Renault Koleos dCi PriVilege

Getting it right first time is tough, but that’s what Renault bosses are hoping to do with the Koleos. Incredibly, this is the firm’s first proper 4x4 – it’s a very late arrival to the compact SUV party.

The designers had a clean sheet, yet the Koleos looks anonymous next to the sleek Kuga. Even the chunky underbody protection and matching silver roof rails can’t disguise its uninspiring design.

Inside, the classy trim materials and neat switchgear provide a high-quality feel, but the dashboard lacks flair. There are few complaints with the kit, though. In flagship Privilège trim, the more expensive Renault outshines its rival with a full-length glass sunroof, full leather upholstery, a Bose stereo, xenon headlamps and sat-nav. At the back, there’s a neat two-piece tailgate. The upper section rises to provide access in confined spaces, while the lower portion folds forwards, doubling as a picnic benchand making loading large objects easy. However, retrieving smaller items from the back of the bay can be a stretch.

The 450-litre boot is competitive – and if you fold the rear seats you get 1,380 litres to play with. The Ford musters 360 and 1,355 litres respectively, so the Renault wins the space race. But on the road, the Koleos plays second fiddle. Its suspension is tuned to maximise comfort at the expense of handling.

Jump behind the wheel after driving the Kuga, and the Renault’s shortcomings are thrown into focus. The soft set-up results in so much body roll that you end up hanging on to the wheel to stay in your seat, while the steering lacks accuracy. In a straight line, the Koleos’ 148bhp 2.0-litre dCi engine has a 14bhp power advantage, and the Renault sprints from 0-60mph in 10.6 seconds –two-tenths faster than the Ford. But in real world conditions, there’s little difference.

Motorways are where the Renault performs best – its gutsy engine, smooth ride and quiet cabin make for relaxed cruising.

On initial impressions, the Koleos’ brakes are stronger. Yet while the Renault took only 44.6 metres to come to a halt from 70mph at the first attempt, subsequent stops merely matched the Kuga’s distance of 52.9 metres.

So, will Renault’s focus on comfort and equipment pay off – or will the dynamic Ford claim yet another victory?