Renault Koleos Car Review in India

The Renault Koleos, a compact SUV from the Renault Motors, was first introduced as a concept car at the 2006 Mondial de l'Aumotobile in Paris. Designed by Renault and developed by Nissan, The all-terrain crossover Koleos has been inspired by the X-Trail platform, scheduled for assembly at the Renault-Nissan production facility at Orangadam near Chennai.

Renault launched the Koleos in India in September 2011, with a lot of promise, claiming that the car is a perfect blend of power with pleasure. The car is claimed to offer precise steering feedback, outstanding stability and road view, contributing to a sedan-like driving experience. In India, the car will be available in three colour options, Black Metallic, Ultra Silver and White Pearl.

The Renault Koleos will be available only in its diesel version in India. The SUV is equipped with a 1,995 cc 2.0 litre Direct injection common rail + turbo engine which produces an output of 150 bhp @4,000 rpm and a maximum Torque of 320NM @2,000 rpm. The engine will be available in a four-wheeled drive option with six-speed automatic transmission.

The Koleos SUV, featuring 4-cylinders and 16 valves, can zoom from 0-100 kmph in 12.3 seconds, from 0-400 m in 18.8 seconds and from 0-1000m in 34 seconds and has a top speed of 180 kmph.

The Koleos is best described as a good looking, compact, 4x4 car with clean lines and as an SUV which works overtime to keep you comfortable. The car offers user-friendly stowage solution, comfortable interiors and carrying capacity that would please most! The comforts can be accessed at the flick of a switch or a finger touch. The revised and forceful front-end styling of the Koleos combined with elegant chrome grille contributes to an unmistakably dynamic appearance, while the carefully crafted interiors would please one with refined tastes. The car features new slimmer headlights and modern door mirrors with LED indicators. The "easy fold" function which allows one to fold the rear bench down from the trunk allows one to transport bikes. The split-opening tailgate enables one to carry objects over one meter wide.

The multi-tasking car is said to have the comfort of a sedan and the spaciousness of an MPV. The four-wheel drive transmission and off road-functions with hill descent control would be ideal for an adventure enthusiast and also for a person who wants to ride a city car. Music enthusiasts won't be disappointed when they go for a Koleos. Bose sound system comes as a standard with every Renault Koleos. The acoustics, keeping the cabin space and interiors in mind, is described as amazing, making the drive a pleasurable experience! Other features of the car include alloy wheels (including spare wheel), silver finish door handles, fully chrome surround grille, front and rear Skid plates, LED Integrated Outside Rear View Mirrors, Rear Spoiler, Silver Satinated Roof Rails, Rain Sensing Wiper and Rear Glass (Electric Defrosting) amongst others. The interiors feature soft touch dashboard, front arm rest with storage box and cup holder, all-leather upholstery, sun visors, coat hanger, closed storage in front door armrests, Smart Access Card Entry, Rear Parking Proximity Sensors, Cruise Control and Speed Limiter, Rear Sunblinds and a cooled and illuminated Glove Box amongst others.

The Renault Koleos is claimed to be one of the safest cars with both active and passive safety features. The safety of the car is also certified by a 5-star rating which it has achieved in the EuroNCAP tests. Being both intuitive and practical, the car is loaded with the latest technology and safety features including 6 SRS airbags, making sure that each drive is safe. Renault claims that the car offers precise steering feedback, impressive stability, a commanding road view along with a responsive 6-speed manual gearbox. The main controls are within easy reach on the ergonomic dashboard with instrument lighting, stylish speedometer housing and display.