SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Almost unique: 2020 Renault Koleos 4x4

Also known as Samsung QM6 in other markets

Recently revised

Pics by Quickpic
Posted: September 18, 2020

The numbers
Prices: Expression 4x2, R439 900. Dynamique 4x2, R489 900. Dynamique 4x4, R529 900
Engine: Nissan QR25DE 2488 cc, DOHC 16-valve, naturally aspirated, four-cylinder petrol
Power: 126 kW at 6000 rpm
Torque: 233 Nm at 4000 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 9.5 seconds (4x2), 9.8 seconds (4x4)
Top speeds: 185 km/h (4x2), 199 km/h (4x4)
Real life fuel consumption: About 9.8 l/100 km
EuroNCAP: 5 stars
Tank: 60 litres
Luggage: 464 - 1790 litres
Standard tyres: 255/65R17 and 225/60R18
Spare: 255/65R17 steel
Ground clearance: 210 mm
Approach and departure angles: 18 and 25 degrees
Turning circle: 11.4 metres
Maximum towing mass: 750 kg unbraked, 1500 kg braked
Warranty: 5 years/150 000 km
Service: 5 years/90 000 km at 15 000 km intervals


You could look at Renault’s recently revised Koleos as just another SUV. Or, from another viewpoint, one of only two offerings within a tiny segment; sub-three-litre petrol engine without turbocharger and with selectable 4x4. The other is Jeep’s Renegade 2.4 Trailhawk.

Everything else is either turbocharged, powered by diesel, has fully automated awd or is far more expensive with bigger engines.

While South African males are generally sceptical and unforgiving of braai fire legends long buried, our women-folk are more open to new motoring products and experiences. They therefore dominate the demographics for all Renault products apart from Duster and Mègane. And these variances are small.

Women appreciate style, practicality, ready access to reasonably priced parts and the industry-leading warranties; first with five years and 100 000 km in 2009, then up to       150 000 km the year after. By contrast, Germany’s Big Three offer warranty periods of either one year/unlimited km (Audi) or two years/unlimited km (BMW and Mercedes-Benz). Impressive maintenance plans are not the same thing. Think about that carefully.

Koleos was here before. It never really caught on. Then it went away. Now it’s back; bigger, more stylish, better equipped and with build quality to match anything else from Korea, its home country.

The new models; 4673mm long on a wheelbase of 2705mm, 1843 wide and 1667 tall, slot size-wise between Hyundai’s Tucson and Santa Fe or close to the Audi Q5.

There are two trim levels. Expression in 4x2 only, offers fabric seats, a traditional handbrake, 17” alloy wheels, automatic headlights with cornering function, automatic wipers, automatic dual-zone air conditioning, cruise control with limiter, voice command, all the safety kit you really need and a horizontally mounted, 7” touchscreen control unit.

Dynamique, in 4x2 or 4x4, ups the game with faux leather, electrical adjusters for both front chairs, keyless entry and starting, powered tailgate, electric parking brake, LED headlamps, blind spot detection, reversing camera, all-round parking sensors, tyre pressure monitor, folding mirrors, a few appearance items and vertical 8.7” capacitive touchscreen. A welcome new development is that music no longer defaults back to radio on restart. The price difference between grades is R50 000.

The common to all, 2.5-litre Nissan QR25DE motor develops 126 kw and 233 Nm for brisk, if not racer-like performance while its Jatco CVT7 transmission is, perhaps, beginning to feel its age. It’s fine in most respects but other car makers have pulled ahead. Time and technology wait for no man or manufacturer.

Koleos’ 4x4 system is straight out of Nissan X-Trail. Its ALL MODE 4X4i allows driving under virtually all conditions, with electronics ensuring that optimum drive is delivered to each wheel instantly. The system anticipates traction loss, with maximum delay being just a few degrees of wheel rotation.  A switch on the fascia allows one to select 2WD, to save energy losses and fuel, 4X4 Auto or 4x4 Lock. In Auto mode, a central clutch in the rearward drive detects slippage and automatically apportions torque to each axle as surface conditions demand. Should you want to watch as these vary, a selectable graphic shows distribution in real time.

In 4x4 Lock, drive is delivered 50:50, front-to-rear, via a locking mechanism in the central clutch. This is for serious off-road work or extreme conditions like starting off on snow-covered inclines or negotiating deep mud, making Koleos 4x4 a competent soft roader that should fulfil most weekend warrior’s expectations. The system automatically defaults to Auto at 40 km/h.

Families with lanky teenagers will find plenty of tall-people space for heads and knees, a low centre tunnel for middle passengers’ comfort, a repeater vent for aircon distribution, 12-volt and USB recharging points and adequate storage. The cargo area is average-to-big for an SUV, so there’s lots of space for extra-curricular gear.

Other practicalities include clear outward views, comfortable seats, plenty of safety kit (five-star NCAP rating), full smartphone connectivity, good dirt road behaviour and very decent build quality. It’s an excellent choice for Mums although Dads might consider abandoning their circles of braai fire “experts” to give it serious consideration too.

Test unit from Renault SA press fleet

We covered the 2019 launch and reviewed a 4x4 in 2019 too



What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

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