Once upon a time, the Renault Koleos was the brand’s SUV in the European lineup, when the choice was between an MPV named Espace or the Koleos if you wanted an SUV.
It was built on the platform of a Nissan X-Trail. Now, Renault has introduced a new model, and this time it’s not based on a Nissan, as they already sell the Renault Austral for that purpose. This particular Nissan won’t even make its way to Europe; instead, it’s actually a rebadge of a a Chinese car, and based on a Swedish platform.
In the near future, Renault has joined forces with Volvo (owned by Geely) to develop electric vans for the European market. This partnership also marks the beginning of their collaboration on a model for the Asian market, in particular Korea. As mentioned, this model is called the Koleos, or more precisely, the Grand Koleos, because this SUV is larger than our Espace here in Europe.
In terms of dimensions, the Renault Grand Koleos measures 4,780 mm in length, with a wheelbase of 2,820 mm. This makes it larger than both the outgoing Koleos and the EU-spec Austral and Espace SUVs. The interior is exclusively available in a five-seater configuration, offering a spacious boot capacity of 633 liters.
Based on a Chinese exclusive car
Like its twin, the Geely Xingyue L, the Renault Grand Koleos utilizes the CMA platform, which is also used by Volvo XC40 and several models from Geely, Polestar and Lynk & Co. Under the hood, there are options for both combustion engines and hybrid powertrains, although the platform is also compatible with electric vehicle configurations.
The cabin mirrors that of the Xingyue L, arguably representing Renault’s finest interior to date. It is dominated by two 12.3-inch touchscreens mounted on the dashboard. The system is user-friendly and includes features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The panoramic roof enhances the cabin’s sense of space and light, while the 14-speaker sound system ensures a premium audio experience.
The electrified setup includes a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine and two electric motors, producing a combined 245 hp. There is also a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine delivering 211 hp. In both configurations, power is transmitted to the front wheels, with the combustion engine model optionally offering all-wheel drive.
The Renault Grand Koleos will debut in Korea starting this fall. Unfortunately, there is no information yet about its availability in Europe, but one can always remain hopeful.
