Melbourne Motor Show: Renault Koleos
February 29, 2008 by rjw
SUV with a French accent
If you want proof that the car industry is a truly global business look no further than the Renault Koleos. It’s Renault’s first ever purpose-built SUV unless you count some six-wheel voitures the French maker used to build in the 1920s for duties on the sands of colonial Africa. (We’ll do Renault a favour by momentarily forgetting the undistinguished Megane Scenic RX-4, which t strictly speaking wasa jacked up mini people mover)
The Koleos Concept on display is close to the production car, Renault says.
Despite its French badge, Koleos was designed in Korea and will be built there at the Renault/Samsung plant with its mechanicals based on a Nissan X-Trail platform . That should mean Korean value for money, with European style and Japanese engineering when it goes on sale here from October. Renault executives hint it will be keenly priced and well equipped. We tip a starting price under $33,000.
Its selectable all-wheel -drive, hill descent and hill start controls wil be shared with the Nissan vehicle. But unlike the petrol-engine only X-Trail and Dualis, Koelos will run a 2.0-litre dCi common-rail diesel producing 130kW and connected to a six-speed manual gearbox.
Renault’s Craig Smith says thre’ll also be a version with the X-Trail’s 2.5-litre petrol four and automatics on petrol and diesel versions. The petrol will run a CVT transmission and the diesel will use a conventional six-speed auto.
Also on Renault’s stand was the new Laguna. It’s available as a diesel sedan from May, with petrol-engine and wagon versions following in October.
Print it: 
name sounds to close for comfort to the unfortunate late daewoo kalos
I want to know what the fat is on the Renaultsport Clio 197 is on the renault stand…
will we see a Cup suspension option, black Speedlines, leather recaros etc
the good stuff europe has had for ages now… how about a RenaultSport Koleos
that would be like a korean Nike sneaker….
the design looks like 2000 year model renult
Nissan/Renults “daewoo” LOL
$33k is to expensive, the VW Tiguan is the same ask.
As is the X Trail, Forester, CRV etc etc
Renault is dead in the water in Oz
Cheers
F-0
this has way better interior than tig i saw it on netcarshow from the rear of the tig alos take of the rear bumper nad you have the new golf rear
Do you realise Kaleos is a diesel!Renault is the 4th biggest manufacturer on the earth my friends,you ignorance astounds me!Renault is also the only manufacturer with 5 star euro ncap rating throughout its range!Bare in mind the Japanese counterparts you mention safety_wise would equate to the first billycart your father made you! On a global basis(remember Aus is less then 1%)Renault is in far better shape than the fashion vehicles you mention!ignorance is bliss,your life must be blissful
I seek your expert advice – can I use the Kaleos as a vehicle to tow a 4WD camper trailer and safely go off road and into the bush? Has this been tested for this sort of use and I need a ball weight of 120 Kg’s. Would it be better to have the manual or automatic for towing and off road use??