Comparison - Renault Koleos Iconic 2019 - vs - Hyundai Kona N-Line 2021

Pros
• Cabin, load space
• Fuel economy
• Dash presentation

Cons
• Noisy suspension
• Flat seats
• CVT characteristics
The Koleos did what it was intended to do. It gave Renault a foothold in a hitherto unrepresented segment and, more importantly in Australia, it quickly became Renault’s biggest-selling model.If there was a major shortcoming with the second generation Koleos it was the lack of a diesel engine. The newcomer was exclusively powered by a hard-working 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine producing a reasonable 126kW/226Nm and returning, in AWD form, a combined fuel consumption average of 8.3L/100km.But that’s all changed now. The long-awaited turbo-diesel option arrived in August 2017 to immediately bring more power and (a lot more) torque. At 130kW/380Nm it’s a true grunter which, at 6.1L/100km, also offers better fuel consumption, plus lower exhaust emissions (150g/km against the petrol version’s 192g/km).

Pros
Noticeably more torque and better fuel economy from the diesel engine
Big size equals excellent second-row space inside
Competitively priced
Good ownership credentials

Cons
Powertrain not as seamless and effortless as the numbers suggest
No quicker than cheaper front-drive petrol Koleos variants
Wieldy SUV to manoeuvre and park
Ho-hum infotainment system
Lower braked towing rating than petrol versions
The diesel clatter is also quite noticeable, though nothing like a deal-breaker, but it does harness the on-demand all-wheel-drive system's tractive talents better and more noticeably than the petrol engine does. And by maintaining fuel economy within a ballpark of its maker’s 6.1 combined cycle claim, it’s markedly more efficient by a couple of litres per hundred, particularly around town.