In the world of crossovers and SUVs, if there's one thing that's as essential as a London cab driver knowing The Knowledge, it's having a boot space large enough to fit in all of life's paraphernalia. Enter the Renault Koleos, a vehicle that doesn't just promise you the Earth – it gives you a place to put it too. But how does this boxy beauty stack up in the fiercely competitive SUV market, where boot space is king?
Let's take a historical jaunt through the annals of the Koleos lineage, shall we? Initially launched in 2008, the first generation of the Koleos (2008-2015) offered a rather decent 450 liters of standard boot space, ballooning to 1380 liters with the rear seats down. Fast forward to the second generation (2017-present), and it's evident that Renault's engineers had a lightbulb moment, boosting the standard boot space to 462 liters and reaching an impressive 1706 liters with the rear seats folded. It's akin to moving from a cozy cottage to a sprawling manor.
| Generation year | Boot space |
|---|---|
| Koleos, Model year 2008 (I) | 450 l |
| Koleos, Model year 2011 (I (1. Facelift)) | 450 l |
| Koleos, Model year 2013 (I (2. Facelift)) | 450 l |
| Koleos, Model year 2017 (II) | 462 l |
| Koleos, Model year 2019 (Koleos II (1. Facelift)) | 498 l |
When placed next to its Renault siblings, the Koleos flexes its muscles like a bodybuilder at a yoga class. It might not beat the van-like Renault Espace with its cavernous 581 liters or the surprisingly spacious Renault Arkana at 513 liters, but it does make the Renault Captur (422 liters) and the Megane R.S. (294 liters) look like they're on a diet. However, it's worth noting that classics like the Renault Twizy barely make a blip on the radar with its laughably meager 156 liters of space – although comparing the Koleos to the Twizy is like comparing a sumo wrestler to a ballet dancer.
| Variant name | Boot space |
|---|---|
| Twizy | 156 l |
| Twingo | 219 l |
| Twingo E-TECH Electric | 219 l |
| Mégane R.S. | 294 l |
| R5 | 326 l |
| Zoe E-TECH | 338 l |
| Clio | 340 l |
| R4 | 420 l |
| Captur | 422 l |
| Mégane | 473 l |
| Symbioz | 492 l |
| Koleos | 498 l |
| Austral | 500 l |
| Scénic | 506 l |
| Arkana | 513 l |
| Kangoo | 519 l |
| Rafale | 539 l |
| Scénic E-TECH Electric | 545 l |
| Mégane Grandtour | 563 l |
| Espace | 581 l |
| Kangoo E-TECH Electric | 950 l |
| Trafic Combi | 1000 l |
But let's pit the Koleos against its external adversaries, where the real battle of the boot spaces commences. Against the likes of the capacious Tesla Model Y (854 liters) and the Cadillac XT5 (850 liters), the Koleos might seem a bit like David without his slingshot. Even the Porsche Cayenne (540 liters) and Genesis GV70 (542 liters) offer more room for your groceries and golf clubs. Yet, it proudly stands its ground against the Toyota bZ4X (452 liters), Mercedes-Benz EQB (495 liters), and even the sleek BMW iX (500 liters), proving that while it might not be the Goliath of the SUV world, it certainly isn't the underdog either.
| Car model | Boot space |
|---|---|
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2005 | 958 l |
| SsangYong Rexton 2003 | 935 l |
| Cadillac XT4 2020 | 637 l |
| Hyundai Grand Santa Fe 2013 | 634 l |
| SsangYong Kyron 2005 | 625 l |
| Audi Q8 2018 | 605 l |
| Ford Edge 2016 | 602 l |
| Hyundai ix55 2009 | 598 l |
| Jaguar E-Pace 2018 | 577 l |
| DS Automobiles DS 7 2022 | 555 l |
| ALPINA XD3 2013 | 550 l |
| ALPINA XD4 2021 | 525 l |
| Skoda Karoq 2017 | 521 l |
| Renault Arkana 2021 | 513 l |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC 2015 | 505 l |
| Renault Koleos 2019 | 498 l |
| Volvo XC60 2008 | 495 l |
| SEAT Ateca 2020 | 485 l |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 2001 | 469 l |
| BMW X5 2000 | 465 l |
| Citroen C-Crosser 2007 | 441 l |
| Infiniti QX30 2016 | 430 l |
| Peugeot 4008 2012 | 416 l |
| Ford Kuga 2008 | 410 l |
| KIA Retona 1999 | 394 l |
| Dodge Nitro 2007 | 389 l |
| Mitsubishi ASX 2023 | 326 l |
| Hyundai Tucson 2004 | 325 l |
| Land Rover Freelander 1998 | 311 l |