The new Renault Koleos debuts with engines and some aesthetic touch-ups

The new Renault Koleos gets a makeover with two diesel engines and some aesthetic and equipment touch-ups.

The second generation of the Renault Koleos was launched in 2016, marking a significant leap in quality over the first. It grew in size, improved the quality of its materials, and featured a much more attractive look in line with the brand’s design language.

Three years later, Renault has decided that now is the ideal moment to give it a small facelift to keep its largest SUV looking current. With this face-lift, the French brand has sought greater personality and more comfortable driving, as well as an update to its engines to make them more efficient.

The new Renault Koleos receives slight design touch-ups

One of the Koleos’s strong points has always been its design, so the French manufacturer has barely changed it. At the front, the grille now has a more pronounced relief, and a new chrome strip has been integrated that runs across the entire bumper and ends at the fog lights. At the lower part, Renault has fitted a new guard to emphasise the vehicle’s robust character.

It is also hard to spot the changes the diamond brand has made at the rear. Looking closely, the underbody protection is now higher, a new chrome trim has been integrated, and the third brake light is now slightly longer.

Renault has added two new wheel designs to the range, in 18 and 19-inch sizes. In addition, it has created one more new colour to join the available palette, called “Rojo Millésime”.

A more functional interior

The core principle of the Renault Koleos is that all its occupants are enveloped in an atmosphere of comfort. With a length of 4,670 mm and a wheelbase of 2,710 mm, the French SUV offers good interior space, making it an excellent choice if you want a family car.

One of the novelties in the cabin is the rear seat backrest, which can now recline in two positions, so passengers can lie back and rest on longer journeys. Another new feature is that the driver’s seat can now be equipped with a massage function.

On the other hand, the new Renault Koleos still offers 579 litres of boot space with the seats in their normal configuration, or 1,795 litres when the rear row is folded down. However, this face-lift adds an 11-litre glovebox and a 7-litre storage compartment in the centre console.

If you choose the “Initiale Paris” trim, the most luxurious of those available (here is our road test of the Renault Talisman Initiale Paris), two new Nappa leather upholsteries have been added: one in titanium black and another in a light sand grey. In addition, this trim gets new designs for the dashboard trim, steering wheel, door panels and sills, and floor mats.

Two new diesel engines

The new Renault Koleos debuts two new Blue dCi engines, adapted to be more efficient and environmentally friendly. A new selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

These two new engines will be assembled at the brand’s plant in Cléon, offering two power levels:

• Blue dCi 150 X-Tronic: with 150 CV of power, it can only be chosen with front-wheel drive, and emits 143 grams of CO2/km.
• Blue dCi 190 X-Tronic All Mode 4×4: this configuration delivers 190 CV of power, which is 15 more than the equivalent of the previous generation. This engine is paired with an all-wheel-drive system and emits 150 grams of CO2/km.

Both engines are paired with the X-Tronic automatic gearbox, a transmission designed to deliver smoothness, reduce consumption and lower noise levels. In addition, it allows the driver to opt for a 6-speed sequential mode for a sportier response.

New drivetrain system

The manufacturer has developed its All Mode 4×4-i all-wheel-drive system to ensure constant control of wheel grip on the road, so the new Renault Koleos will have good traction in all conditions. This system lets the driver choose between three modes:

• Traction (4×2): all power is sent to the front wheels regardless of grip conditions, so consumption is lower.
• Auto (4×4): in this mode, torque distribution between both axles is managed automatically by the car’s electronics depending on road conditions. In this mode, up to 50% of the torque can be transferred to the rear wheels.
• Lock (4×4): the centre differential is locked and drive is split 50/50 at all times. This mode is reserved for extreme, low-grip conditions and works up to 40 km/h.

With the All Mode 4×4-i system, the new Renault Koleos will allow you to leave the tarmac with some confidence, thanks also to its 190 mm of ground clearance and approach and departure angles of 18 and 25 degrees. Let’s not kid ourselves: it is not an off-roader, but it can handle obstacles that are not too demanding. However, this system is mainly designed to deliver greater stability and safety on the road.

The new Renault Koleos is safer and improves its connectivity:

Renault has reinforced the driver-assistance equipment of the new Koleos. It now features lane change alert, 360º parking assist, adaptive cruise control and driver fatigue detection alert. In addition, this latest update adds an active emergency braking system that detects pedestrians.

On the other hand, the R-Link 2 infotainment system is available in two configurations: 7-inch horizontal or 8.7-inch vertical. It is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay thanks to the agreement reached a few months ago under which Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi partnered with Android to integrate it into their systems, and it has a new voice recognition function that lets you control the car’s main features.

If you choose the Renault Koleos Initiale Paris, it is equipped with a sound system signed by Bose, made up of 13 high-performance speakers, which gives occupants a high-quality audio experience.

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