Road tripping with the Renault Koleos

AT FIRST GLANCE THE RENAULT KOLEOS LOOKS IMPRESSIVE FROM THE OUTSIDE – IT HAS STYLE AND ELEGANCE. IT ALSO HAS A DIFFERENT LOOK TO MANY SUVS ON THE ROAD THAT SOMEHOW ALL SEEM TO BLEND TOGETHER WITH SIMILAR LOOKING FEATURES – SO ANOTHER POSITIVE.

Stepping in the vehicle, I feel it is a bit of a waste that only a colleague and I are road tripping because this SUV is really spacious – it will comfortably transport a family and has sufficient boot space.

Destination Doringbaai, West Coast from Cape Town! This is approximately a 7-hour drive (there and back). Driving an automatic, the gear transitions remain smooth and it provides enough power to easily overtake other cars on the road.

The Koleos also handled perfectly on the various bends and curves on the N7. After driving for a bit on tar, we turn off and hit a long stretch of sand and gravel. I was impressed –sometimes on gravel and sand a vehicle will slip and slide, but with the Renault Koleos the drive remained solid.

Overall, the vehicle looks sexy, packs a punch on the road in terms of handling and has all the bells and whistles that one would expect of a luxury vehicle.

Spec highlights

Technology

• Front, rear & side parking sensors

• Reverse camera

• LED dashboard with ambient lighting

• Atmospheric interior lighting

• Electronic parking brake

• R-Link 2. 8.7” capacitive touch screen

• with A/C control/display

• USB connectivity plugs, front (including iPod + 1 jack + 2 rear USB charging plugs)

• Eco-Drive + Eco-Scoring with rear view camera

• Handsfree keycard

• Handsfree power tailgate

Active and passive safety features

• Blind spot warning

• Tyre pressure monitor

• ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)

• EBA (Emergency Brake Assist)

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Hill Start Assist

• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)

• Driver, front passenger & curtain airbags

• Isofix 3-point seat attachment system

• Side impact beams

• Front & rear bumper protection

Visibility

• Pure Vision LED headlights

• Electrochrome rear-view mirror

• Electronic folding door mirrors

Engine

• Normally aspirated

• Peak power rating (rpm): 6 000

• Peak torque (Nm): 233

Wheels

18 inch rims

KwaZulu-Natal

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Eastern Cape

Mpumalanga

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