RENAULT has given its slow-selling Koleos compact SUV a mid-life makeover by bolstering the list of features, tweaking the diesel engine’s fuel economy and slapping on a less polarising front grille.
As before, the range is available in three specification levels, powered by either diesel or petrol engines matched with six-speed manual, CVT or six-speed automatic transmissions in front- or all-wheel drive configurations.
The clever interior, five-star safety and five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty remain as before, all of which make for an enticing showroom proposition.
The question is, are these modest tweaks enough to transform a segment lightweight into a legitimate contender?
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Koleos
Released: September 2008
Ended: November 2011
Family Tree: KoleosTHE Japanese Nissan X-Trail-based, South Korean-built and French-badged Renault Koleos launched onto the local market in September 2008.
The car, available in two and four-wheel-drive layouts powered by diesel and petrol engines with the choice of manual, automatic and CVT transmissions signalled the first tangible result of the Renault-Nissan alliance.
Six-speed automatic versions of the turbo diesel were deliberately detuned to 110kW and 320Nm to protect the transmission from overheating, while the petrol engine produced 126kW of power at 6000rpm and 226Nm of torque at 4400rpm.
The 4WD system included Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control functions, while a switch on the centre dash enabled the driver to select between auto mode, in which the front/rear torque split was electronically controlled according to demand, lock mode, or front-drive mode.
The cleverly functional and practical interior featured an array of hidey-holes offering up to 70 litres of storage space, while the bottom half of the horizontally-split tailgate was able to support up to 200kg.
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