Under the bonnet the Renault Koleos was powered by a 150bhp diesel engine and this was mated to an automatic gearbox. the car was driven on a mix of highway roads and mountainous tracks and performed admirably.
Pressing the accelerator the driver will feel the smooth engine pull the car - drive on and the driver will be pleased, the Koleos has plenty of power for safe overtaking manouevres as it has 320nm of torque at 2,000rpm.
For an oil burning 4x4 Crossover, the figures read well - zero to 62mph in 10.4 seconds while it has a top speed of 115mph.
Off-Roading In The Koleos
Take the Koloes onto the rough stuff and drivers and passengers will be impressed. This soft roader is a great tool when drivers need to 'rough it'. The Koleos was driven on an off-road course in Scotland so that testers could use its full potential and the Koleos surprised its most harshest critics with a great performance when off-roading.
Back on the tarmac, the Koeos proves to be a good motorway cruiser and there is plenty of goodies to keep passengers happy during the journey. A downside with the car is the steering - it is direct but it could do with a bit more feeling.
Through town centres the Koleos copes well with bumps and potholes, the suspension is well set up and the car negotiates these obstacles with ease.
Renault Has Improved Its Build Quality
French maker Renault has improved the build quality on all its car in recent years. The Koleos takes this on a step further. Step inside and prospective buyers can see that the manufacturer has made a good car. The doors close with a solid thud, which is always pleasing to the ear.
However, the interior is a little dull as the plastics are grey and expansive - a little colour would certainly help the next generation...but they do look durable and for a car that may be going off-road that is a good sign.
Renault - Big On Safety
Renault has been making its vehicles some of the safest on the car market for some time. Its range includes seven vehicles that have received five stars from EuroNCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme).
The French maker has made the Koeos a very safe vehicle to travel in too, as it has fitted ABS (Anti-lock brakes) and ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) as standard. The ESP controls the grip of each wheel to optimise stability when cornering.
Passengers will welcome front, side and curtain airbags as they too come as standard.
Koleos Is A Practical Car
The Koleos is a great family car and it will easily seat four adults in the car, while it could take three in the back but this may prove to be a bit more of a squeeze.
The car on test was powered by the 2.0-litre diesel unit and according to the maker it should return 34.0mpg on the combined cycle and it emits 221g/km.
Renault has triumphed with the Koleos - the off-roading ability and its good practicality make it a family car that buyers should take note of.
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