Renault Koleos 2,5 Dynamique CVT
CAR|March 2022
Renault has been doing a roaring trade in the small budget cars segment of late ... How will the upmarket Koleos be received?
By Nikesh Kooverjee, Sean Parker
Renault Koleos 2,5 Dynamique CVT
  • Price: R534 900
  • 0-100 km/h: 9,76 seconds
  • Top speed: 185 km/h
  • Power: 126 kW
  • Torque: 233 N.m
  • CAR fuel index: 9,72 L/100 km
  • CO2: 188 g/km

Renault has been riding the local small-car wave with its budget-friendly Kwid, Kiger, and the always-impressive Duster SUV.

The desire for smaller, fuel-efficient cars has seen the public shift its focus away from large, expensive SUVs towards compact crossovers. This is why models such as the Ford EcoSport, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Suzuki S-Presso, Renault Kiger, Nissan Magnite Volkswagen T-Cross, Kia Sonet, and Hyundai Venue occupy several spots on the list of top 20 best-selling cars.

Owing to this tsunami of smaller cars, there will always be casualties in other segments and the Renault Koleos is a perfect example. In 2019, Renault SA made a bold move to drop its excellent Kadjar SUV in favor of the larger Koleos; it was cheaper to import the Koleos from South Korea than the Kadjar from France. While the Kadjar shared its underpinnings with the Nissan Qashqai, the Koleos shares its architecture with another Nissan product, the X-Trail. We spent our customary fortnight with the updated model that has been on the cards for local introduction as far back as June 2020.

Denne historien er fra March 2022-utgaven av CAR.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra March 2022-utgaven av CAR.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA CARSe alt
Toyota Fortuner
CAR South Africa

Toyota Fortuner

Considered by many as the quintessential adventure SUV, the Fortuner is about as strong a used buying proposition as you can get in this segment. We take you through the things to look out for and list two rivals for comparison.

time-read
4 mins  |
CAR July 2024
MIND THE HURDLE
CAR South Africa

MIND THE HURDLE

With a repaired car and a point to prove, Alex Shahini returned for Round 3 of the Toyota GR Cup at Zwartkops Raceway to achieve a career-best finish

time-read
2 mins  |
CAR July 2024
KING OF KILLARNEY
CAR South Africa

KING OF KILLARNEY

For four decades, Denis Joubert was directly involved with the creation, development and ongoing success of Cape Town's international motorsport venue, Killarney. Having just celebrated his 90th birthday, we talk to the man whose contribution to South Africa's motor-racing heritage is priceless....

time-read
6 mins  |
CAR July 2024
Selecting the 4WD SYSTEM for your needs
CAR South Africa

Selecting the 4WD SYSTEM for your needs

As 4WD SUVS and double cabs grow in popularity, more first-time buyers face the challenge of selecting a vehicle with a drivetrain that best meets their requirements. We explain the key differences between the all-wheel drivetrains available

time-read
6 mins  |
CAR July 2024
Kia Picanto 1.0 LX MT
CAR South Africa

Kia Picanto 1.0 LX MT

Kia's ever-popular budget hatch has recently received a range of exterior and interior updates - we test the entry-level variant to see if it remains a force to be reckoned with in this highly competitive segment

time-read
3 mins  |
CAR July 2024
Super C
CAR South Africa

Super C

The fastest and most technologically advanced flagship C-Class to date, AMG's C63 S has evolved into an electrified uber-sedan. Has this mighty model forsaken some character in pursuing this status? We strapped our test equipment to the new shooting star.

time-read
4 mins  |
CAR July 2024
Bentley's Brutes
CAR South Africa

Bentley's Brutes

A break in proceedings during an exclusive preview of the fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT afforded us an opportunity to sample the stately yet hair-raising Bentayga S

time-read
3 mins  |
CAR July 2024
RUNNING UP THAT HILL
CAR South Africa

RUNNING UP THAT HILL

Now in its 14th year, the Simola Hillclimb continues to combine adrenaline-fuelled competition with showcasing some of the most appealing classics out there in a heady mix that keeps local petrolheads coming...

time-read
3 mins  |
CAR July 2024
BAND OF BROTHERS
CAR South Africa

BAND OF BROTHERS

Complete with rugged bakkie-based underpinnings that encourage off-the-beaten-track venturing, largely proven powertrains that afford maximum range and towing capability, and brand names with enviable respective reputations for reliability, adventure SUVs remain the favourite of thousands of South Africans.

time-read
7 mins  |
CAR July 2024
TWELVE OF THE BEST
CAR South Africa

TWELVE OF THE BEST

Ferrari keeps things suitably old-school with its V12-engined 12Cilindri GT

time-read
2 mins  |
CAR July 2024