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our test drives or view them all

Renault Koleos Dynamique 4x4 dCi 150

RENAULT’S late entry to the family SUV scene significantly undercuts equivalent Honda CR-V, Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan models by up to £1500 and comes with a cracking 100,000 mile three-year warranty.

It’s an odd arrival – French by parentage but Far Eastern by birth.

The bulbous five-door design may carry the Renault badge but it’s a product of the South-Korean Samsung Car Company. Built in Busan it is shipped to Europe complete with locally-produced Hankook tyres.

Koleos is available with two or four-wheel-drive and was designed by Renault in France but developed by its Nissan partners in Japan where it inherited the new X-Trail’s excellent 4x4 system. Finally Samsung, 81 per cent of which is owned by Renault, was given the task of building the Koleos.

It has done a reasonable job. Koleos is undeniably lightly-panelled and is not an off-roader, but it delivers plenty of family space and offers great value for money.

Capable enough on tarmac and reasonable over rough tracks, this late entry into the crowded compact SUV market is too softly sprung to challenge vehicles like the Land Rover Freelander 2 or the upmarket Volkswagen Tiguan when the going gets really tough. But on the open road in a gentle cruise it’s incredibly comfortable and noise levels are low.

Despite its strong two-litre 150bhp dCi turbodiesel engine and a six-speed manual transmission, the roomy Koleos is destined to play second fiddle to the class leaders and at best is a well-appointed competitor for existing good SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia’s Sportage.

On paper the 4.52 metre long Koleos looks good. But at 1.71 metres tall it feels gawky and over the rough stuff it rolls and wallows on its suspension. But ground clearance at 188mm and obstacle approach and respective departure angles of 27 degrees and 31 degrees keep it clear of rocks and ruts while the latest generation 4x4 system blesses it with good traction in mud and rough tracks.

My test car was a Dynamique with a "smart" 4x4 that reverts to front drive when left to its own devices and feeds up to 50 per cent of torque to the rear when needed. I was able to electrically select permanent 4x4 and lock up the system for the most demanding conditions – but the majority of owners will be happy to leave the 4x4 to make its own decisions.

My Dynamique 4x4 is not Renault’s first all-wheel driver. Nearly 20 years ago the Espace gained a new family member with the Quadra 4x4 that was launched amid great media excitement on Speyside. Later the Scenic sprouted a 4x4 version. Both sold in relatively low numbers and eventually disappeared from sales lists. Renault is hoping for better things from the Koleos.

With a list price of between £17,995 for an entry level front-wheel-drive Dynamique to £24,695 for the 175bhp chipped two-litre dCi 4x4 flagship Privilege, it’s my guess discount will be the driving force in the success of this easy-to-live-with SUV.

The Koleos is doing well in the Highlands, mainly with "smart" 4x4. That’s because discounts start from £1000 on my Dynamique and rise through £1200 for an S specification to around £1600 at Privilege level. Work hard and you could extract an even better deal.

What you get is a perfectly able SUV that comes with a five-star NCAP occupant safety rating, four stars for child safety and two stars for pedestrians. Construction is light and the well laid out dash has acres of plastic, but the test car impressed by being squeak and rattle-free despite its lively ride.

Koleos has an unfortunate "fat" appearance, but the Renault is an honest family tool that is neither aggressive nor ostentatious and comes exceptionally well equipped. Even at Dynamique level you get air conditioning, cruise control, alloys, central locking, power steering, four electric windows and an alarm. Sadly you only get ESP as standard on Dynamique S and above, with no option on the two cheapest models.

Like all crossover SUVs the Koleos is a compromise between a large hatch, a 4x4 and an estate. As such, and in common with the rest of the class from its rivals, it does everything reasonably but nothing spectacularly. It is what it is – a practical, comfortable and roomy holdall with lots of equipment, excellent safety and a good two-litre dCi turbodiesel engine that is best in its lower 150bhp guise when it will average 38mpg and deliver a CO2 rating of 197g/km.

Taking my chances on the A96 to Keith it was an easy cruiser and willing on the climb to Dufftown and Tomintoul.

The ride is poorly controlled and makes it bouncy off-road – but taking it easy and with the 4x4 system locked I was able to drive through some demanding moorland tracks in the Cabrach.

The 150bhp diesel is one of the best in its class but like so many multi-valve high-output turbodiesels it lacks torque low down in the rev range and has a tendency to stall at low revs if you don’t keep it spinning.

From a comfort point of view, apart from its wallowy ride, it’s good. Visibility from its high-perched seats is first class and there’s plenty of space for five plus 450 litres of cargo with the rear seats in place and 1380 litres with the rear seats flipped flat – an easy task thanks to a single-lever operation that automatically tumbles the seat forward and drops the backrest flat in seconds. With the rear seats and front passenger seat folded flat the Koleos can carry cargo up to 2.6 metres long and the rear seats can also be reclined – great for passengers who want to nap. And if you’re a hoarder the Koleos can swallow another 70 litres of bits and pieces in cubby holes, holders and under floor storage bins.

But the Koleos has a trump card up its sleeve. The large rear tailgate is a split affair with a shorter lower section that drops to create a loading ramp or occasional seat that can support an impressive 200kg. It’s a nice feature that eases loading in confined spaces and adds utility.

Like all Renault’s, its crossover SUV is packed with electronics – tyre pressure, electronic parking brake, park assist, cruise control, to name just a few.

In view of past experience with poor electronic reliability on some Renaults I was impressed to learn the new SUV’s electronics are almost exclusively Japanese. Only the radio and optional nav system is French. That has to be good news.

Simplicity is the strongest card in the Koleos deck. The model line up of six trims, a single turbodiesel engine with either 150bhp or 175bhp (Privilege) output and just four main options make it an easy car to buy. This is one SUV that won’t give you sleepless nights trying to decide what options to fit – you get just four main choices, metallic paint at £370, a skid plate at £180, more extensive underguard protection for £350 and a roof spoiler for £375.

That underlines the value of this practical family holdall – not a league leader but one where value comes first.

Rating: 7/10

FINAL THOUGHT:

Koleos entered the family compact SUV scene far too late to have any real impact – other manufacturers got there earlier and have cornered the market. But that does not mean Koleos is an also-ran. Renault’s South Korean-built SUV has a simple model structure and delivers excellent value. Discounts are vital and with dealers keen to fight off the worst effects of the credit crunch, now is a good time to press for a great deal. Koleos is a bit lively on its suspension but it drives well, is comfortable, has a superb safety rating, is practical and well appointed. Best buy is the 4x4 Dynamique S at £20,495 – but push for discount.

CAR FACTS – Renault Koleos Dynamique 4x4 dCi 150

• Price: £18,995
• Capacity: 1995cc
• Power: 150bhp
• 0-62mph: 10.4 seconds
  
• Maximum speed: 115mph
  
• Economy: Combined 38.2mpg; Urban 29.7mpg
  
• CO2 emissions: 197g/km
  
• ESP: Not Available
• Insurance: Group 10