About four years ago, when I returned to glitzy Dubai, I rented a compact SUV, the Renault Koleos. I’d often seen it on the roads, as it’s a staple in the UAE market, but had never driven one…and that goes for most French cars, I suppose. After three months behind the wheel, doing the family outings and mall runs, with what turned out to be a lucky option given to me – a sort of serendipity – I can attest that the Koleos was a good choice. While it wasn’t the top trim, it was powerful enough, smooth, and practical — ideal for a young family with a child.
Naturally, I was excited to hear about the new generation, so I looked up the Renault website, and that’s when I noticed something. I reached out to the team at AW Rostamani, and here I am, spilling the beans on the 2026 Renault Koleos E4 Iconic 4WD, the top trim of the range, and that peculiar observation.
Name & Meaning: What’s a Koleos?
The name Koleos comes from the Greek word κολεός (koleos), which literally means “sheath” or “scabbard”, something that encases or protects. Renault likely chose it to evoke qualities such as protection, enclosure, and refinement, all of which align with the character of an SUV.
Exterior: A modern, robust and chic compact crossover that looks like a Chinese SUV you know
This brings me to the most intriguing part of the new Koleos. It’s styling! The previous model, with its smooth surfaces, rounded edges, and striking details, was a stylish compact SUV that still holds up today. The new one goes a step further — its flatter, straighter panels and sculpted bodywork make it a very handsome, characterful vehicle despite its conventional silhouette. Interestingly, it looks identical to the Geely Monjaro. In fact, it’s the same vehicle with a few tweaks.
The main differentiator is its bold grille. Here, you can see a beautifully intricate pattern of graduated rhombus details that, on closer inspection, evokes the image of melting icebergs breaking away from the continental mainland. Up front, it features triple LED DRLs above and below the LED headlamps, along with vertically oriented faux air intakes beneath them. From the side, it stands out with large 20-inch Highland diamond-cut turbine-style wheels (the Techno variant gets 19-inch Lake Diamond alloys). The rear mirrors the front with faux air intakes, an open valance, and a low-mounted number plate. True to contemporary Chinese design, it sports a full-width rear light bar that wraps around the corners.
It’s offered in five colours, namely white, black, two shades of grey, and a stunning copper mineral hue that resembles bronze. For what it’s worth, this Franco-Sino collaboration looks far more expensive than its price tag suggests. It is styled with a verve that appeals not just to families, but also to executives, and perhaps even the affluent, in the United Arab Emirates.
Interior: Spacious and stylish cabin drapped in tan faux leather, parallel-line design trims, and three 12.3″ screens
The Koleos, with its near mid-size proportions, offers a good ride height and large door openings, making entry easy. And surprise, surprise! Like the exterior, the interior closely mirrors the Monjaro. That’s a good thing, considering it has a modern, clean, and high-quality look and feel. Details and textures abound — more than in some luxury vehicles, with soft-touch surfaces throughout. On the Iconic variant, the doors feature a metallic-plastic texture with grated parallel lines that form part of the ambient lighting. The roof liner is finished in a grey, T-shirt-like fabric, while a large panoramic sunroof lets you soak up the sun or stargaze at night. Build quality feels solid, with no squeaks or rattles.
The cabin boasts three 12.3-inch screens: a slightly customisable digital instrument cluster, a central infotainment display with bright white-blue graphics (though slightly dim), and a front passenger screen. Physical A/C buttons simplify temperature adjustments, while the HUD adds minimal value. Seats are upholstered in rich, almost-tan Tar Epoxy Polyurethane, a smooth leather-like material with detailed panelling and perforations. The driver’s seat is six-way electric with memory, and the front seats are ventilated. Other upholstery options include black/blue and navy blue. Driver visibility is good, and the D-shaped leather steering wheel feels comfortable in hand. The drive selector features an aircraft-style design. Rear space is generous, with 2–3 inches of extra knee room even for someone as tall as 6ft.
Drivetrain & Drive: 235 PS 2.0L turbo with 8-speed auto’ and front-biased AWD; 0–100 km/h in around 8 seconds
The previous generation’s naturally aspirated 2.5-litre 4-cylinder has been replaced by a new turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine that produces 235 hp and 350 Nm of peak torque at the crank. These are healthy figures, even for an almost mid-size compact crossover like this. And if you guessed that it’s shared with the Monjaro, you guessed right.
The ride is really quiet and comfortable, making everyday city and highway driving pleasant. Just don’t expect air-suspension plush at this price point. Curiously, the FWD Techno variant, with only 215 hp, takes just 7.7 seconds to reach 100 km/h, which is quicker than the 8.3 seconds the AWD Iconic takes. Could it be the 115 kg weight saving thanks to the absence of a propeller shaft and related components? The power gains seem almost nullified. Even the claimed 80–120 km/h sprints take just 4.6 seconds in the Techno, while the AWD Iconic manages 5.1 seconds. But the important point is that the Iconic has adequate power is always on tap, be it on Sheikh Zayed Road or through the hair pin bends of Jebel Hafeet.
The steering is tuned for comfort and ease of use; precision comes second — which makes sense for a family SUV. You can feel its front-biased AWD system, with power transfer perceptible from one axle to both. It rides on chunky 245/45 R20 tyres that provide a decent level of grip. On smooth roads, it switches to two-wheel drive to maximise comfort and fuel efficiency. It returned a commendable 13.6 km/l and showed a respectable 500 km range from its 62-litre tank. The Techno gets a smaller 55-litre tank. Official figures quote 7 L/100 km for the Techno and 8.5 for the Iconic. There are six driving modes, including AI and a dedicated off-road mode. We had the opportunity to take its twin, the Geely Monjaro off-road, and it fared reasonably well, beaches and light trails posed no problem!
Features & Functionality: 589 L boot, 10-speaker Bose audio, 360° camera, and a slightly over-enthusiastic ADAS
The Koleos isn’t just a looker. It appeals to both the right and left sides of the brain with its general practicality. The central cubby is small but deep, and the door bins are well-sized. The 589-litre boot is squarish, offering ample luggage space, plus an undertray for small items. There’s also 27 litres of well-distributed storage throughout the cabin. The 40:60 split-folding rear seats expand capacity further.
Bluetooth pairing was easy, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay worked seamlessly. The undershelf includes both USB-A and USB-C ports, so charging devices is straightforward. It also features a wireless charger conveniently angled for quick access, like in some Teslas. For a change, this car actually has decent voice control. It easily found POIs like Burj Khalifa and Festival City. It also supports gesture control, and the passenger screen lets you watch videos, browse information, control air-conditioning and seats, or listen to podcasts with wireless headphones. Audio quality is handled by a solid 10-speaker Bose unit that won’t leave you disappointed, while the 3-zone A/C works reasonably efficiently, essential for this summer’s heat. It also comes with a rear vents, heated seats, a rear screen to control these parameters, and two USB-C ports as well.
The Koleos also comes with a 360-degree camera featuring an “invisible car” (clear-view chassis) mode that helps you see what’s beneath, though the range could be better. Safety is robust with seven airbags and up to 29 ADAS systems. However, lane centring felt a bit over-enthusiastic and intrusive. Other assists include automatic parking, evasive manoeuvre assist, rear automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, and hill start assist.
Verdict: A Chinese car, designed by an ex-Swedish car designer, wearing a French Renault badge — and it all checks out! Chic, functional, and affordable!
The 2026 Renault Koleos is a natural evolution of its reliable predecessor, now reborn on the Geely Monjaro platform with Renault’s own design flair — notably the rhombus-detailed grille. It’s essentially a Chinese car, designed by an ex-Swedish designer, wearing a French badge — and it all works. It exudes an elegance that has luxury brands scrambling for fresh design. The cabin feels premium, spacious, and tech-forward, featuring three 12.3-inch screens, though not all are equally practical. The 2.0-litre turbo delivers solid everyday performance, with the lighter FWD Techno proving quicker than the AWD Iconic. Comfort-biased ride quality, good efficiency, and slightly overzealous driver aids round out this refined SUV, which will appeal to both young individuals and families in the UAE. It has a few trivial gripes, but, of course, the main questions remain about reliability and residual value — matters only time can answer. Otherwise, it’s a solid choice that I wouldn’t mind renting once again.
Rivals
It competes in one of the most crowded segments, the compact and mid-size family SUV. Rivals include the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Geely Monjaro, Mitsubishi Outlander, Mazda CX-5, and Ford Territory (also made by Changan), as well as the GMC Terrain and Acadia. It also faces stiff competition from Chinese contenders like Exeed and premium rivals such as the Lexus NX.
GOOD – Stylish exteriors and interiors; adequate power; comfy; well-built; feature laden
BAD – Slightly dim infotainment screen; intrusive ADAS; unproven reliability; residual value up in the air
EDITOR’S RATING – 7.5/10
SPECIFICATIONS:
Body type – 5-seater; 5-door compact SUV
Engine – Front-engine; turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder; all-wheel drive
Transmission – 8-speed automatic
Peak output – 235 hp @ 5,500 rpm
– 350 Nm @ 1,800 – 4,500 rpm
0 to 100km/h – 8.3 seconds (claimed)
Top speed – 180 km/h (claimed)
Price – Starting at AED 119,000 AED; AED 137,000 (E4 Iconic 4WD)
