.

As with any diesel car, the particulate filter (DPF) can become clogged if it’s only used on short journeys. A long drive on the motorway can often sort this, but if that fails it can be pricey to fix. Watch out for difficulty starting the car, black exhaust smoke or any dashboard warning lights.

A new Koleos came with a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty, with unlimited miles for the first two years. That’s better than a lot of rivals, although Hyundai and Kia will give you even better cover.

Safety levels are high across the range. All models came with automatic emergency braking and a lane departure warning system, as well as sensors to warn you of vehicle in your blind spot. The Koleos was given a maximum five-star score from independent safety organisation Euro NCAP.