Renault Koleos review

Renault has kept things pretty simple for potential Koleos buyers by offering just two specification grades, Dynamique S Nav and Signature Nav. The range kicks off at £27,500 for the 1.6-litre diesel with a manual gearbox and front-wheel drive. Of the two engines offered, this is the most frugal, with Renault's official figures pegging it at 57.6mpg.

There is plenty of safety-related tech on-board for that price, too. All models come with an Advanced Emergency Braking System, Blind Spot and Lane Departure Warning, Hill Start Assist and a useful Traffic Sign Recognition system with Overspeed Prevention. Buyers also get front and rear parking sensors and a decent reversing camera.

As mentioned elsewhere, the 2.0-litre diesel engine delivers 174bhp and 280lb ft of torque and is paired with an all-wheel-drive transmission. Despite the extra grunt, it still manages 50.4mpg, which isn’t bad considering the size of the Koleos. You can opt for an automatic transmission (a £1,500 extra), but this has higher emissions, meaning a £500 tax bill in the first year.

The entry-level Dynamique S Nav model comes with a good level of standard equipment. On the outside, it wears 18-inch alloy wheels and gets roof rails and privacy glass for those in the rear. A panoramic sunroof adds to the spacious feeling inside, where there is part-leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control. There’s even a centre console with built-in cup holders that can either cool or heat your drink. Perfect for those morning tailbacks.

A seven-inch colour touchscreen forms part of the R-LINK2 media system that lets you link your smartphone by either Bluetooth, Android Auto or Apple CarPlay and carries the latest TomTom sat nav system with live traffic updates.

The higher specification grade, Signature Nav, adds 19-inch alloy wheels and a full leather interior with heated seats. Infotainment gets an upgrade to the larger 8.7-inch portrait-style tablet screen, as well. This screen does look more impressive, but doesn’t add a great deal more functionality over the smaller unit. One other useful features of the Signature Nav model is the inclusion of a powered tailgate.