Performance review of the Renault Koleos

I’ve found approaching a performance review of the Koleos difficult because I have never independently owned a car in my life. I do not know the responsibilities of car ownership, the bane of registration fees, insurance etc. So if I’m honest, in my head, behind a lot of what I am about to say are a few “Squees!” of happiness.

It was delivered exactly two weeks ago and by the time you read this has probably been returned again. I’ve had it for just long enough for the ‘new’ smell to have faded. I’ve gradually gotten used to all the buttons and gadgetry and there were a few I particularly liked: including the speed inhibitor which is good for in town and school zones. I prefer the cruise control option on this than our own car (a Commodore) for the speed is set on the display panel and you don’t have to hope you’re not one or two kilometres over.

The back seats have fold-up tables for the kids to sit at and colour in while driving, which is good news for kids with a tall parent, like Adam, because the table gets pushed up comfortably next to their knees but bad news for kids with a very short parent, like me, who has to pull the seat all the way forward to reach the pedals, thus making the table effectively useless.

But it is a nice idea

When the lovely Rob from Renault delivered the car, he went through a few of the car’s proud features: the Hill Start Assist (HSA) which helps the car from slipping backwards if you are forced to stop and start while on a hill, and the automatic handbrake (which I must admit, I did like). Also, after several seconds of driving, the car automatically locks the doors, which is a comforting thing as a parent, however if you are letting someone in the car as is still running, it did take me a few days to remember that that lock was still on and I had to turn it off manually to let them in.

Other things I liked:

• The height of the boot, making it easy to get things in-and-out. I also like what the information pamphlet tells me is the “split-opening tailgate” which then folds out into a sort of bench to sit on (this was easily Keira’s favourite part of the car).

 

• I did like the built-in sun visors on the windows – even if the kids played with them constantly and make a ruckus.
• The dual-zone automatic climate control as Adam and I are usually in disagreement as to what temperature the car should be on.
• Most of all I liked the car key. Because it wasn’t a key. It was a flat card that you inserted into the bottom of the dashboard.

 

Then you press the Start/Stop button and you’re off. Just like one of those real fancy cars on Top Gear.

Things I didn’t like:

• The Satellite radio. While we were driving around on the back roads near Daylesford the radio kept dropping out. I realise this could as easily happen to any radio that fails to get a signal out in the country, however I expected a little more from a radio with satellite capabilities. That was if the radio decided to work at all, which it sometimes didn’t.
• The seatbelt buckles were set too deeply into the cushions at the back. I like a long buckle, as floppy as a spaniel’s ears, so to make it easy putting the kids into the seat at night or in a hurry. After two weeks I still hadn’t perfected doing it and was not used to hunting down the buckle wedged snug between the seats.

Here’s Adam’s review: It’s an idiot-proof car. You can set almost anything to be done automatically: the headlight, windscreen wipers, gears, 4×4 drive, and handbrake. Like most 4×4 cars, the extra height you get is nice, even if it makes it a bit harder for the kids to climb up inside. It is surprisingly quick. You do need to keep an eye on a speedometer, so the cruise control gets used regularly. It’s a good compromise between a ‘regular’ family car and those massive 4×4 tanks. And its fuel economy is respectable. The petrol bill for our whole weekend away last week was less than sixty dollars.

Overall, it was a fantastic few weeks and although we are a one-car family and will remain a one-car family for as long as we need to, I must admit it was wonderful to have that second option for whenever I needed to go to a function, or zip down to the library for something.

I want to thank Renault for the opportunity to be able to drive it – and the kids do too. They’ve had a ball.