Renault aims to keep its ageing Koleos mid-size SUV front of mind among Aussie buyers with the enticing Black Edition
- The dark arts
- Ups and downs
- Old-school safety
- Peppy but imperfect
- On the case
- Cosmetics or kinetics?
The dark arts
Owing just about everything except its outer skin to the Nissan X-TRAIL, the 2022 Renault Koleos mid-size SUV holds the French flag aloft in Australia as the brand’s biggest-selling model.
Launched in 2008 as Renault’s first-ever SUV, the Koleos moved into its second (and current) generation in 2016 and has been progressively updated ever since.
Although it has been on a gentle sales decline since reaching its zenith in 2017, the Renault Koleos has nevertheless been a relatively steady presence in the local SUV market.
The most recent ploy to keep the Koleos cooking turns out to be a second iteration of the Black Edition version first seen in 2020.
It comes with various cosmetic titillations at minimum extra cost to the customer, and despite the ‘Edition’ label, the new Black is sticking around in the Renault Koleos range this year.
Ups and downs
The 2022 Renault Koleos Black Edition is based on the front-wheel drive, mid-spec Koleos Zen model, carrying a $2700 premium to land at $40,090 plus on-road costs.
Renault has recently been offering some attractive drive-away deals on the Black Edition, but buyers should note that range-wide price increases that kick in from July 1, 2022, will push up the model to $40,500 plus ORCs.
For the money, the Koleos Black Edition adds relatively big-ticket items such as 19-inch dark grey alloy wheels and a hands-free power tailgate to essentially cosmetic elements such as gloss black on the roof rails, mirrors and side steps, faux leather upholstery (with yellow stitching), matte carbon-look trim, some appropriately placed badging including French flags on the B-pillars and a choice between three shades of no-extra-cost metallic paint.
Otherwise, the Black Edition is all Renault Koleos Zen, including the 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that drives the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission – as seen on the Nissan X-TRAIL too.
In addition to the yellow-stitched black imitation leather seats and specific Black Edition details, Zen elements include a powered driver’s seat – which, along with the front passenger’s seat, is heated – climate-control air-conditioning, satellite navigation, eight-speaker audio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and self-dipping LED headlights.
Old-school safety
With the current Nissan X-TRAIL as safety tech provider, the 2022 Renault Koleos is upstaged by a string of more advanced new-generation competitors including the Mitsubishi Outlander (now in alliance with Nissan and Renault), Hyundai Tucson and, not least of all, the Kia Sportage, which was recently named carsales Best Mid-Size SUV 2022.
All Koleos models come with low-speed-only autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and a short list of preventative safety aids including (warning-only) lane departure and blind spot monitoring.
There’s no sign of adaptive cruise control, AEB in reverse, pedestrian avoidance, front or rear cross traffic alert or driver attention detection.
What the Koleos does score are side parking sensors, in addition to the usual front and rear sensors, to help avoid inadvertent encounters. The flagship Koleos Intens also has the ability to park itself, but not at this middling Black Edition spec.
The six-airbag Koleos scored a five-star ANCAP rating in 2017.
Peppy but imperfect
The normally-aspirated 126kW/226Nm 2.5-litre powerplant in the 2022 Renault Koleos is the same as that found in the Nissan X-TRAIL, but in this case it has a bit more weight to carry around.
At 1611kg, the Renault Koleos Black Edition is something like 100kg heavier than its nearest X-TRAIL equivalent, which affects not only the performance but also fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
On the credit side, our review Koleos virtually matched Renault’s official 8.0L/100km claim, recording 8.1L/100km across our test.
By comparison, the five-seat 2022 Nissan X-TRAIL ST-L 2WD is quoted at a slightly better 7.9L/100km.
The Koleos Black Edition does, to a limited extent, get down and boogie. It’s no ball of fire but it holds its own among the bulk of its competitors.
Renault quotes 9.5sec for the 0-100km/h sprint, which is slightly better than, say, the 2.5-litre Mazda CX-5 (9.7sec) and is enough to remain comfortable in the rigours of day-to-day traffic, both urban and on the freeway.
The Koleos manages this with the help of its continuously variable transmission, which unfortunately exhibits just about all that’s jarring about CVTs.
Its eager determination to find the best power/torque spot on the rev band, and hang onto it, contributes to ready accelerator response, but there’s a rowdy consequence which seems at odds with the otherwise refined demeanour of the Koleos.
It’s not just the CVT to blame. Due partly to the highish point at which maximum torque is developed (4400rpm), the 2.5-litre four-cylinder becomes quite intrusive at the upper end of its rev range, where it tends to spend a bit of time.
On the case
To all intents and purposes, the 2022 Renault Koleos replicates the current Nissan X-TRAIL in just about all fundamental dimensions, which means cabin and storage space verge on exceptional.
There’s back-seat legroom aplenty, as well as generous headroom and shoulder-room.
What’s more, the luggage space, though slightly different in configuration to the X-TRAIL, rates near the top of its class with an overall seats-folded capacity of 1690 litres and a generous 458 litres still available in the boot when a full complement of passengers is aboard.
The front seats are well-proportioned and comfortable, although only the driver gets power adjustment (without memory settings) and there’s none of the plump, deeply-cushioned feel of Renaults past.
There are also vents attached to the front centre console that feed fresh air to back-seat passengers, plus seatback netting for extra paraphernalia storage and a rear centre arm rest complete with cup holders.
There are two USB ports in the front, and 12-volt sockets in the front, rear and boot.
The entirely vogueish dash sites its crystal-clear 8.7-inch display vertically, relying essentially on touch-screen functionality to operate the bulk of controls including sat-nav and climate-control.
That said, there are stand-alone push buttons for primary comfort settings such as auto, recirculate and demist, and seat heating.
Those familiar with Renaults will also recognise the console-located master switches for cruise control and speed-limiting.
On the road, some of the allure of the Renault Koleos’ unquestionably winning presentation is dulled by the rowdy engine and the intrusion of road noise exacerbated by the 19-inch wheels. The 225/55-section tyres, though they grip well, are low-profile enough to add some extra harshness to any sharp-edged bumps.
The Koleos steers okay. It’s not too heavy at the wheel and is geared quickly enough to inspire a degree of driver confidence.
The 11.4-metre turning circle is a bit wide for a mid-size SUV though, considering some of its competitors are able to about-face in almost one metre less.
In all though, the Renault’s chassis feels a bit primitive by comparison with many of the newer, slicker mid-size SUV arrivals in terms of bump absorption, responsiveness and noise levels.
Cosmetics or kinetics?
The 2022 Renault Koleos Black Edition wins points for its styling, its nicely executed interior and its generosity of space, whether it be for passengers or when loading up for a weekend away.
The Black Edition’s cabin accoutrements are easy on the eye and undoubtedly justify the $2700 surcharge over the Zen version it’s based on.
The 19-inch dark grey alloys, 8.7-inch touch-screen, hands-free tailgate and no-added-cost metallic paint choices are easier to quantify in terms of value than the cosmetics.
This leaves us with a mid-size SUV that, in terms of its looks, packaging and price competitiveness, has no issue competing with an emerging new generation.
But it lags behind in safety technology, general dynamic refinement and, to a certain extent, environmental credibility.
How much does the 2022 Renault Koleos Black Edition cost?Price: $40,090 (plus on-road costs)Available: NowEngine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrolOutput: 126kW/226NmTransmission: Continuously variable automaticFuel: 8.1L/100km (ADR Combined)CO2: 188g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)
Keyword: Renault Koleos Black Edition 2022 Review