Renault Koleos Dynamique 2.5 CVT 4X2
Report 1
R534,900
WHY IT’S HERE
To ascertain whether it is worth the while to overlook other players in the market and how it fares as a family commuter.
DRIVERS
TopGear Team
This month we welcome to the TGSA garage, the Renault Koleos, which is essentially the French marque’s local flagship model. Based on, and using similar running gear to the Nissan X-Trail, the Koleos cuts a rather stylish pose with a very modern, if not particularly ground-breaking design.
It has recently been to the surgeon’s rooms and has emerged with a few styling tweaks that include new LED headlights and fog lamps with updated bezels, while the rear has also been given the LED treatment. These also include the swooshing indicator lights, which are a nice touch indeed.
Cabin appointments are neat with decent build quality to boot, although the infotainment screen does seem a tad dated now as the system debuted with the Megane a few years back. That aside, the electronically-operated leather pews on our tester offer good comfort and that commanding sitting position that is adored in this segment.
There are two USB ports up front and two at the rear, which makes for an ideal family hauler so that rear passengers, particularly children, can charge their tablets or smartphones without disturbing the adults in the front. Boot space is quite commendable at 464 litres in standard guise, which can be expanded to an even more capacious 1 700 litres with the rear seats folded.
Motivation, meanwhile, comes in the form of the normally aspirated 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine pushing out 126 kW and 233 Nm via a CVT gearbox. Perhaps a touch archaic setup in a realm of mostly turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, the Koleos nonetheless gets on with the task of transporting us with relative ease and there seems to be enough performance for cut-and-thrust urban traffic situations. Things do, however, become somewhat frustrating when overtaking slower-moving vehicles, with the CVT’s incessant droning becoming ever so vocal.
Other than that, we’re thoroughly enjoying our time with the Koleos and look forward to putting it through its paces in the next six months of our long-term review.
SPEC
2,488 cc, 4-cyl, FWD 126 kW, 233 Nm 9.5l/100 km,188 g/km CO2 1,520 kg
ENGINE
2.5-litre naturally aspirated
BHP
126 kW / 233 Nm
0-100
9.5 secs
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Keyword: Renault Koleos Dynamique 2.5 CVT 4X2