The Renault Zen hits the sweet spot

The refined all-wheel drive Zen builds on the Renault SUV’s space, though the drivetrain needs some thought

Renault Koleos Zen. Picture: Supplied

PLAYING in the mid-sized SUV segment is like office politics: at some stage you’re going to be the victim.

Renault suffered that stigma with its last Koleos and presents a much more polished performer this time around.

If you can overlook the lacklustre 2.5-litre four-cylinder and continuously variable transmission, the cabin refinement is a huge step up and the Koleos has become one of the most spacious in the class.

Photos of the 2016 Renault Koleos

Size and connectivity matter, so it is bewildering why Renault, given its massive win on the first front and a halfway decent interior layout, hasn’t included Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility.

Whether you back one or the other, it’s almost mandatory now — a new car is increasingly judged as much on ports and power sources as it is on cornering prowess and fuel use.

DESIGN

Onwards and upwards means the Koleos has expanded from being one of the smaller cars in this class to one of the biggest. Exterior length is up 150mm and that’s of most benefit to those in the back.

The 468L of cargo space will rarely be fully used. The raised padding on the centre rear seat means it physically hurts to sit in the centre pew for too long — don’t inflict it on anyone but family members for an extended duration.

Photos of the 2016 Renault Koleos

There are few French quirks but the big diamond logo on the front grille leaves no doubt you’re looking at a Renault. Otherwise, the Koleos is a reasonably conventional SUV — and that’s intended as a compliment.

AROUND TOWN

The room and the ride are big improvements for anyone familiar with the outgoing model. The drivetrain remains an annoyance under anything but light throttle. There’s just too much noise and not enough forward momentum.

Play with a light foot and the continuously variable transmission does a decent job of keeping the Koleos active. The suspension hits the middle ground without being brilliant; it is capable over small ripples but tends to prioritise body control over comfort on sharper-edged ruts.

The steering goes where it’s pointed without being hugely responsive and the Koleos is largely an inoffensive commuter capable of being driven in a set-and-forget mode around town.

Renault Koleos Zen. Picture: Supplied

ON THE ROAD

Once under way, the drivetrain noise disappears unless you encounter an overtaking lane or a decent hill. Tyre noise is moderate on coarse chip surfaces and there’s faint wind noise at freeway speeds but the overall noise suppression is impressive.

The audio is just as good and the infotainment touchscreen is as complex or simple as you choose to make it.

A switch behind the left side of the steering wheel selects front or on-demand all-wheel drive and there’s a “4x4 Lock” setting to distribute torque to all four wheels at under 40km/h. Most won’t bother with those settings but the Koleos is surprisingly capable on gravel and sandy surfaces.

VERDICT ★★★½

The all-wheel drive Zen variant hits the sweet spot in terms of refinement and competence. There are enough features and enough room to accommodate most lifestyles and the price undercuts the opposition — even if Carsguide thinks the active driving option should be standard.

VITALS

RENAULT KOLEOS ZEN 4X4

PRICE From $36,490

WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km

CAPPED SERVICING $897 for 3 years

SERVICE INTERVALS 12 months/30,000km

SAFETY Not yet tested

ENGINE 2.5-litre 4-cyl, 126kW/226Nm

TRANSMISSION CVT; AWD

THIRST 8.3L/100km

DIMENSIONS 4672mm (L), 1843mm (W), 1678mm (H), 2705mm (WB).

WEIGHT 1608kg

SPARE Space-saver

0-100KM/H 9.8 seconds

TOWING 2000kg

AT A GLANCE

WHAT IT’S GOT

Seven-inch touchscreen with satnav, front and rear sensors, reversing camera, auto headlights and wipers, tyre pressure monitor, heated front seats, dual-zone aircon, artificial leather trim.

WHAT IT HASN’T

Autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and forward collision warning (bundled in a $1490 option), Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity.

OWNERSHIP

Better than average five-year warranty with a similar period of complimentary roadside assistance. Servicing for the first three years/90,000km amounts to a reasonable $897.

WHAT WE LIKED

The infotainment touchscreen uses smartphone-styled pinch and pull movements. There’s no shortage of space in any direction in any seat. Body control is up there with the class leaders.

WHAT WE DIDN’T

The drivetrain is second-rate compared to the benchmarks. The active driving aids should be factored into the price of the mid-range Zen. Raised section of the centre rear seat makes it useless as a viable transport option.

ALSO CONSIDER

MAZDA CX-5 MAXX SPORT FROM $35,790

Sweet ride and handling, coupled to a willing engine and transmission, still have an edge in this class. Road noise lets it down but it is otherwise one of the best SUVs you can drop your cash on.

SUBARU FORESTER 2.5SI S FROM $39,490

The Subaru is more expensive at face value but comes standard with the Eyesight active driving aids and is a polished and perfected package for those with a slightly more adventurous bent to justify the full-time AWD.

HYUNDAI TUCSON ELITE AWD FROM $39,750

The Elite struggles against the Koleos’s equipment list but has a more willing 1.6-litre turbo and equally good dynamics to consider. The warranty is a match, though the first three years’ servicing will set buyers back $1434 if they opt for the upfront payment.