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It would seem that quite recently the presentation of the second generation Renault Koleos was taking place and the restyled version is already entering the Ukrainian market. Indeed, the three-year period for updating the model is very short. Why did Renault need it and what exactly did the French change in their flagship crossover? Let’s figure it out together!
At one time, Renault very timely and clearly grasped the prospects of the SUV class and tried to offer the market models that could be created quickly and through small upgrades. So there were four-wheel drive Renault Scenic RX4 in 2000 and Renault Kangoo in 2002. Both, by the way, with various engineering solutions and good cross-country ability. Koleos at that time was already known to the automotive public, but only as a futuristic concept with Avantime stylistics.
Renault Koleos Concept 2000
The serial Renault Koleos appeared six years later and lasted on the assembly line for almost ten years. Comfortable, comfortable, with gasoline or diesel engines, but with a bold rounded design, he was ambiguously greeted by the public. Therefore, in the second generation, it was decided to apply the classic style, but with emphasis on the oriental market. Moreover, the world premiere of the second generation Koleos was not held in Europe, but at the 2016 Beijing Motor Show. And only after some time, the model reached the Old World. In Ukraine, the second-generation Koleos was presented in 2017.
Prices and specifications
After the update, Renault Koleos is offered in the Ukrainian market in three trim levels: Life, Zen and Intense. The initial cost of the Renault Finance program is 709 900 UAH. (about $ 26,300), the average configuration will cost 760,400 UAH. ($ 28,000), and the top one, as on a test drive, costs UAH 830,200. ($ 30,700).
But even in the case of the maximum configuration, there remains the possibility of additional options. For example, if you want to use plain leather upholstery together, choose Nappa leather upholstery, or a Bose audio system with 12 speakers instead of the usual 8 and so on. And although our car did not have a whole list of additional options, nevertheless, some of them raised its cost by several thousand dollars.
Note that for all trim levels the technical filling is offered the same – it is a 2.0 dCi turbodiesel engine, an automatic transmission variator and four-wheel drive. We’ll get to them in more detail, but for now, the French horse is design.
Appearance
Initially, the second Koleos was created with a big eye on the eastern markets, so they decided to have some fun with the tastes of the local customers. A lot of chrome in the finish, a little revealing props and so on. Although the French handwriting is still noticeable, but with all the decorations it was possible to not overdo it. Even after restyling. After all, Koleos’s external changes are essentially a minimum. This is a new grill-grille pattern, other front foglights – they are now LED – and the lower and lower bumpers of the front and rear bumpers. Slips, trims, count light cosmetic touches. And already according to the standard update scheme, the models added a new color and pattern of rims. By the way, they are 18-inch on the middle and top versions.
Of the fun details, I would note the decorative “gills” on the front doors and the decorative exhaust “pipes” in the rear bumper. But all this was here before.
All-LED optics not only look great, front daytime running lights form C-shaped staples, and the lights on the trunk lid almost completely close, but also shine very well. Lighting the road in the dark is beyond praise!
In the cabin
In the interior of the changes, perhaps most of all, at least they can not only be noticed, but also felt. The updated Renault Koleos can be ordered with more comfortable and functional seats (with several types of massage, a sliding section under the knees and large comfortable head restraints), as well as in Nappa leather trim. Perforated in the center of the seat and quilted with a diamond in the upper back, it adds solidity to the interior. Such chairs are really very comfortable, and although they are designed for a larger complex than mine, I was very comfortable in them even on a long trip.
Otherwise, nothing has changed visually in the front of the cabin. The same front panel with a vertical tablet of a screen diagonal of 8.7 inches (in the average configuration it is slightly smaller), a combined dashboard in front of the driver, the same buttons and their functionality.
By the way, physical keys are minimum, and most settings are done through the multimedia screen. For example, adjusting the color of the contour lights in the door cards or the style of the speedometer and tachometer. There are a lot of different settings, but the logic of the menu is slightly confused. But then there were Android Auto and Apple Car Play.
I liked the attention to the little things that create additional comfort. So, cooling appeared in the cup holders, the central armrest can be moved forward and then it fits perfectly under the elbow, and the finish of the lower part of the front panel is not made of hard plastic, as is often the case, but on the contrary trimmed with leather. And the stitching is real, not fake. But at the same time there are ridiculous little things. Like auto mode, only a driver’s power window.
On the back of the couch, I find another confirmation that Koleos is entirely committed to passenger comfort. I am greeted by the rear doors, which swing open at an angle of almost 90 degrees and the same narrow and mud-covered threshold. I sit down and the pillow of the sofa catches me in its arms – a very comfortable fit!
Five out of five can be put in reserve for legs. Spacious, the front seat does not press on the feet, and there is almost no transmission tunnel (although there is four-wheel drive). There is also enough space above my head, except that the average passenger with my height of 1.82 will hit the ceiling.
The main innovation in the gallery is the ability to adjust the back of the rear sofa for the angle of inclination. The heating buttons are still at the end of the armrest, which makes it difficult to use if three passengers are sitting in the back.
Trunk volume is 505 liters, although visually it seems even more. Here the electric drive of the fifth door, a minimum of plastic in the finish (a more pleasant pile was used), and under the raised floor there is a full-size spare wheel. The folding parts of the back form a flat floor with almost no steps. In general, there is practically nothing to complain about, except that you are afraid to scratch the rear wide bumper.
Drive
In theory, under the hood of Koleos after restyling, innovations also appeared – new power units. This is a 170 hp turbo diesel 1.7 dCi. and 2.0 dCi at 190 hp But they haven’t been delivered to us yet. The driving force of the crossover is the same turbodiesel 2.0 dCi with a capacity of 177 hp. and a torque of 380 Newton meters. It is achieved exactly at two thousand revolutions. But up to this point, the car demonstrates a somewhat phlegmatic character. No, there is no frank failure, but a hint “maybe it’s not worth it to drive?” the car manages to inform the driver. But in the same way he manages to accelerate to the first “hundred” in 9.5 seconds, which is a good indicator if you take a cut in the class of a car and take into account the driving experience.
And they are very nice here, I would even say smooth. The tandem of the X-Tronic engine and CVT is tuned for a calm and smooth ride, if you drive in a measured and leisurely way, Koleos is able to even lull its passengers. But in order to drive dynamically, it is better to keep the tachometer needle to the right of the mark of two thousand revolutions, but again, preventing it from running very far. Then you will always have at your disposal almost maximum thrust, which is enough to accelerate from speed when ahead or overtaking, for example. With such maneuvers, the engine recalls its diesel essence with rather harsh notes in the “voice” that are heard in the cabin.
It is a pity that no additional driving modes are provided, neither sports nor economical. But the accelerator pedal here is accurate, responsive, so traction control is easy. For the sake of interest, it’s possible to switch to the manual variator control mode, having at its disposal 7 fixed gears. But then again, without paddle shifters, this makes little sense.
But the mode of operation of the all-wheel drive transmission All Mode 4 × 4 can be selected. And this is a cool distinctive feature! If you drive on a hard, dry surface, the front-wheel drive will suffice, the “Auto” mode can be selected if the weather conditions worsen (rain or snow) or on light off-road conditions, but in order not to get hooked on it, you can resort to the third Lock operating mode . Then the torque will be divided equally between the axles. Conceptually, nothing unusual, but I really like the ability to control all-wheel drive in this format. As for the Koleos capabilities off-road, with a clearance of 210 mm it does not pass on light off-road roads and climbs well on it, unless it sometimes catches the front overhang.
The crossover suspension has not changed, the front is the McPherson strut, and the rear multi-link. And in fact, her habits on our roads remained unchanged. Having dealt well with large waves of asphalt, on a small road in the form of joints and patches, the suspension begins to broadcast it all to the salon. Namely, noise, and not stiffness, was most embarrassing to me in her work. Because in the corners Koleos stands perfectly on the trajectory, does not scare with valkost and is understandable to the driver in his habits. Given the more calm and balanced nature of the machine as a whole, such features even surprised me. But it’s nice to understand that a crossover does not help if you go into a turn at a higher speed.
At the same time, it steers accurately and pleasantly, with the presence of reverse effort on the steering wheel. And even without excitement, but quite confidently. To match the power and weight of the car and its brakes. They enter the work gently, but besiege Renault Koleos quickly even at high speeds. And again, I come to the conclusion that the car is configured for a comfortable and measured ride, it reveals itself perfectly on the track, and even if there is more or less good asphalt under the wheels, then it’s great!
As for consumption, in the urban rhythm it easily fits into 8 liters, and with a quiet ride, you can go up to 6.5-7 liters. So a tank of 60 liters can last for 750-800 km.
To summarize
Obviously, Renault Koleos needed restyling in order to expand the list of comfort options and acquire new, more efficient engines. After all, competition in the classroom is strong, and one cannot do without their trump cards. In addition, pricing has become even more loyal. Koleos fights for those buyers who choose not the basic versions in order to maximize the price, but in more equipped versions, with a list of options. And here he has something to offer.
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