A very distant image of the original Koleos, this car has a very attractive look and some very premium features only found in much costlier SUVs, the car may have many takers in the country.
A new phase for a lot of automakers has begun in India, with several new ones joining the market and the old ones introducing their popular global models, something that was only done for the expensive segment. Renault, one of the largest car makers in the world introduced the Duster which racked up several accolades during its initial years, but the Koleos was a car which they released a year earlier and received a warm response but fizzled out due to its competition of Toyota Fortuner absolutely destroying the market during that time. But now, a decade later, the present gen Koleos is a very different breed than the one that India is familiar with, this new car is bigger from every angle and loaded with features.
On the road, the Koleos now looks dominating with its square C DRLs and the wide bumper which has been designed in signature Renault style. Though dimensionally it is marginally smaller than the Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and MG Gloster, it impresses with strong curb presence thanks to the modern design etiquettes. The rear unlike the other cars is not as imposing, but rather slightly concise in styling, and integrates a very thin bumper at the bottom with exhausts. The sides and the wheel arches are bulging and summarise a muscular yet sporty form.
On the inside the car has premium interiors, which is offered in a choice of Leather or Fabric. The seats are ventilated as well as heated, the central console is slightly unique as it puts the 8.7 inch screen vertically in the middle, an alignment which is rarely seen but comes with all the modern amenities like GPS, Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The driver seat can even be equipped with a massage function, while rear seats can be reclined to use the excellent legroom in the rear for long journeys. With the 2nd row folded down the Koleos has a luggage capacity of 1777 litres, while the car may not have three rows like the competition but it makes up for it with the premium quality and comfort of the cabin.
Globally the car is sold with different engines based on country, for example the UK only has two diesel options, but for the sake of similarity let us discuss the model sold in Dubai, which has a 2.5 litre engine which makes 170 horsepower and comes in two specifications, 2WD and 4WD, mated to a X-Tronic CVT gearbox. The 4×4 model comes with ALL MODE technology, which can choose between 2WD and 4WD depending upon use and surface, or can lock the powertrain to 4WD and even quickly turn it to 2WD at the turn of a switch.
The powertrain in the Koleos is powerful, and as the car is based on Nissan’s X-Trail is a proven platform as well. In India, only now the manufacturers are introducing SUVs which are not big, burly and use massively turbocharged engines but rather focusing on the comfort, interior quality and premium features offered. This takes to the smallest SUVs offered by the German automakers, like the BMW X1 and Audi Q2 which are big and very powerful, but have their priorities towards comfort and refinement rather than off-road performance and are suited for city and travel.
The Koleos is just that, a vehicle which will be placed in the segment as the Fortuner, Endeavour and the new MG Gloster but will appeal to the customers seeking a more comfortable and feature oriented vehicle, something that the Gloster offers. In the UK the car starts at 29000 Pounds (INR 28 Lacs) for the 2WD and 34000 Pounds (INR 34 Lacs) for the 4WD version, although this may be a costlier package it should be smart on Renault behalf to undercut on the pricing to avoid clashing directly with the other cars in terms of pricing.
Favourie Car: Nissan GT-R R35
Quote: What you do in life echoes in eternity- Russell Crowe, Maximus, Gladiator
- Aero India 2021: List of rotary wing aircrafts/helicopters on display - June 2, 2021
- Aero India 2021: List of fixed wing aircrafts on display - June 2, 2021
- What you get in 3 new variants of Tata Altroz i-Turbo? - February 15, 2021
