2020 Renault Koleos review: Intens FWD

Let's take a moment to reflect on Renault's claims about the 2020 Koleos. Launched in late 2019, Renault told us it's officially "reimagined". I'm not a particularly skeptical person, so without seeing a photo, I thought, "Either there's been a big and unexpected facelift, or I'm looking forward to a brand new Koleos." What a jerk I am.

Then I saw the photos. Checked the date on them. Nope. It looks exactly the same as the old one, except for a few changes in detail. Ah, perhaps the interior has undergone a facelift. Nope. New engines? No again.

Puzzled? Yes very. So being able to spend a week with the top-notch Koleos Intens was a great opportunity to see if Renault could do a better job of keeping its powder dry during such a big challenge.

Renault Koleos 2020: Intense X-Tronic (4X4)
Safety Rating
engine's type	2.5L
fuel type	Regular unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	8.3l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$33,400

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10

For $42,990, the Intens is available with front-wheel drive, and for a few more dollars… well, two and a half thousand more, for $45,490… you can get the all-wheel drive car we tested.

For $42,990, the Intens is available with front-wheel drive, and for $45,490 it comes with all-wheel drive.

The price includes an 11-speaker stereo system, 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, a rearview camera, keyless entry and start, all-round parking sensors, cruise control, heated and ventilated power front seats, satellite navigation, auto LED headlights, automatic wipers, partial leather trim, power tailgate, steering-assisted automatic parking, power and heated folding mirrors, sunroof and compact spare tire.

The price includes 19-inch alloy wheels.

The 8.7-inch R-Link touchscreen is "wrong" in that it's in portrait rather than landscape mode. This was a problem until the Apple CarPlay update meant it now fills the entire bar rather than stopping in the middle in the DIY landscape. I hope the folks at supercar manufacturer McLaren have noticed (they've made a similar mistake), because of course it's an everyday consideration for all of us. Oddly enough, the Zen variant has a 7.0-inch screen in landscape mode.

Climate control is split between two dials and multiple selection buttons, as well as some touchscreen functions. I may be alone in this, but my wife can't help herself - whenever she gets into the car, she lowers the fan speed. It's a lot more complicated than it should be, and it takes a few drastic upward swipes to access the fan speed controls.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

This is where the "reimagined" bit can be a stretch. It's the same car with LED fog lights, new wheels and bumpers. The C-shaped LED high beam headlights are still there (okay), the Intens is distinguishable with some chrome trim, but it's basically the same. As I said, Renault is not enough for me, but I am happy to admit that my concern is a niche one. If I take off my enthusiast goggles, it's a nice enough car, especially from the front.

It's the same car with LED fog lights, new wheels and bumpers.

Again, the interior is mostly the same, with some new wood paneling on the Intens. Look, I'm not a fan, but these aren't giant chunks of material and I wouldn't go for that kind of finish. The cabin is aging well and feels a bit more French than the exterior. However, I preferred the cloth seats on the lower-spec Life variant I rode last year.

It's a pretty nice car.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10

Koleos is a big car, so there's plenty of room inside. Front and rear passengers will be very comfortable, there is enough space for those who are over 180 cm tall. Nobody ever wants to sit in the back seat in the middle in any car, but Koleos would be tolerable for a short trip if you were not too wide .

Koleos is a big car, so there's plenty of room inside.

Front-seat passengers get a pair of useful cupholders, not the usual clutter you get from French automakers (although things are getting better). You can also use the cupholders to store small valuables when you get out of your car, as they have a hinged lid.

Even the middle rear seat in the Koleos would be acceptable for a short trip if you weren't too wide.

You start with 458 liters of trunk and the wheel arches don't get in the way too much which is very handy. Lower the seats and you get a very respectable 1690 litres.

Each door holds a medium-sized bottle, and the basket/armrest on the center console is a handy size.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

Based on the Nissan X-Trail, the Koleos has to make do with Nissan's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Driving the front wheels through a CVT, the transmission is the smallest part of a Renault car. Keep in mind that the CVT is not my favorite transmission, so take what you want from it.

The engine develops 126 kW and 226 Nm, which is enough to accelerate a large SUV to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds.

The engine develops 126 kW and 226 Nm, which is enough to accelerate a large SUV to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds.

The all-wheel drive system can send up to half of the torque to the rear wheels for a maximum 50:50 torque split, and the lock-up mode ensures this on low-traction surfaces at speeds under 40 km/h.

If you are interested, you can tow up to 2000 kg.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

Renault lists an official combined fuel consumption figure of 8.3 l/100 km. We had a nice long run with the Koleos over a smoky, muddy Christmas that involved hauling various loads in and out of the house as part of the renovations. The reported average was a commendable 10.2L/100km with low highway mileage.

One advantage of its Nissan origins is that the engine doesn't insist on premium unleaded gasoline.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10

The Intens has six airbags, ABS, stability and traction control, brake force distribution, front AEB, rear view camera, forward collision warning, blind spot warning and lane departure warning. 

There are two ISOFIX points and three top seat belts.

ANCAP tested Koleos in October 2018 and gave it a five-star safety rating.

ANCAP tested Koleos in October 2018 and gave it a five-star safety rating.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

7 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10

Renault's aftermarket package is what the company calls 5:5:5. That's a five-year warranty (with unlimited mileage), five-year roadside assistance, and a five-year flat-price service regime. The catch with roadside assistance is that it's service-activated, meaning you need to get the car to Renault for the full benefit. It's not a huge catch, but you just need to be aware of it.

Price-limited service looks expensive - because it is - four out of five will set you back $429, with a $999 service about four years later. Well, to be fair, for the vast majority of owners, it will be four years because the service interval is 12 months (normal) and a whopping 30,000 km. However, the price includes air filters and pollen filters, belt replacement, coolant, spark plugs and brake fluid, which is more than most.

What is it like to drive? 7/10

Koleos has always been a car in which I lost a lot of things. Seen through the lens of a Renault fan, he definitely doesn't drive like a Renault. It looks like what it is - a gracefully aging midsize SUV with light weight on board.

It rides very well, with a smooth, albeit unhurried, ride. The ride is fairly soft, with body roll noticeable but well contained. Even with big wheels and tires, the road is quiet.

The steering is not too slow.

The steering isn't too slow either. Sometimes engineers insist on a slow steering rack in such cars, which makes me deeply hate, mainly because it is not necessary. Mitsubishi Outlander, a car of the same size, has very slow steering, which is terrible in the city. Koleos is more than I would expect from a car that will spend most of its time in the city.

The car really fails transmission. While the engine is fine, the torque figure isn't really what such a large unit needs to keep going under load, and the CVT seems to work against the torque figure rather than along with it. Unlike the Kadjar, which swapped out the Qashqai CVT and 2.0-litre engine for something more sensible (and, let's be honest, modern), the Koleos is stuck in an old-school vein.

However, as I said, it's pretty easy - nice ride, neat handling and quiet when you move. And no surprises.

One problem is that I thought it was a front wheel drive version until I checked the specs. It seems like the car's brain needs a fair amount of provocation before sending power to the rear wheels. They mostly spin freely to keep fuel consumption reasonable, and more than once the front wheels chirped when I pulled onto the main road near my house. However, the all-wheel drive system worked well on slippery surfaces, so it does work.

Verdict

Perhaps the only surprise about the Koleos is how little Renault had to do to keep it fresh. It's nice to look at and drive (if you don't mind a slow ride), and it has a solid aftermarket package.

I don't think you need an all wheel drive version unless you're driving in the snow or traveling light off road so you can save some money there.

Is it reimagined? If you've come this far and are still wondering, the answer is no. It's still the same old Koleos, and that's okay because it wasn't a bad car from the start.