Renault has upped its SUV and Crossover offerings in South Africa with the introduction of the face-lifted Koleos and an additional model in the Sandero Stepway range.

The Koleos is Renault’s premium offering in die bigger luxury SUV segment competing against vehicles like the Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan, Nissan X-Trail (with which it shares a platform and components), Hyundai Tucson and the Citroën C5 Aircross.

The new Koleos gains a couple of detail changes on its exterior with more assertive styling.

In the front, the Koleos features a more pronounced grille, with chrome insets, extending to the chrome-underlined fog lamps. In the lower part, the bumper has a new skid plate, which accentuates the vehicle’s stance. Depending on the version, the new Koleos is available with Pure Vision Full LED main- and dipped-beam lights.

The rear also underwent minor changes with a skid plate extending higher on the bumper and transverse chrome insets in synergy with the front end. The third stop light has been extended, while the twin chrome exhaust pipes have been retained. The Koleos now rides on new large-diameter 18” alloy wheels.

On the inside, the Koleos has satin chrome inserts on the steering wheel, gear lever and air vents. The interior also features cushion-backed materials for the dashboard and door panels, and the leather upholstery and leather-trimmed armrests feature contrasting top stitching.

The new version boasts a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance systems, including Blind Spot Warning and 360˚ Park Assist. Other luxury convenience items include a multimedia system compatible Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The onscreen Smartphone Replication is now vertical for ease of reading. The New Koleos features a voice recognition system, activated from the steering wheel to manage Sat Nav, phone calls, apps, e-mails and the sound system.

Power is still delivered by the 2.5 litre four cylinder petrol mill, producing 126 kW and torque of 233 Nm via a more refined CVT for both the 4x2 and 4x4 versions.

The prices (August 2020) are: Expression 2.5 CVT 4x2 (R424 900), Dynamique 2.5 CVT 4x2 (R474 900) and the Dynamique 2.5 CVT 4x4 (R514 900).

• · Sandero Stepway Techroad:

Renault has added a new version on the Stepway side of its Sandero range, called the Techroad with minor updates to all models.

The Sandero is one of Renault’s best-selling vehicles with close to 65 000 being sold locally. Approximately half of that number have been the Stepway version with its SUV attributes.

The new Techroad will become the new flagship in the range and will boast features not normally found in this class, like smartphone mirroring with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a reverse camera.

From the outside, the new version and updated range will have the brand’s lightning signature seen on all of Renault’s latest models: headlamps that incorporate C-shape Daytime Running Lights (LED) plus C-shape rear lights, and both the front and rear bumpers have a new design.

In the new line-up, the Sandero Expression remains the entry level model, followed by an accessible mid-level Stepway Expression derivative, with the new Stepway Techroad leading the line-up as the flagship model.

All are powered by Renault’s petrol Turbo 66 kW engine delivering 135 Nm.

The exterior of the Stepway Techroad is distinguished through its bespoke design and badging with 16” two-tone Flex wheel covers with blue centre caps, and Gloss Black door mirrors with distinctive design decals on B-Pillars & lower sections of the doors.

The prices (August 2020) are: Sandero Expression (R209 900), Sandero Stepway Expression (R223 900), Stepway Plus (R243 900) and the Stepway Techroad (R243 900).