Overview
RENAULT says its all-new Koleos gives the languishing French brand its best chance of success in Australia.
And after sampling both the manual and automatic dCi turbo-diesel models, we tend to agree.
A co-development with Nissan, the Koleos uses plenty of the latter’s 4x4 know-how, so it has more off-road capability than your average compact SUV.
And the fact that it is built in a Nissan-run Samsung factory in South Korea means that you can expect the quality to be better than your average French-built car.
So if you’re after a quality premium 4x4 in the VW Tiguan class, you might be pleasantly surprised by just how complete the Koleos really is.
Model release date: September 2008
Previous model
Interesting to look at and novel in design, the RX4 was nothing more than a jacked-up Scenic with simpler rear suspension, a fiddly split tailgate, and an SUV-style spare tyre slung from behind.
Mated to a notchy five-speed manual gearbox, the RX4’s performance was adequate at best, due to the fact that the 101kW/188Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine had to haul quite a lot of car around.
On the other hand the versatile, well-equipped interior, high safety specification and some part-time 4x4 ability made the RX4 a unique – if rather flawed – proposition.
Two models were offered – the Expression and the Privilege.
Sales ceased in mid-2004.