Diesel Renault Koleos due mid-2017

Renault's new Koleos range will be joined by a diesel engine option, the importer's MD, Justin Hocevar, has told local media.

Speaking during the launch of the latest model, Hocevar revealed that a diesel was on the way and would likely arrive in Australia around the middle of next year. Although it's bound to be offered in auto-only form, Hocevar couldn't say for certain whether the transmission would be a conventional automatic, with torque converter, or a CVT (continuously variable transmission) like the unit in the petrol models that made their local debut this week.

"It's highly likely that we will introduce a diesel mid next year," he said. "It will be an automatic; the entire line-up is automatic only..."

Hocevar also said that there was "no visibility" for a seven-seat Koleos, and in fact one of the key selling points of the new car – its abundant rear-seat legroom – is entirely due to the packaging, which hasn't had to compromise for the installation of third-row seating.

He also said that the Koleos is "highly probable" to be the best-selling vehicle in the range, and once joined by the diesel variants the "full line-up" is expected to sell around 200 units a month.

Renault is likely to offer the diesel Koleos in levels of trim and specification emulating that of the petrol Koleos range, which is structured in a three-tier hierarchy, starting with the Koleos Life level of trim, at $29,990. For that money the base-grade Koleos is a 4x2 model with the following features as standard: Hill start assist, tyre pressure monitoring, 17-inch alloy wheels, rear-parking sensors, reversing camera, front LED running lights, R-Link 2 infotainment system, static cornering (fog) lights, rain-sensing wipers, auto-on headlights, dual-zone climate control, leather-bound steering wheel and a full-size, steel temporary spare wheel.

The R-Link 2 system features voice control, a seven-inch display, Aux and two USB ports, and eight-speaker audio.

Priced at $33,990, the Koleos Zen comes equipped with an electric parking brake, electrically-adjustable driver's seat (including lumbar adjustment), heated front seats, engine-start button, keyless remote central locking, artificial leather trim, 18-inch alloy wheels and privacy glass.

The same trim level with the part-time all-wheel drive system costs $2500 extra, at $36,490.

Topping the range, and available only in all-wheel drive form, the Koleos Intens is priced at $43,490. Standard features in addition to the Zen trim level include: LED headlights, remote engine start, blind spot warning, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, parking assist, powered tailgate, 8.7-inch portrait-format infotainment touch screen, 12-speaker Bose audio system, black leather upholstery, heated/ventilated front seats, and electric adjustment for the front seats. In addition, the Koleos Intens also features ambient lighting, electric panoramic sunroof, two-tone 18-inch alloys, upmarket (chrome) door sill plates, faux-woodgrain trim and rear USB ports.

Across the range, safety features run to dual front airbags, pelvis and thorax-protecting side-impact front airbags and side-curtain airbags.

The Koleos is built on the Renault/Nissan CMF (Common Module Family) architecture that also underpins the X-Trail. Drive is by means of the X-Trail's 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, driving through the continuously variable transmission to the front wheels only (Life and Zen grades) or all four wheels (optional for Zen, standard for Intens). The all-wheel drive system can share up to 50 per cent of available torque to the rear wheels, but the vehicle runs torque through the front wheels only, most of the time.

Power and torque figures for the engine are 126kW and 226Nm respectively, with fuel consumption figures rated at 8.1L/100km for the front-drive models, or 8.3L/100km for the all-wheel drive Koleos.