2011 Renault Koleos 2.5L CVT 4×4 (170 HP)

Vehicle Overview

After a few difficult years affected by the world financial crisis, Renault tried to get back on its fit faster than its competitors and introduced a facelifted version of its biggest SUV, the Koleos.

The market had already shifted towards crossovers and SUVs, and it looked like there was no turning back to regular sedans and MPVs as people carriers. But Renault had both of them and ruled the European market in the minivan segment. But it wasn’t seen as a trustworthy SUV maker, so it tried to fix that by unveiling a refreshed and improved version of the Koleos. Even if it was its biggest high-rider, the car still belonged to the compact crossover segment and shared its platform with the Samsung QM5, and both siblings were built in Korea. But, unfortunately for the French automaker, sales for the Koleos continued to drop despite the enhancements brought by the 2011 version.

Renault installed a completely new front fascia for the facelifted Koleos. It ditched the formerly used “wing design” and adopted a broad grille crossed by three horizontal slats and surrounded by a thin chromed rim. New headlights with projector beams and LED daytime running lights flanked it. The French automaker put a light-gray plastic underbody shield on the lower bumper and two side scoops for the fog lamps. From its profile, the 2011 Koleos revealed another update: turn signals installed on the door mirrors and, depending on the trim level, body-colored or silver caps for them. At the back, the raked-forward tailgate gave the crossover a dynamic image, even though the automaker tried to sell the Koleos as a family vehicle fit for school runs and weekly shopping.

Inside, Renault kept the same high-mounted seats as on its predecessor, and only the driver could adjust the seat height, while the side passengers had to rub their heads on the roof liner. Still, there was a slightly improved design for the instrument cluster, which boasted light-gray lettering, easier to read, instead of the faded ones from the non-facelifted version of the Koleos. To improve the cabin’s look, the automaker also changed the design of the buttons and switches on the center stack. In the back, there was still enough room for three adult-sized passengers, with plenty of legroom and headroom.

Renault updated the Koleos in 2011, even if it didn’t have to. The Euro 5 emission standards came into force in 2009, and the Euro 6 were due in 2014, so the French automaker didn’t have a reason to upgrade it from a technical point of view. As a result, most of the drivetrains were carried over from the 2008 Koleos, but the automaker added a new powerplant: a 2.0-liter turbodiesel that offered 175 PS (169 HP).