Renault Koleos 2.5 Dynamique AWD (2023) review - last hurrah for the dark horse

When the Renault Kadjar was dropped due to poor sales volumes, Renault opted to continue with the Koleos as their flagship SUV offering. As the model ages, Renault has continued injecting it with Botox to keep it fresh, but has this worked?

Interior & Space

The Renault Koleos is not one of those vehicles that immediately springs to mind when one starts shopping for a new mid-size SUV. It’s a model that has largely slid under the radar and just ticked over, worming its way into the homes of the buyer who is more inclined to think outside the box. As such, not too many Koleos’ have been sold with Renault only recording a total of 3 000 units

Personally, I find this rather surprising as the Koleos, when initially tested back in 2019, appeared to be a rather robust, complete package at an attractive price. It made all the right noises even if it did so with a typically French accent. Enter 2023 and the model has received a slight revision but if I were to quickly show you these images, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the differences. Clearly, it doesn’t itch, so Renault isn’t scratching it. Or should they be?

Styling 

The changes are ever so minor that only the eagle-eyed fan will spot the new LED headlights that Renault says are 20% brighter than before. They’re still flaked by a set of C-shaped DRL elements and accentuate the large, chrome-slatted grille. Not too much has changed and their overall shape remains largely the same. The fog lamp trims receive a brushed finish and have been enlarged to draw the whole front image of the Koleos more in line with the new Renault offerings.

Down the sides, the wings get a revised faux vent with the elongated chrome detail that extends from the grille being replicated in the garnish present in these reworked details. They rest above a new wheel design, now measuring in at 18 inches in diameter and finished off with a diamond-cut appearance.

The taillights at the rear have been enlarged and now these units feature sequential indicators and feature Light Edge technology. These remain lit, no matter the lighting conditions and create a purposeful 3D look that helps modernise the rear end. Below these, a revised lower diffuser element helps the Koleos look more purposeful and highlights it’s amongst best in class ground clearance of 210 mm.

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Space & Interior 

If the changes to the exterior are minor then the changes to the interior are non-existent. Indeed, the interior remains largely unchanged; a typical case of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. To be fair, they did change the rearview mirror, but does that really warrant its space in ink?

You’re still getting a generous amount of space with numerous storage bins and solutions around the cabin including cooled cup holders in the centre console. The seat are large and constructed from high-density foam, providing excellent support for longer drives.

Ample space is provided in the rear with legroom freed up with the curved backs of the front seats. The Koleos offers you 464 litres of boot space but with the rear seats folded forward, you get a sizeable 1 700 litres of cargo space.

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Comfort & Convenience 

Renault has dropped the lower-spec Expression model from its lineup and now only offers the Koleos in the Dynamique trim. This model gets a large 8.7-inch screen which is presented in a portrait orientation. It features onboard navigation and is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay equipped. While a slightly dated system by today’s standards, it still performs admirably even if the sound quality from the audio system could be better.

The Dynamique model also benefits from a power tailgate, reverse camera and Smart keyless entry.

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Performance 

Under the bonnet is the tried and tested 2.5-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine that develops 126 kW and 233 Nm torque. This was a strange choice and still remains so with the power unit feeling underpowered and somewhat lethargic, especially at Reef altitudes where the air density results in a loss of power. Down at the coast I’m sure the Koleos feels a lot peppier, but on the highveld it is sapped of its energy.

This is compounded by the CVT gearbox. The self-shifting gearbox features what Renault call X-Tronic, allowing for a seemingly limitless range of gears and providing the best response possible. This may seem impressive on paper but the execution is lacking with the Koleos being slow to respond to sudden inputs. For the commute, it’s perfectly adequate but overtaking manoeuvres will require some forethought and planning.

Fuel Economy 

The aim of equipping the Koleos with a CVT gearbox is to help reduce the overall fuel consumption. Renault is one of those brands that is surprisingly frugal and when they quote figures, you can usually achieve them without an issue. We found that to be true in the Koleos and their claims of 8.1 l/100km on the combined cycle were easily met and then bettered by taking the Koleos on the freeway for an extended stint.

Safety 

As a high-tier model in the Renault portfolio, a comprehensive array of safety systems is to be expected. Here, the Koleos is fitted with ABS, EBD, EBA, ESC and Hill Start Assist while the driver benefits from Blind Spot Warnings, a 360-degree Park Assist sensor system and tyre pressure monitors.

The Koleos lives up to the traditional Renault standard of scoring a full 5-stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests.

Price 

Only the single trim is on offer, both sporting the same engine and gearbox combination but with the one sending power to all four wheels through an AWD system.

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Competitors 

The Koleos is one that you should throw on the shortlist of test drives if you’re in the market for a mid-size SUV similar to the Volkswagen Tiguan, Nissan X-Trail, Haval H6 AWD or Subaru Forester. Our AWD test model allows for the freedom to venture off the beaten paths and these rivals all offer AWD experiences.

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Verdict 

As pleasant as the Koleos was in the beginning when it launched, it’s starting to feel a little long in the tooth. This is compounded by the lack of turbocharging and the general progression that has been made in the segment in the last few years. The updates do very little to keep the Koleos feeling contemporary and fresh and we genuinely think that it’s either time to refresh the model entirely or retire it completely.

Keyword: Renault Koleos 2.5 Dynamique AWD (2023) review - last hurrah for the dark horse