Category: Small 4x4s 
Price Range: £17,995 to £24,695
Fine interior quality, spacious cabin, good refinement, cosseting ride.
Unconventional looks, uncompetitive emissions, poor throttle response.
Koleos' bizarre looks overshadow what is a capable off-roader.
Standard equipment on all three trim levels is generous. Base Dynamique models come with air conditioning, cruise control, front foglamps, 17" alloys, a height-adjustable driver's seat and six airbags.
Spend £2,500 more for the Dynamique S and the aircon is upgraded to climate control, keyless go is introduced, ESP becomes standard and the full range of off-roading driving aids are added. Front and rear parking standard sensors are also standard with the more expensive model.
Finally, the top-of-the-range Privilege model that costs a further £4,000 brings a leather interior, panoramic electric sunroof, bi-xenon lamps, satellite navigation and a premium Bose sound system.
Deduct points for Bluetooth (£250) not being standard on the two lower series models.
We've already spoken about the fine ride the Koleos offers on its standard 17" wheels, but it's also quiet inside and although the sound of the diesel engine is always present, it is muted and never intrudes.
The Koleos includes Renault's 'super-fold' system, which was introduced on the Laguna Sport Tourer. It enables the 60/40 split-rear seat base to tip forward and the backrest fold down with one flick of a switch located in the boot. With the rear seat in the folded position, the boot floor is entirely flat.
The boot volume is 450 litres with the rear seats up, but extends to 1,380 litres with the rear seat down. That's less than the Mitsubishi Outlander (541 litres seats up, 1691 down) but more than the Ford Kuga (410 litres seats up, 1355 seat down). The rear seat backrest is equipped with a ski hatch. The back of the front passenger seat can also be folded down to either form a table or create a loadbay that can carry items of up to 2.60m in length.
