2016 Renault Koleos Launched in Malaysia – 2.5 FWD, RM178k

TC Euro Cars (TCEC), Renault’s sole distributor in Malaysia, has officially launched the all-new second-generation Renault Koleos for our market.

Expected to hit the roads by mid-October, the Koleos is currently being offered with only a single variant, consisting of a 2.5-litre front-wheel drive petrol model.

Speaking at the new model’s official launch event, CEO of TCEC Mr Kuan Kim Luen mentioned that Malaysia is among the very first few countries to introduce the all-new Koleos, which will eventually be present in more than 80 countries across the world. The Koleos had debuted globally in April this year at the 2016 Beijing Motor Show.

Design

Inspired by styling cues of the Renault Talisman D-segment flagship, the all-new Koleos exudes an advanced appearance and stretches 4,672mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,705mm. External fitments include full LED headlamps, daytime running lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Configured as a five-seater, the Koleos offers 550 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up. As with all SUVs, 60:40 split-folding rear are provided to expand the overall cargo capacity to 1,690 litres. Handles are placed inside the boot to enable easy folding in an instant.

Engine & Transmission

Sharing its running gear with the current T32 Nissan X-Trail, the Koleos is powered by the same 2.5-litre petrol engine producing maximum outputs of 171PS and 226Nm. Ensuring good response at low revs, the engine serves up 200Nm of twist from as low as 1,800rpm. Drive goes to the front wheels via Nissan’s X-Tronic CVT.

Equipment

The all-new Koleos comes standard with the following equipment:

• R-Link 2 Multimedia System – 8.7-inch tablet-style portrait touchscreen, GPS navigation, voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity, USB
• 6 airbags (2 frontal, 2 side, 2 curtain)
• Blind spot warning
• Anti-whiplash headrests (front & rear)
• ISOFIX (rear)
• Electronic stability control, traction control
• ABS, EBD, brake assist
• Hill start assist
• Reverse camera, all-round parking sensors.

Pricing

The all-new Renault Koleos is priced at RM177,917.72 (OTR with insurance) for private individual registration in Peninsular Malaysia. Customers in tax-free Langkawi enjoy a much lower price of RM120,374.36. The Koleos is fully-imported from Busan, South Korea.

Like all mainstream models of the Renault brand, the Koleos is backed by a five-year unlimited mileage manufacturer warranty.

Competitors

The Koleos is unique for being the only SUV of its size and price to seat five passengers. The Honda CR-V 2.4 (RM172,600) is perhaps the closest in its combination of pricing against seating capacity. Additionally, the Koleos is also notable for offering a front-wheel drive layout when most competitors have the option of sending power to all fours.

Official presentation slides at the launch event, however, identify the Mazda CX-5, Nissan X-Trail, and Kia Sorento as key rivals. In their closest comparable specification, the three models are priced as follows (OTR with insurance):

• Mazda CX-5 2.5 2WD: RM159,815.90 
• Nissan X-Trail 2.5: RM164,148.94 
• Kia Sorento 2.4 AWD High Spec: RM175,888 

Additionally, we'd consider the following models in the same breath:

• Mitsubishi Outlander: RM173,579.82
• Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4 Elegance: RM167,735.65 (OTR without insurance)