Renault Koleos 2010 review

Renault Renault Reviews Renault Koleos Renault Koleos Reviews Renault Koleos 2010 SUV Best SUV Cars Renault SUV Range Family Cars Prestige & Luxury Cars Diesel Car Reviews
...
If you're after French flair in an SUV-style package, the Koleos is reasonably-equipped and comfortable.
Stuart Martin
Contributing Journalist
26 Mar 2010
3 min read

Renault has a low-key presence in Australia - having re-launched the brand several times it seems difficult for the French marque to get some traction in the Australian market. That's somewhat common among all three French brands here, perhaps Australians don't click with some French cars these days.

We're in a diesel Koleos Dynamique front-wheel drive. A tall, narrow-ish five-seat auto family wagon that starts from $36,490 (which is Commodore Sportwagon money if you look at metal-per-dollar comparison).

The Koleos takes some getting used to in the looks department, so the generally-conservative Australian car-buying public isn't going to flock en masse. The higher driving position will appeal to many who want the SUV panorama - at least looking forward - without the truck road manners.

Driving

The diesel is a little chuggy but it is enthusiastic and swift, easily drifting over metropolitan speed limits before the driver is attuned to the engine noise. The driver will have to be careful with the credit-card-like ignition key, which is good and bad (I thought I'd lost it twice) as it's not as bulky in your pocket as a normal key - it can be left in your pocket as the push-button start is keyless.

The automatic is smooth but slow, but works neatly with the electronic park brake to switch on and off with Park. The cruise control has a speed-limiter function and it is a wise addition. The ride quality is good and it can turn without feeling top-heavy, but the turning circle is poor.

Fit-out and equipment

The seats are comfortable front and rear but it's not overly spacious for width or for legroom in the rear. The near full-length sunroof has a blind but in Australian summers the climate control will be working hard most of the time, particularly for the rear passengers - although it does have rear B-pillar vents. What made matters worse was the climate control's penchant for defaulting off and not firing up at re-ignition to the temperature set before - the dealer advises it can be changed.

The test car's Bose sound system, with 3.5mm auxiliary input jack, produced a nice noise at more than acceptable volume. The features list also includes automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, electric folding mirrors (more so required for Paris than Adelaide, but handy nonetheless), reach'n'tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter, a trip computer, climate control with filter, a ‘child minder’ mirror that is very handy and useful rear-side window sunblinds. There’s a decent boot, despite the full-size spare.

A rugrat favourite was the aircraft-style tables on the front seatbacks - great for books and toys. The test car also had some options, among them the aforementioned Bose seven-speaker sound system with 6-CD stacker for a reasonable $800, the panoramic sunroof for $1890 and the Leather Pack, which adds leather upholstery, power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats and a rear-seat folding system for a value-for-money $2500.

One of Renault's specialties is safety - there's dual front, side and full-length curtain airbags, pretensioner-equipped front seatbelts and load-limiters on all five seatbelts, anti-whiplash front seat head restraints. If an accident occurs the Koleos automatically unlocks its doors and shuts down the fuel system.

Overall

In terms of buying a family hauler, the Renault faces opposition from similarly-priced local wagons and SUVs, many which have a bit of extra space. But if you're after French flair in an SUV-style package, the Koleos is pricey but reasonably-equipped and comfortable - but the level of flair is in the eye of the beholder.

Renault Koleos 2010: Dynamique (4x2)

Engine Type Diesel Turbo 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type Diesel
Fuel Efficiency 8.3L/100km (combined)
Seating 5
Price From $2,640 - $4,070
Safety Rating
Stuart Martin
Contributing Journalist
GoAutoMedia Stuart Martin started his legal driving life behind the wheel of a 1976 Jeep ragtop, which he still owns to this day, but his passion for wheeled things was inspired much earlier. Born into a family of car tinkerers and driving enthusiasts, he quickly settled into his DNA and was spotting cars or calling corners blindfolded from the backseat of his parents' car before he was out of junior primary. Playing with vehicles on his family's rural properties amplified the enthusiasm for driving and his period of schooling was always accompanied by part-time work around cars, filling with fuel, working on them or delivering pizzas in them. A career in journalism took an automotive turn at Sydney's Daily Telegraph in the early 1990s and Martin has not looked backed, covering motor shows and new model launches around the world ever since. Regular work and play has subsequently involved towing, off-roading, the school run and everything in between, with Martin now working freelance as a motoring journalist, contributing to several websites and publications including GoAuto - young enough for hybrid technology and old enough to remember carburettors, he’s happiest behind the wheel.
About Author
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.

Comments