Renault Koleos (2017 – 2020) Review

Renault Koleos (2017 – 2020) At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
A spacious cabin gives the Renault Koleos plenty of appeal, but the fact that the big SUV is only available as a five-seater will put off many potential used buyers.

+Big and comfortable. Plenty of kit. Strong diesel engines.

-Feels a but cumbersome to drive. No alternative power to the diesels.

Insurance Groups are between 22–27
On average it achieves 76% of the official MPG figure

The Renault Koleos followed a bold path when it arrived in 2017. First off, it was strictly a five-seater in a world that preferred seven-seat SUVs. And secondly, there were only diesel engines when others were already looking to petrol and hybrid power. Still, the French model is roomy, well equipped and comfortable to take on the SEAT Ateca, sharp-handling Ford Kuga and good-value Skoda Kodiaq. Read on for our full Renault Koleos review.

Based on the the Nissan X-Trail, the Renault Koleos is a big, family-friendly SUV with lots of interior space and plenty of standard equipment.

But a limited variety of trim levels and engines, along with sometimes poor ride quality on 19-inch wheels, restricts its appeal to used buyers.

The Renault Koleos only comes with five seats, but on the upside the back seat is 1300mm wide and there is plenty of rear legroom for older kids or teens.

The boot is big, wide and flat with lots of space for the weekly shop or bulky stuff such as pushchairs.

Up front is where the Renault Koleos impresses most, with plush, sturdy materials and plenty of technology.

R-Link real-time navigation, a digital instrument display, dual-zone climate control, lane departure warning, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are all standard – but you’d hope for as much since there are only two trim levels. Top models gain luxuries including leather seats and a power tailgate.

The engine range is diesel only, with a 130PS 1.6-litre dCi and a 175PS 2.0-litre dCi. The Renault Koleos is front-wheel drive as standard but, if you need extra traction, the 2.0 dCi is available with all wheel drive and either a six-speed manual or an X-Tronic CVT automatic transmission.

Neither diesel engine requires the addition of AdBlue.

Performance is adequate if not spectacular, and engine noise is minimal. As in the Renault Kadjar, acceleration off the line of the 1.6 cCi 130 is a bit slow, with the 175PS 2.0 a better bet. On the road, the slow steering makes the car feel far from agile in city driving.

The diesel-only engine range restricts the appeal of the Renault Koleos. A Skoda Kodiaq has more seats and is more comfortable, while a Ford Kuga is better to drive.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar's Renault Koleos review.

Ask Honest John

Should I buy a car that missed a service?

"I'm looking to buy a used Nissan X-Trail 1.6 dCi from a dealer. While going over the paperwork, I noticed that the first service for the car was only done at 18 months/21,000 miles. When I pointed this out to the dealer and asked if this will void any remaining warranty on the car, they were not entirely clear on it. However, I'm a bit apprehensive about it and wanted to check if this meant the warranty would be void?"
Don't touch it. These Renault 1.6 dCi need to have an oil and filter change at least every 12 months or every 12,000 miles regardless of what Nissan or Renault or this salesman tells you. I speak from experience of 20,000 miles with one. In any case, the 2.0 dCi 175 suits the X-Trail and Koleos much better than the 1.6 dCi, which is a bit too slow for the size of the car.
Answered by Honest John
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