When we recently needed to tow a big trailer, lugging quads and dirt bikes to a weekend adventure destination, my first thought was to use a big, powerful X5-sized SUV or a double-cab bakkie.
So when Renault offered us a Koleos dCi for the task I was a bit dubious and wondered how much extra time I'd have to build in for the journey in a midsized SUV with an two-litre engine doing the work. I had visions of slowly plodding along while dead flies collected on the tail lights.
But when Renault told me the Koleos 2.0 dCi is rated to tow a 750kg unbraked trailer and a 2000kg braked one, I felt a bit better.
And even more so when I saw that its turbodiesel produces a robust 127kW output that belies its modest cubic capacity, while 360Nm is available at only 2000rpm.
That makes it one of the most powerful engines in its class and is just the kind of gutsy grunt you need for towing - and so it proved.
The Koleos didn't wince at the heavy load and was able to maintain the national speed limit on the freeways without huffing and puffing like a cartoon pony. Just set the cruise control and there she went, easy as you like.
I'd also thought the heavy trailer might sway the car around - a case of the tail wagging the dog - but the Koleos felt stable even in the heavy crosswinds that pounded us that day.
The hill-hold function, a standard feature on the Koleos, also came in especially useful while towing, by automatically preventing rollback when pulling off up an incline.
So I can happily vouch for the French SUV's lugging abilities. The only negative part was the fuel consumption, which shot up to more than 14 litres/100km (compared to 8.5 without the trailer) but that's to be expected given the extra weight and drag.
Towing aside, I'm generally quite pleased with Renault's first attempt at an SUV, particularly its versatility and above-average all-terrain ability (for a soft-roader).
Possibly to make up for not having any 4x4 heritage to fall back on, Renault gave the Koleos better off-roading skills than some of its more well-known competitors.
The all-wheel drive version I tested (the Koleos is also available as a 4x2), has enough ground clearance to climb more than the proverbial pavement at the shopping mall.
It was also fleet of footed in rough turf, with three drive modes selectable by a button on the fascia. The standard mode automatically varies torque between the front and rear wheels based on surface conditions, aided by an electronic stability programme to ensure maximum grip whether driving on- or off-road.
The other two modes are either permanent two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
USEFUL PLATFORM
To prevent you from barrelling down mountains, the gradient control uses the antilock brakes to limit downhill speed to a steady 7km/h. There's no low range, however.
Our weekend trip, with luggage and helmets and all, gave us the chance to test the luggage space and the Koleos didn't battle here either. Its boot easily swallowed three people's gear (the 60/40 split rear seats can fold down to form a flat floor if needed) and I liked the design of the cargo door, which opens horizontally in two sections with the bottom part acting as a useful platform.
In August 2010 the Koleos received a host of improved specification levels and the 2.0dCi Dynamique Premium 4x4 now comes standard with TomTom navigation, a hands-free keycard (which only worked intermittently for some reason), a high-end Arkymys sound system, dual-zone auto aircon, heatable leather seats, cruise control and headlights with washers/wipers. That's a decent level of spec for the R419 900 pricetag.
Being a Renault, the cabin has more hidey holes than a haunted castle, including a refrigerated glove compartment, under-seat drawers, underfoot compartments, door panel binnacles and an underfloor compartment in the boot. I'm amazed I didn't lose my CD collection or a child in there.