[비즈한국] Renault Korea announced on September 10 that it has launched the 2026 Grand Koleos. The Grand Koleos is a mid-sized SUV that Renault Korea first introduced in September of last year. Out of Renault Korea’s total domestic sales of 35,933 units from January to August this year, 29,042 units, or 80.82%, were the Grand Koleos. For Renault Korea, the commercial success of the Grand Koleos is inevitably linked to its performance in the domestic market.
If the 2026 Grand Koleos becomes a hit, surpassing 100,000 in annual domestic sales is no longer just a dream for Renault Korea. The company has not exceeded 100,000 units since selling 100,537 vehicles in 2017. Renault Korea stated that while launching the 2026 Grand Koleos, they improved product quality and actively incorporated customer feedback. The automotive industry is closely watching whether the Grand Koleos can maintain its current momentum, as the company hopes.
Bizhankook test-drove the Grand Koleos on September 23 to assess its potential for success. On this day, we drove from the Renault Korea Seongsu Service Center to Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. The vehicle driven was the 'Escapade Edition' roof box version, the top-tier trim.
My first impression of the Grand Koleos was that it had a "harmonious design." The Renault logo is placed in the center of the radiator grille at the front of the vehicle. Placing the logo in the center did not feel particularly jarring, unlike some cars that over-emphasize their brand logos with excessive styling. The design was so well-integrated that someone unfamiliar with cars might struggle to spot the Renault logo. The rear was no different; the positioning of the trunk handle aligned perfectly with the horizontal rear lamps. I could feel a sense of cohesion without any forced, artificial effects on the lights.
Inside, there didn't seem to be any unnecessary, forced features. Some recently released vehicles pack various control buttons for the sake of differentiation, but this has the downside of making it difficult for customers to fully master the functions. The Grand Koleos was easy to operate with a minimal number of buttons, and it utilized a standard stick-type gear shifter. However, the center console did feel a bit too wide. Because of this, individuals with a larger build might find the space a bit restrictive for an SUV.
What caught my eye most was the display that extended all the way to the passenger side. While the display is continuous, the center screen and the passenger-side screen show completely different content. Passengers in the front seat can enjoy various games and movies through the display, watch YouTube, or even use the karaoke function. Renault Korea announced that it will provide unlimited data for five years following the sale of the Grand Koleos.
Considering that the Grand Koleos is an SUV, it offered a near-perfect ride. There were several sharp curves during the test drive, but as long as I didn't accelerate recklessly, there was minimal body roll. The car didn't feel jarring when going over speed bumps either.
However, the differences between driving modes were quite noticeable. The Grand Koleos offers three driving modes: Sport, Comfort, and Eco. When climbing uphill, the Eco mode felt a bit lacking in power. Ultimately, I had to switch to Sport mode to climb the hills with ease.
I activated the cruise control while driving on the highway. I set the speed limit to 70km/h, and despite the frequent uphill and downhill stretches, the speed remained steady between 67–70km/h. Since the connected navigation automatically sets the speed limit, there wasn't much for me to do manually.
The Grand Koleos seems to be the right model for customers who want a vehicle that is special without being overly flashy. It could be a very useful model for customers with young children or those who frequently carry passengers. While it may lack a "macho" feel, it offers the best ride comfort and entertainment elements for families or couples.
The distance driven in the Grand Koleos that day was 165.9km, with an average fuel efficiency of 10.5L/100km (9.52km/L). The price of the Grand Koleos (based on individual consumption tax cuts and eco-friendly vehicle tax benefits) varies by trim: Techno at 34.97 million to 38.149 million won, Iconic at 38.81 million to 42.089 million won, Esprit Alpine at 40.92 million to 44.059 million won, and the Escapade Edition at 41.87 million to 45.819 million won.