RENAULT has revised its compact SUV the Koleos as it struggles to gain a foothold in a very tough segment of the car business.
Fuel use is more frugal, the front gets a facelift and the interior trim and equipment have been upgraded.
The price of the entry model is unchanged but others rise by up to $1000, offset by extra features.
Multinational in name and nature, the Koleos - Greek for a European butterfly - is designed by Renault, developed by Nissan on the X-Trail platform and uses engines developed under the Renault-Nissan partnership.
It is built in South Korea by Renault-Samsung.
And while the Phase II version has its work cut out, Renault in Australia is riding a wave of success, with total sales up by about 90 per cent so far this year.
It takes a keen eye to pick the new model's slimmer headlights, chrome grille and sleeker mirror.
The entry level Expression gains satnav and dual zone climate control, the mid-range Dynamique picks up leather trim and the high-line Privilege, 18-inch alloy wheels and bi-xenon headlights with cornering function.
Engine choice remains the Nissan-developed 2.5-litre petrol or Renault's 2-litre dCi turbo-diesel, reducing fuel use by 8.5 per cent and emissions by 9.2 per cent. Both engines are also used by Nissan in the X-Trail.
There are five models - one diesel and four petrol, including the petrol front-drive manual Expression still at $28,490 or $29,990 drive-away. Add $2000 for the automatic CVT version.
Then comes the petrol front-drive CVT Dynamique at $34,490 and the all-wheel drive version at $37,990.
Next is the diesel, all-wheel-drive, six-speed automatic Dynamique at $40,990 and on top is the petrol all-wheel drive CVT Privilege at $44,490.
The all-wheel drive models use the X-Trail's three-mode drive system, offering two-wheel drive, all-wheel drive auto or all-wheel drive lock, which locks the centre differential at speeds up to 40km/h.
Standard equipment includes multiple airbags, dual-zone climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, automatic headlights, washers and handbrake, cruise control with speed limiter, remote audio controls, a child-minder mirror, a keyless card start-stop system, high-mounted rear air vents with separate fan control, horizontally split tailgate, height and tilt adjustable steering wheel, a chiller duct for the glovebox, fold-down trays on the backs of the front seats, roof rails and a full-sized spare tyre.
All models have a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty and road side assistance. The Dynamique adds rear parking sensors, a higher grade audio,auto wipers and rear sun blinds.
The Privilege adds leather seats, front parking sensors, higher-grade alloy wheels, Bose audio system, power driver's seat and heated front seats.
