finder score: 73.25%
| Website | Rating | Notable quotes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CarAdvice | 71% | "Renault's best-selling model offers good value to go with plenty of interior space, but there's much room for improvement in the way the Koleos Life drives." | Read more |
| CarsGuide | 70% | "It's well-priced, the ownership proposition is a good one and it doesn't do anything whacky." | Read more |
| Motoring | 72% | "The Koleos does so little wrong that the majority of family buyers would do well to give it a second look." | Read more |
| Whichcar | 80% | "The Koleos shares a chassis, powertrains and spacious interior with the Nissan X-Trail, but is more attractively styled inside and out" | Read more |
Prices for the Renault Koleos SUV start from $29,990 for the front-wheel drive Koleos Life, with a 2.5-litre petrol engine and automatic transmission. This base model has a 7-inch touchscreen and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Moving up through the range, the Zen trim adds a 7-inch touchscreen with sat-nav and multimedia. There's also all-round parking sensors and a rearward facing camera. The seats are trimmed in a faux, easy-clean leather and the rear seats drop by pressing one button.
Intens trim boosts the touchscreen to 8.7 inches in portrait orientation with BOSE® speakers. The leather seats receive heating and ventilation and there's a panoramic sunroof that opens. Renault fits a parking assistance system, advanced emergency braking safety assist and an electric opening boot lid.
S-Edition Koleos models receive 19-inch alloy wheels as well as leather seats with contrasting blue stitching. Parking assist is fitted as standard, along with 360-degree parking sensors. The boot opens hands-free and the seats are cooled as well as heated.
Intens 4x4 models have the same portrait touchscreen, full-grain leather seats, parking assistance, hands-free power tailgate and all-wheel drive.
Finally, the 2.0-litre diesel Intens offers increased torque over petrol models. Renault recommends the diesel Intens should retail for $47,990 drive-away.
Metallic paints are an optional extra cost of $880.
Prices shown are for NSW, postcode 2000.
Click on the model you're interested in to compare finance options.
| Koleos Life pricing | Drive-away price |
|---|---|
| Koleos Life, 2.5-litre petrol auto | $29,990 |
| Koleos Zen pricing | Drive-away price |
|---|---|
| Koleos Zen 2.5-litre petrol auto | $34,990 |
| Koleos Intens pricing | Drive-away price |
|---|---|
| Intens 2.5-litre petrol auto 4x2 | $42,990 |
| Intens 2.5-litre petrol auto 4x4 | $45,990 |
| Intens 2.0-litre turbo diesel automatic 4x4 | $47,990 |
| Renault Koleos S Edition pricing | Drive-away price |
|---|---|
| S Edition 2.5-litre petrol auto 4x2 | $42,990 |
The above prices are the manufacturer's recommended drive-away price (MRDP). These costs include 12 months' registration and compulsory third party (CTP) insurance. They also include dealer-delivery rates and government duties.
| Website | Pros | Cons | Notable quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| CarAdvice |
|
| "Some good ownership credentials for a European SUV to add to the Koleos Life's appealing price tag, relatively good equipment level and a spacious interior." |
| CarsGuide |
|
| "I like the way it goes about its business and it's a Renault for people who aren't looking for something peculiar to the segment. " |
| Motoring |
|
| "Spacious, comfortable and reasonably quiet, the Renault Koleos is also generously equipped, both in terms of its features and its after-market support." |
| Whichcar |
|
| "The Zen is the sweet spot in terms of pricing and equipment levels, with or without the all-wheel drive." |
Renault outfits the Koleos with either a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre petrol engine or a 2.0-litre turbo diesel powerplant. The petrol engine delivers 126kW at 6,000 revs, with 226Nm of torque kicking in at 4,400 rpm. The slightly smaller capacity diesel generates 130kW at 3,750rpm and a grunty 380Nm of torque at only 2,000 rpm.
The Koleos range uses an X-Tronic CVT (continuous variable transmission), intended to give improved fuel economy, lower emissions, less noise and better acceleration. Rather than having gears, this system uses an adjustable conical pulley and belt set-up that can expand and contract as needed to alter the gear ratio. The result is a seamless changing of gears.
Of all the reviews we referenced for this comparison, all had at least some comment to make about the CVT drivetrain. One reviewer described it as lethargic, needing encouragement. They went on to say that when accelerating heavily, the car makes a disproportionate amount of noise to the increasing speed. Another tester said it was depressingly mediocre. Still another said it was slow to react and would hunt for greats. Diesel-engined Koleos models evidently gather speed faster (thanks to the higher torque figures), but once again the motoring media said it was hampered by the fitment of a CVT automatic.
However, as a car aimed at the family market, you may find this isn't a problem.
| Life 4x2 | Zen 4x2 | Intens 4x2 | Intens 4x4 – petrol | Intens 4x4 – diesel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine type | Four-cylinder, turbocharged, direct injection | ||||
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Engine size/displacement | 1,995cc | ||||
| Fuel type | Diesel | ||||
| Cylinders | |||||
| Fuel tank capacity | |||||
| Max torque | 380Nm @ 2,000rpm | ||||
| Fuel consumption (combined) | 8.3L/100km | 6.1L/100km | |||
| Acceleration (0–100km/h) | 9.8 seconds | 9.5 seconds | |||
| Emissions standard | |||||
| Top speed (km/h) | 199 | 192 | |||
| Security | |||||
| Transmission | |||||
| Towing capacity (unbraked/braked) | 750/1,650kg | ||||
The official Renault fuel consumption figures for the Koleos are as follows:
Renault Koleos Life, Zen and Intens 4x2 models
The Renault Koleos Intens all-wheel drive model's official fuel figures are:
Finally, the 4x4 diesel Intens Koleos uses:
If you do a lot of driving in general, the diesel Koleos offers the best fuel efficiency. However, unusually for a model range, the petrol-equipped Koleos have a higher towing capability.
As always, the brochure fuel usage figures are calculated according to Australian Design Rule 81/02 – Fuel Consumption and Labelling. This test is mandated and doesn't change conditions, unlike in the real world. Once you take a vehicle on public roads, your usage will vary somewhat.
For example, you may sit with the engine idling for a large percentage of time while stuck in heavy traffic, you could live in an area with large hills and the amount of weight you're carrying will fluctuate. All these real-world factors impact on fuel usage. As a result, you should take the official fuel consumption numbers as a guide for comparison only.
Car reviewers achieved 11.3L/100km combined with a front-wheel drive Koleos Life. Others managed 8.3L/100km or only 0.2L from the official numbers.
Around town, the Koleos is apparently quite compliant. It has great forward vision, plus responsive and light steering. One tester said its handling is quite refreshing and well suited to family buyers. It's certainly not a sporty Renault Megane, but then again, this car is targeting a different demographic.
One outlet mentioned that the 19-inch wheel and low-profile tyres mounted on the S-Edition gave quite a harsh ride: if that's a problem, you could consider a Koleos with taller tyre sidewalls. A journalist did raise a concern that upon heavy acceleration, the Koleos suffered from torque steer. As a front-wheel drive family car, generally you wouldn't find that an issue. The best way to get a true understanding of how a car like this drives is to test one. Head down to your local dealer and give one a whirl.
According to the motoring media, the Koleos cabin is spacious, even to the point that three passengers can happily share the rear seats. The middle seat occupant might be a little snug, but that's quite normal across most mid-size vehicles. Some testers mentioned that the front seating could do with a larger knee roll for under-thigh comfort. Most enjoyed the clean, elegant European styling.
You'll find ample storage for drinks, belongings and miscellaneous oddments. One thing that might be a sticking point for buyers, unlike its sibling the X-Trail, is there's no third-row seating for carrying a sixth and seventh passenger.
The Koleos doesn't have a shortfall of accessories and features. Safety-wise, there are six airbags, ABS, AEB, reverse cameras, forward collision warning and lane departure alerts on all models. Cruise control is another useful addition.
Life models have a landscape 7-inch touchscreen with voice control, dual-zone climate control and neat little touches like chilled cup holders. Choosing Zen trim enables navigation, artificial leather trim, electric seat and lumbar adjustment plus heated front seats.
Intens line Koleos SUVs benefit from a portrait infotainment screen that measures 8.7 inches. As you progress to Intens, the 8-speaker Arkamys sound system is replaced by a 12-speaker and subwoofer set-up by BOSE®. Renault says this audio system delivers a concert-hall-like experience.
All models in the Renault Koleos range have Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
The boot has a storage capacity of 458 litres with the seats up. With the rear bench dropped down, there are 1,690 litres of storage space. By comparison, rivals like the RAV4 have 577 litres and the popular Mazda CX-5 has a smaller 442 litres.
Here's a full list of Koleos safety features.
| Koleos Life | Koleos Zen | Intens 4x2 | Intens 4x4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver and passenger adaptive front airbags | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Driver and front passenger lateral pelvis and chest airbags | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front and rear curtain airbags | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Anti-lock brakes (ABS) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Emergency brake assist (EBA) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Emergency warning lights under heavy braking | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Advanced emergency braking system, interurban | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Hill start assist (HSA) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Easy-access foot brake | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| Electronic parking brake | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| LED headlights | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Auto dusk-sensing headlights | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Automatic high/low beams | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cornering function in fog lights | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front parking sensors | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rear parking sensors | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Side parking sensors | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rear-view camera | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Parking assistance system | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Auto door lock when driving | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Automatic walkaway door locking | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Full-size temporary steel spare wheel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ISOFIX points on rear outer seats | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tyre pressure monitor | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Remote engine start (petrol models only) | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Stop-start (diesel only) | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ |
| Auto wipers | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cruise control and speed limiter | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Blind spot warning (BSW) | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Forward collision warning (FCW) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Lane departure warning (LDW) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Eco mode | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Koleos Life | Koleos Zen | Intens 4x2 | Intens 4x4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine start button | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Interior ambient cabin lighting | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Electric adjust driver's seat with electronic lumbar support | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Electric adjust driver's and front passenger seat with electronic lumbar support | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Heated front seats | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Vented front seats | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dual-zone AC | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Chilled front cup holders | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Split-folding rear seats | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Hands-free rear power tailgate | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Headlights with "See me home" function | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Remote central locking with smart key card | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dimming rear-view mirror | ✖️ | Optional Sunroof pack | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front and rear LED cabin lights | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 4 x USB charging ports | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| R-Link 2 multimedia system with voice control | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| R-Link 2 multimedia/navigation system with voice control | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 7-inch touchscreen infotainment screen – landscape | ✔ | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| 8.7-inch portrait touchscreen | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 3D sound Arkamys – 8 speakers | ✔ | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| BOSE® 12 speakers, subwoofer and digital amplifier | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Apple CarPlay, Android Auto | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Wood grain interior cabin trim | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Carbon cloth upholstery | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| Carbon leatherette upholstery | ✖️ | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| Black leather upholstery | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Grey or brown leather upholstery | ✖️ | ✖️ | OPT | OPT |
| Leather-trimmed steering wheel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Koleos Life | Koleos Zen | Intens 4x2 | Intens 4x4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front LED daytime running lights (DRL) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 17-inch alloys | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| 18-inch alloys | ✖️ | ✔ | ✖️ | ✔ |
| 19-inch alloys (petrol only) | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Electric panoramic sunroof | ✖️ | Optional sunroof pack | ✔ | ✔ |
The Koleos has a unique appeal for families, with lots of space and storage. It's reasonably quiet, equipped with a battery of modern safety assists and does everything to a good standard. Plus, it offers distinct value for money.
Pictures: Renault
