Renault Koleos Formula Edition 2019 Review

The Renault Koleos is essentially a remake of the popular Nissan X-TRAIL; and therein lies the problem. In spite of common origins and mechanicals, the French-styled (but South Korean-built) Koleos sells only around 11 per cent of the volume of its Japanese counterpart – and that’s in spite of a better warranty and after-sales package, to say nothing of the highly competitive equipment list.

Whatever the reason behind Australians' sidelining of Renault, it appears the brand has no intention of slipping quietly into the night. With three SUVs, a pair of small hatches and a range of light commercial vans, the marque is slowly re-establishing itself as a reliable mainstream contender; a reputation Renault hopes to strengthen with the value-added Koleos Formula Edition tested here.

The importer says the Renault Koleos Formula Edition is inspired by the French brand’s number one Formula 1 driver and carsales global ambassador, Daniel Ricciardo.

It’s a special edition, designed to highlight Renault’s motorsport heritage, and asks just $1000 more than the entry-spec Koleos Zen 2WD on which it’s based.

With a driveaway price of $36,490, the Renault Koleos Formula Edition adds larger 19-inch Proteus alloy wheels, black mirror scalps, silver side-steps, satin grey roof rails and ‘Formula Edition’ badging on the tailgate.

The Koleos Formula Edition is powered by the same 126kW/226Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT) combination found elsewhere in the Koleos (and Nissan X-TRAIL) range, and features leather-appointed and electrically-adjustable heated seats, cruise control, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control, auto wipers and headlights, LED daytime running lights and keyless entry and start.

Just 400 examples of the Koleos Formula Edition will be available. All are backed by Renault’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and free scheduled servicing for the first three years or 90,000km (whichever comes first).

Service intervals are set at 12 months/30,000km, and roadside assistance is included for four years. The Koleos runs on standard 91 RON unleaded petrol.

Metallic paint is included in the driveaway price, thus the Koleos Formula Edition offered in three hues: Metallic Black (pictured), Metallic Grey and Universal White.

Beside the added value of the special edition’s inclusions, it’s the amenity and connectivity features that see the Renault Koleos Formula Edition step ahead.

The Renault’s ergonomics are well thought-out with decent adjustment in the seat and steering column. Outward visibility is likewise a highlight.

The landscape-oriented 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is easy to use, with the R-LINK 2 multimedia array still one of the more user-friendly systems on the market in spite of its age.

The eight-speaker 3D Arkamys sound system includes AM/FM/DAB (digital) radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, and the infotainment system also provides smartphone mirroring for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-enabled devices.

There’s a pair of USB ports available, along with Renault’s (in)famous fingertip controller mounted on the steering column.

On the road, the Koleos’ Nissan-sourced 2.5-litre engine delivers an economy-focussed drive that takes time to gather pace from a standing start. It finds its stride soon enough, however, and is amply powerful in most situations other than highway overtaking.

The XTRONIC continuously variable transmission is a little on the noisy side when pushed, but quietens once the Koleos is up and moving.

Ride comfort is a highlight of the Koleos, even on its larger-diameter wheels.

The two-row SUV carries itself cleanly over all but the most severe surface imperfections and rides well on unsealed roads. The trouble is that the Koleos is hard to connect with -- the rear-end feels a little ‘detached’ in hard cornering and the electrically-assisted steering is a whisker remote.

Like any special edition the Koleos Formula Edition is on sale for as long as stock lasts. Based on current sales figures that should see a supply that lasts until early next year (2020). Even with the added value offered, at this stage the 400 examples of the Formula Edition are unlikely to race out of the showrooms.

Which is actually a bit of a shame. The Koleos Formula Edition offers plenty of standard equipment and is well packaged. It’s a spacious five-seat SUV with cargo space (458 litres) that outshines many of its rivals. It also offers competitive fuel economy (8.1L/100km) and a five-star ANCAP safety rating (2017).

It’ll even hit 100km/h in under 10 seconds (9.5sec), Renault says.

Standard safety inclusions offered as standard comprise blind-spot monitoring, a reversing camera, front and rear acoustic parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, hill-start assist and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

Family buyers are the obvious target for medium SUVs like the Renault Koleos. With limited edition models like the Formula Edition tested here bringing out the bargain hunter in us all, it’s fair to say the Renault Koleos Formula Edition is a great fit for family buyers on a budget.

The cabin plastics are durable, if a little hard; the seating is adequate for five adult passengers, and with three-point seatbelts and adjustable head restraints all-round no one is left out.

ISOFIX child-seat anchors and (outmoded) top-tether mounts are fitted in the back seat, and oddment storage is very good with door pockets, cubbies and cup-holders throughout.

The Renault Koleos is also easy to enter and leave, with a good hip point for grown-ups, while the lower (and level) shoulder line makes the view out a cinch, even for little ones in the second row.

As a mid-size, five-seat SUV, the Renault Koleos competes in one of the busiest market segments in Australia. Technically sitting in the SUV Medium segment for vehicles priced below $60,000, the Koleos competes with no fewer than 22 immediate rivals. The big sellers of the class included the Mazda CX-5 (20,268 sales for the year to date), Toyota RAV4 (16,918) and Nissan X-TRAIL (14,720).

The Renault Koleos ranks eleventh in its segment with a 1.3 per cent share of the market and a year-to-date sales total of just 1635 units.

The Renault Koleos Formula Edition is a ideally-sized family SUV that’s easy to live with – and offers very good value for money. In short, we’re not really sure why it isn’t a better seller.

The limited or value-added edition treatment has worked well for other brands, and there’s no reason that shouldn’t be the case for the Renault Koleos Formula Edition. It offers solid value, a high level of standard safety equipment, and a comfortable ride some other vehicles in the class should seek to emulate.

If that doesn’t help it sneak up on sales of the Nissan X-TRAIL nothing will.

How much does the 2019 Renault Koleos Formula Edition cost?
Price: $36,490 (drive-away)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 126kW/226Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel: 8.1L/100km (ADR Combined); 8.3L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 188g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2017)