BUYER’S GUIDE: Renault Koleos

Running costs

57mpg (dCi 130)

£106 fill-up

Performance

0-62mph/top speed

11.4 seconds/115mph

EVER since it was founded at the end of the 19th Century, Renault hasn’t been afraid to be bold with its cars. In some cases it has reaped rewards, but on other occasions the losses have mounted because customers weren’t interested.

The original Koleos SUV is a good example of where things went wrong, because even though it was a mainstream model in a growing segment, it was something of a sales disaster in the UK for Renault.

That didn’t stop the company bringing the second-generation Koleos here though, and while this also failed to make its mark, it wasn’t a bad car as such; it was simply up against some more accomplished rivals, many of which offered seven seats compared with the Renault’s five.