Leisure Wheels – September 2019

Koleos unbearable but there is more engine

noise intrusion than there should be.

IS IT NICE TO DRIVE?

It depends on where you’re coming from.

Updating from a hot hatch? Then the answer

is no. Upgrading from anything with less than

100kW and the answer is yes.

The Koleos is equipped with a 2.5-litre

naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol. Quite

a pragmatic choice in a world currently

obsessed with downsizing and turbocharging.

The power output of 126kW and 233Nm

of torque looks good on the spec-sheet

but look a bit further down and you’ll note

that it’s equipped with a continuously

variable transmission.

It’s one of the better CVTs we’ve

experienced. Renault’s efforts are on par with

Subaru and Toyota, which is to say it’s

developed a CVT that doesn’t drone on

excessively without forward momentum.

There are still certain occasions where it

struggles and predictably releases the revs

shoot up to the redline and stay there, but

progress remains muted. Treat it gently and it

will respond accordingly.

To get to 100km/h requires 11.1 seconds

and a heavy right foot but it’s in its element

just slowly creeping along in traffic, or

cruising on the N1 at 120km/h.

The suspension set-up is comfortable rather

than sporty. It corners confidently enough but

it’s nowhere near as spirited as Renault’s

famous hatch offerings. The upside of this is

the ride quality on gravel, which is superb. As

we’ve seen before with the Duster, Renault’s

SUVs tend to punch way above their weight

when the going gets tough.

Having said that, we’d recommend against

paying extra for the all-wheel-drive system.

The top-spec trim is available in front-wheel

drive as well and that’s the sweet spot in this

range. We drove the Koleos down the same

gravel patch four days in a row, in front-

wheel drive and with the all-wheel drive in

automatic mode and there was no discernible

difference. Push harder and it will make itself

known but given how most of these SUVs are

used, front-wheel drive is the way to go.

SUMMARY

Retailing at R479 900, the Renault Koleos is

on par with everything else in the segment,

which is another reason why we’d rather go

the entry-level front-wheel-drive route. It

represents a saving of R80 000 and a starting

price none of its main rivals can match.

leisurewheels.co.za SEPTEMBER 2019 69

RENAULT KOLEOS

DYNAMIQUE 4×4 CVT

HARDWARE

Engine: Four-cylinder naturally

aspirated petrol

Displacement: 2 488cc

Power: 126kW @ 6 000r/min

Torque: 233Nm @ 4 000r/min

Transmission: CVT

4WD system: All-wheel drive

Driving aids: ABS, ESC, EBD, blind

spot assist, park assist

Differential lock: None

Tyre size: 255/60 R18

Tyre brand: Bridgestone

Rim size: 18-inch

Suspension front: Independent

Suspension rear: Independent

Brakes front: Ventilated discs

Brakes rear: Ventilated discs

SPEEDOMETER CALIBRATION

60km/h: 57km/h

80km/h: 77km/h

100km/h: 96km/h

120km/h: 116km/h

ACCELERATION

0–60km/h: 5.3 seconds

0–100km/h: 11.1 seconds

60–120km/h: 10.2 seconds

1/4 mile: 17.9 seconds @ 128.6km/h

BRAKING

60–0km/h: 2.0 seconds and

14.1 metres

120–0km/h: 3.3 seconds and

54.6 metres

MEASUREMENTS AND CAPACITIES

Engine speed at 120km/h: 2 100r/min

Average fuel consumption:

10.4 litres/100km (claimed)

Fuel tank capacity: 60 litres

Range: 576km

Ground clearance, front: 220mm

Ground clearance, rear: 270mm

Weight: 1 610kg

OWNERSHIP

Warranty: Five-year/150 000km

Service plan: Five-year/90 000km

Service interval: Determined by

onboard computer

Price: R479 900