|
By
DEREK OGDEN
2 January 2012
Renault’s Koleos crossover vehicle in what the company calls its
Phase II incarnation comes in three specification levels –
Expression, Dynamique and Privilege.
The front end has been beefed up visually with an expansive chrome
grille in the place of air intakes and slimmer headlights giving
the vehicle much greater road presence. Door mirrors now
incorporate LED turn indicators.
The rear has been pretty much left alone. The clam shell-style
tailgate allows the top half to be opened in restricted space,
while the bottom half drops down to enable heavy or bulky items to
be carried or can be used as a platform which can hold up to 200kg
or allow people to perch on to watch sporting fixtures under
cover.
Versatility is to the fore with Koleos coming with the choice of a
4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain. It is powered by either a Nissan 2.5-litre
petrol engine, or a Renault 2.0-litre dCi diesel engine.
Putting out 126 kW of power at 6000 rpm and 226 Nm of torque at
4400 rpm, the petrol motor is mated with either a six-speed manual
gearbox or continuously variable transmission. It is available in
4x2 or 4x4, depending on specification.
The dCi diesel produces 110 kW at 4000 rpm and 320 Nm at 2000 rpm.
This can be had only in 4x4 with a conventional six-speed
automatic gearbox.
Renault Koleos 4x4 is designed for the more adventurous who feel
the need to get away from other road users and go bush. Three
driving modes are offered – Auto, Lock or 2WD. Auto is the
default mode, in normal conditions torque is delivered through the
front wheels; where conditions vary torque is split between front
and rear to optimise traction. In extreme circumstances torque is
shared evenly between front and rear.
In the most extreme going – snow, mud or sand – the driver can
engage Lock mode by flicking a switch on the dashboard
electronically fixing the transmission in 4x4, directing half the
torque to the rear.
Koleos 4x4 variants are also fitted with Hill Start Assist to
prevent the vehicle slipping on inclines of more than 10 per cent
and Hill Descent Control which is activated when the vehicle is in
4WD Lock mode by pressing a button on the centre console.
This automatically holds the speed at 7 km/h on slopes of 10 per
cent or more without the driver having to use the brakes. It
operates in forward or reverse gear.
With ground clearance straddling 200 mm - 204 mm (diesel version
186 mm) - putting it within a whisker of true off-roader status,
the Koleos 4WD gave the impression it was capable of coping with
going much more testing than the bush tracks taken on the launch.
The Koleos was comfortable and well-behaved in city traffic but
was unable to iron out uneven bitumen surfaces, producing quite a
choppy ride at cruising speeds on country roads.
The 60/40 rear bench seat in the Dynamique and Privilege can be
folded using the Renault Easy Estate system can be operated by one
or two levers, one inside the cabin, the other in the boot
allowing the seat to fold flat.
In this position, the boot volume is increased from 450-litres to
1380-litres. The passenger seat back can also be folded flat to be
used as a table or allow long items (up to 2.6 m) to be
transported. There’s a ski flap too.
A major selling feature is the fitting of satellite navigation to
all Koleos models.
Black leather upholstery with contrast stitching features in the
mid-range Dynamique, it also has a Modularity Pack which includes
the Easy Estate flat floor system, rake adjustable rear seats,
additional 12V socket and a suite of storage spaces.
The top-of-the-range Privilege has a panoramic glass roof and now
bi-xenon headlamps with fixed cornering lights are now fitted. It
has 18-in alloy wheels.
Dynamique and Privilege also feature a ‘Don’t make me come
back there’ interior rear-view mirror with which the driver can
keep an eye on what the kids are up to in the back of the car. Not
a good feature in our eyes as the driver really should be watching
the road in front not the demon kids behind.
There’s good visibility all round for all five occupants who are
accommodated in comfortable contoured seats in a light and airy
atmosphere.
MODEL LINE-UP
Koleos Expression 2.5-litre 4x2: $28,490 (manual), $30,490 (CVT)
Koleos Dynamique 2.5-litre 4x2: $34,490 (CVT)
Koleos Dynamique 2.5-litre 4x4: $37,990 (CVT)
Koleos Dynamique 2.0 dCi 4x4: $40,990 (automatic)|
Koleos Privilege 2.5-litre 4x4: $44,490 (CVT)
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
|
|
