Used Renault Koleos 2017-2020 review

With SUVs the car of choice for the last decade, it’s not surprising that the alliance that contains those two huge motoring manufacturers, Nissan and Renault, should have produced a couple of prime examples.

The family-sized Nissan Qashqai SUV has benefited from a close relationship with the broadly similar Renault Kadjar; in the larger SUV class, the Nissan X-Trail shares much of its underpinnings with this Renault Koleos. All four cars share the same platform, albeit lengthened in the larger SUVs.

The Koleos has a distinctive Renault look, with its deep grille and plenty of brightwork along the sides. It’s a long car, too, and rather muscular, and it comes as a surprise to learn that it’s actually only a five-seater car rather than a more practical seven-seater. This is compounded by the fact that the subcutaneously similar X-Trail is available as a seven-seater.

The Koleos was on sale from 2017 to 2020 in the UK, before sluggish sales brought it to an end. Now, used prices look tempting for something so large.

Engines: Two engines are available: Renault’s 1.6-litre dCi 130 and a more powerful 2.0-litre dCi 175. The 1.6 Koleos is front-wheel drive as standard, while the larger 2.0-litre engined car comes with four-wheel drive.

Trims & equipment: Trims are limited to two. Dynamique S Nav models come with a 7.0in touchscreen, with a larger, tablet-style 8.7in screen on the top of the range Signature Nav trims. This is okay to use, but you’ll find those systems in a Sorento, Santa Fe and Kodiaq much more fathomable: some of its features aren’t that easy to find within the multitude of menus, and it can be a little ponderous to process commands at times. Whichever screen size you have it’ll be well kitted out. Every version gets Tom Tom live-traffic sat-nav, a DAB radio and Bluetooth, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring - this lets you operate selected apps from your phone via the main screen.

Ride & handling: On the road, the Koleos proves to be a little unrefined, with either of its engine options. With 128bhp, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the smaller 1.6 diesel would feel rather underpowered in a large SUV. Actually, with plenty of low-end pep, it manages to be relatively breezy around town, with just about enough in reserve for motorway excursions.

The more powerful 2.0 173bhp diesel with four-wheel drive and the optional CVT automatic gearbox is adequately brisk, but if you’re trying to overtake on a country road you’ll still be needing a surprisingly big gap to make it safely past.

Most infuriating is the gearbox’s hesitancy off the line. It makes pulling out of junctions an exasperating experience, as it ever so slowly winds itself into action. The standard six-speed manual 'box might be a better bet if you’re an impatient sort.

Alas noise in the interior is pronounced, especially from the engine, but almost equally from the road and the wind - the Koleos feels utilitarian rather than plush. This is made worse by a ride that thumps into bumps and potholes and never really settles down; it feels pretty uncomfortable most of the time.

Interior & practicality: Inside is a reasonable driving position set high for good visibility. It’s multi-adjustable too, with electric operation of the driver’s seat and steering wheel on the top trim.

The majority of plastics inside are nicely textured too, while all versions get plush leather on the wheel and gearlever, plus leather-effect grab handles on the centre console. There’s some fake timber with LED ambient lighting, although this does look a bit tacky. The switches and other controls don’t work with the precision of those in, for instance, a Mazda CX-5.

There’s also a configurable digital instrument panel that’s standard on all models. While you can change what it displays, it can’t show as much information and isn’t as attractive as Volkswagen’s Active Info Display. For the most part, the rest of the dashboard is well conceived: most switches fall easily to hand, but the climate control functions operated through the infotainment screen can prove an unnecessary faff.

Space in the Koleos is good up front, and leg room is plentiful in the rear. However, head room is more limited for taller passengers, mostly due to the panoramic sunroof, which eats into the available space. The rear seats don’t slide or recline, and the boot isn’t especially large for this class.

The main issue here is obviously that your Koleos will only have five seats and not the seven seats that similar-sized vehicles offer.

"A most unusual large SUV, this one, and definitely a left-field choice. However, find a cheap one, and you could have a lot of car for the money." - George Hill, used cars writer

If you're interested in buying a used Renault Koleos or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

You’ll need around £8000 to get behind the wheel of a Koleos, this for a good, clean 2017 car with an average mileage for the year and a full service history. Spend between £10,000 and £12,000 and you’ll find the same from 2018 and 2019, while the final year 2020 cars will set you back around £12,000 to £17,000.

MPG

On paper, the 1.6-litre car is the more economical, with an official average of 57.6mpg, according to the latest figures, with a corresponding CO2 emissions figure of 128g/km. The 2.0-litre cars are said to achieve an average claimed figure of 50.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of 148g/km.

Road tax

Annual car tax for those cars registered before April 2017 is based on CO2 emissions, and in either case will be fairly low. Those cars registered after the April 2017 date will pay their annual tax at the flat rate of £195 a year.

Insurance

Insurance groups are low for both models, and servicing costs should be reasonable, too. Minor services (which should be carried out every 12 months or 10,000 miles ) cost from £190 at the main dealer.

Engine

Go for our favoured 1.6-litre diesel and CO2 emissions of 128g/km and claimed combined fuel economy of 57.6mpg look competitive.

Trim

We’d stick with Dynamique S Nav trim, too.

Our favourite Renault Koleos: 1.6 dCi 130 Dynamique S Nav

The Mazda CX-5 is one of our favourite SUVs, whether new or used. It has a classy interior, is well-equipped, and it handles well, too. It also feels nicely made. It's cheap now, probably around the same price as a Koleos, so worth a punt if you're after a larger SUV.

The Skoda Kodiaq is great value for money, has a classy and spacious interior and is excellent to drive. It also comes with the option of seven seats, which both the CX-5 and the Koleos lack. Costs a fraction more, but is reliable and nicer to drive than the Koleos.

The Hyundai Tucson is one of our favourite used family SUVs. It’s very spacious in the back seats and boot, making it a very practical choice. It’s also really well equipped and excellent value on the used market, coming in less than its closest rivals. A range of petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid engine options adds further appeal, as does its five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.

A close relative of the Tucson is the Kia Sportage. It’s a touch more expensive, but it feels more polished, with superior ride comfort and a slightly smarter interior. It’s available with the same range of engines, too, while a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty should keep running costs down.

The Volvo XC40 is a premium option, but because it’s been around for a few years now, it’s great value. For the money, you get a high-quality interior, plenty of space, lots of safety kit and a comfortable ride. It’s a fantastic all-rounder.

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