The Jimny’s ultra-honest unpretentiousness is the antidote to every beige crossover out there. Just don’t expect sophistication, and you’ll adore it
Pros Adorable design, off-road prowess, plenty of equipment
Cons Choosing between carrying people or their possessions
We've tested the Jimny extensively off-road and we know what it is capable of, but this time we drive the auto around town to see if it makes sense as a city car.
Pros Short wheelbase and incredible visibility make for easy driving Seat height is fantastic if you're jumping in and out regularly Peppy engine actually feels quite sporty around town
Cons Safety rating is an ever-present issue Luggage space almost non-existent when the second row is in use Four-speed auto would probably be better served with an extra ratio
Pros Characterful, standout design Excellent off-road capabilities Plenty of ability for the price
Cons Unrefined driving experience Tiny boot when rear seats are in place Poor economy
Pros • Cabin, load space • Fuel economy • Dash presentation
Cons • Noisy suspension • Flat seats • CVT characteristics The Koleos did what it was intended to do. It gave Renault a foothold in a hitherto unrepresented segment and, more importantly in Australia, it quickly became Renault’s biggest-selling model.If there was a major shortcoming with the second generation Koleos it was the lack of a diesel engine. The newcomer was exclusively powered by a hard-working 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine producing a reasonable 126kW/226Nm and returning, in AWD form, a combined fuel consumption average of 8.3L/100km.But that’s all changed now. The long-awaited turbo-diesel option arrived in August 2017 to immediately bring more power and (a lot more) torque. At 130kW/380Nm it’s a true grunter which, at 6.1L/100km, also offers better fuel consumption, plus lower exhaust emissions (150g/km against the petrol version’s 192g/km).
Pros Noticeably more torque and better fuel economy from the diesel engine Big size equals excellent second-row space inside Competitively priced Good ownership credentials
Cons Powertrain not as seamless and effortless as the numbers suggest No quicker than cheaper front-drive petrol Koleos variants Wieldy SUV to manoeuvre and park Ho-hum infotainment system Lower braked towing rating than petrol versions The diesel clatter is also quite noticeable, though nothing like a deal-breaker, but it does harness the on-demand all-wheel-drive system's tractive talents better and more noticeably than the petrol engine does. And by maintaining fuel economy within a ballpark of its maker’s 6.1 combined cycle claim, it’s markedly more efficient by a couple of litres per hundred, particularly around town.
Pros Great exterior looks Nice enough to drive Good level of equipment
Cons Doesn't come with a seven-seat option Prices are a bit high Manual gearbox isn't the smoothest
