Renault Koleos
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | February 25, 1899 in France |
| Founder | Louis Renault, Marcel Renault, Fernand Renault |
| Headquarters | Boulogne-Billancourt , France |
| Products | Automobiles, commercial vehicles |
| Owner | Renault Group |
| Website | www |
The Renault Koleos, known in South Korea as the Renault Samsung QM5 for its first generation and the Renault Samsung QM6 for the second generation up until 2022, is a compact to mid-size crossover SUV designed to accommodate five passengers. This vehicle is manufactured by the French carmaker Renault and primarily assembled in Busan, South Korea, by Renault Korea (previously Renault Samsung Motors). The model focuses on important markets, notably South Korea.
During its initial generation, the vehicle was marketed as the Renault Samsung QM5 within South Korea. The subsequent generation, sold under the name Renault Samsung QM6, is built on the CMF-CD modular platform, which it shares with models such as the Nissan X-Trail/Rogue (T32) and Renault Kadjar. The third iteration, called the Renault Grand Koleos, adopted the Compact Modular Architecture platform developed by Geely, which is based on the Xingyue L / Monjaro.
First generation (HY; 2007)
Following earlier Renault models like the Scénic RX4 and Kangoo, the Koleos marked Renault's entry into the true crossover SUV segment. Initially introduced as a concept car in 2000, it made its public debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show and was launched in late 2007 in South Korea, with other markets following in 2008.
The design was inspired by Renault's Koleos and Egeus concept vehicles. Its main competitors included models such as the Citroën C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007. In 2008, it received a five-star safety rating from Germany's ADAC.
A refreshed version appeared in July 2011 and was presented at that year's Frankfurt Motor Show. Despite efforts to sell it globally, Renault withdrew the Koleos from the UK market in August 2010 due to sales falling below 2,600 units. Production of this first generation ended in March 2015.
South Korea
Manufactured by Renault Samsung Motors, a division of Renault, at their facility in Busan, this model was sold domestically as the Renault Samsung QM5 (H45).
India
The Koleos made its Indian market debut in September 2011, equipped with a 2.0 dCi diesel engine producing 150 PS at 4000 rpm and delivering torque of 320 Nm at 2000 rpm.
Powertrains
The available engine options consisted of:
| Engine | Displacement | Power | Maximum Speed | Acceleration (0–100 km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 16V | 1997 cc | 103 kW (140 PS; 138 bhp) | 174 km/h (108 mph) | 9.5 s |
| 2.5 L 16V | 2488 cc | 126 kW (171 PS; 169 bhp) | 180 km/h (112 mph) | 9.3 s |
| 2.0 L dCi | 1998 cc | 110 kW (150 PS; 148 bhp) | 190 km/h (118 mph) | 10.4 s |
| 2.0 L dCi | 1998 cc | 129 kW (175 PS; 173 bhp) | 200 km/h (124 mph) | 9.8 s |
Second generation (HC; 2016)
At the 2016 Beijing Motor Show, Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn introduced the second-generation Koleos, reviving its original name instead of adopting the rumored Maxthon badge.
Constructed on the Renault–Nissan CMF-CD platform shared with the third-generation Nissan X-Trail and Renault Kadjar, this mid-size crossover offers several drivetrain configurations: front-wheel drive, adaptive all-wheel drive, and traditional four-wheel drive. It achieved a five-star rating from Euro NCAP for safety.
Standard equipment includes a seven-inch touchscreen display, while higher trim levels feature an upgraded R Link 2 infotainment system with an 8.7-inch screen. Transmission choices encompass manual gearboxes, CVT automatics, and seven-speed dual-clutch gearboxes.
The model debuted in Australia in August 2016 and subsequently expanded into markets across Asia, Europe, and South America by mid-2017. A facelifted version arrived in Mexico towards late 2019. Renault Samsung Motors intended to unveil the QM6 variant of this model at the 2020 Manila International Auto Show.
Due to insufficient sales performance, Renault ceased offering the Koleos in the UK in July 2020, three years after its re-entry into that market. Outside South Korea, production ended in April 2023 when it was succeeded by the sixth-generation Renault Espace. Minor facelifts were introduced for markets including South Korea, Australia, Africa, South America, and Mexico.
In early 2024, Renault Korea updated their branding to feature the new losange emblem on the QM6 model, which is now exclusively available with a 2.0L M5R engine offered in gasoline or LNG variants.
| Engine | Displacement | Type | Power | Transmission Type | Drive Configuration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 16v | 1997cc | M5R | 110 kW (148 hp) | X-CVT8 | Front-wheel drive |
| 2.5 16v | 2488cc | QR25 | 137 kW (184 hp) | X-CVT8 | Front-wheel or all-wheel drive |
| 1.6 dCi | 1598cc | R9M | 97 kW (130 hp) | "6-speed manual" | "Front-wheel drive" |
| 2.0 dCi | "1995cc" | "M9R" | "132 kW (177 hp)" | "6-speed manual or X-CVT8" | "Front-wheel or all-wheel drive" |
Third Generation (AR1; 2024)
Renault Korea unveiled the third-generation Koleos, branded as the Renault Grand Koleos, on 27 June 2024 at the Busan International Mobility Show. This model is largely derived from the Geely Xingyue L / Monjaro due to the Renault-Geely alliance, utilizing the Compact Modular Architecture platform. Notable exterior modifications include a redesigned front and rear design, a "borderless" grille, and recontoured body panels.
Known internally as Aurora 1 during its development phase, this marks the debut of the Koleos nameplate in South Korea, succeeding the earlier QM5 and QM6 models. The vehicle's styling was a joint effort between Renault’s design centers in France and Seoul. Manufacturing commenced in July 2024 at Renault Korea’s facility in Busan, supported by a network of 200 domestic suppliers.
The Grand Koleos is larger than its predecessor, providing best-in-class rear legroom and a maximum cargo capacity of 2,034 litres with the rear seats folded down. Its interior shares a dashboard layout with the Xingyue L, featuring three 12.3-inch displays powered by Qualcomm’s infotainment system, known as "openR". Premium amenities include a 10-speaker Bose audio system, a 25.6-inch augmented reality head-up display, and integrated 5G connectivity.
In South Korea, available trims are Techno, Iconic, and the all-wheel-drive Esprit Alpine. The gasoline variant is equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection engine coupled with either a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission or an 8-speed automatic for AWD models, delivering power and torque figures. The AWD system employs BorgWarner’s sixth-generation technology. The E-Tech Hybrid version pairs a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with a 1.64 kWh battery and a multi-mode transmission producing , enabling electric-only operation for up to 75% of city driving at speeds below .
The third-generation Koleos made its Middle Eastern debut on 12 May 2025 and began exports to Mexico and Colombia later that month. There are also intentions to introduce it to markets in Brazil, Uruguay, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and several African countries.
Sales
| Year | Europe | China | Australia | Mexico | South Korea | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QM5 | QM6 | Grand Koleos | |||||
| 2007 | 1 | ||||||
| 2008 | 17,645 | ||||||
| 2009 | 21,765 | ||||||
| 2010 | 13,828 | ||||||
| 2011 | 16,874 | ||||||
| 2012 | 15,282 | ||||||
| 2013 | 8,404 | ||||||
| 2014 | 7,418 | 1,709 | 8,947 | ||||
| 2015 | 4,675 | 1,419 | 6,804 | ||||
| 2016 | 186 | 6,027 | 1,524 | 1,163 | 14,126 | ||
| 2017 | 13,232 | 46,321 | 3,120 | 2,486 | 27,837 | ||
| 2018 | 18,999 | 32,606 | 2,992 | 2,089 | 32,999 | ||
| 2019 | 12,371 | 8,445 | 2,533 | 1,815 | 47,640 | ||
| 2020 | 6,916 | 578 | 2,408 | 1,611 | 46,825 | ||
| 2021 | 6,048 | 1,937 | 2,568 | 37,747 | |||
| 2022 | 1,202 |
27,440 |
|||||
| 2023 | 9,047 | ||||||
| 2024 | 22,034 | ||||||