Renault Koleos Life 2019 Review

The 2019 Renault Koleos Life not only takes the crown as Renault’s largest passenger car, but it’s the French manufacturer’s top-selling vehicle overall (742 units year to date).

The Koleos Life is the entry-level marker of the Koleos’ three-model range that broadens to Zen and Intens models that are both offered in front or all-wheel-drive.

A single 2.5-litre petrol engine (126kW/226Nm) is available across all specifications, with the top-spec Intens 4x4 adding a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (130kW/380Nm) to the ranks. A continuously variable transmission is standard across the range.

The 2019 Renault Koleos Life leads with a razor sharp drive-away price of $32,990 for the entry-level Life. Metallic paint will cost you $880 while a sunroof package ($1990) can be optioned on higher-spec models only.

The Korean-built Koleos is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with four years’ roadside assistance. Service intervals are set at 12-months or 30,000km whichever comes first.

The Koleos is a fine example of a medium SUV whose technology, comfort, amenity and space concerns are well covered.

You’re going to buy the Koleos Life because you want a spacious and flexible SUV, favour Euro styling and your budget ends here. Priced from $32,990 (drive-away), the Renault Koleos is not the cheapest option, but a spec check will leave you resolute in the value for money department.

The Koleos drives well and its soft suspension provides a very comfortable commute around town. It steers with ease, too. The continuously variable transmission does a good job but may deter some buyers more used to a traditional automatic transmission.

The 2019 Renault Koleos Life is available now. The entry-level Life model is part of the four-model Koleos range that includes the mid-spec Zen and top-spec Intens that adds the choice of a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel powertrain and 4x4 power.

After just completing a week in the 2019 Nissan QASHQAI, the Renault Koleos presented as leagues ahead where cabin comfort and design is concerned.

Despite the use of much plastic in the cabin design, it’s nicely executed and feels like the premium product. The cabins lovely sense of space and design flow will appeal to people who favour design and aesthetics above all. The flush fit infotainment screen is a nice focal point of the dash and sets premium tone for this entry-level car – that feels anything but entry-level.

The cloth trim manual adjust seats are the obvious sign in this regard, but they’re hardly a downside.

Anyone looking for great dynamism at the wheel however, should look elsewhere. The Koleos is an easy drive, but not particularly engaging – it’s CVT is a little lifeless. It feels a little unfair to be judging a medium-sized SUV on such credentials, but the competition will prove the Koleos inferior in this respect.

But it excels in other places.. This medium SUV will happily cater to a family of four, even five, and their associated gear in the boot (458-1690 litres). Childless? Fold down the second row of seating and load bikes and gear for a weekend away. With a braked towing capability of 2000kg, chuck on a trailer, too.

The 2019 Renault Koleos Life sits in the medium-sized SUV segment under $60,000 with over 20 rivals. The Koleos checked just 133 of the 11,130 units sold in this segment for the month of April, the usual suspects dominating sales figures, including: the Hyundai Tucson (1355), Mazda CX-5 (1827), Mitsubishi Outlander (1197), twin-under-the-skin Nissan X-TRAIL (1160) and Toyota RAV4 (1238).

Families will love its comfortable and generous size second row with stadium-style seating, a space that also features dual air vents, a 12-volt charge outlet, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, two back of seat nets and two lights. The armrest is home to two cup holders and the seats offer 60:40 split-fold function.

The Koleos’ generous space will likely see this mid-sized SUV cope with rapidly growing children better than some of its rivals.

Technology favours the connected generation, with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and the multi-display digital instrumentation is a nice touch, too. A lot of blanked-off buttons suggest there’s more to be had as you climb the spec grades, however.

The 2019 Renault Koleos Life is a winner where space, comfort and amenity are concerned. And it’s all delivered in a slick package that makes some of its rivals look a little dated.

It’s continuously variable transmission, however, is not a patch on the transmission choices (automatic and manual) offered by its rivals – but for many, that’s not necessarily a deal-breaker.

What the 2019 Renault Koleos Life lacks in dynamism it most certainly makes up for in packaging and price. Definitely worth a test drive.

How much does the 2019 Renault Koleos Life cost?
Price: $32,990 (drive-away)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 126kW/226Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel: 8.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 188g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2017)