If you need space for up to seven and want an affordable family-sized Crossover or SUV, your range of options is widening. Here’s a contender you’ll certainly need ot have on your list, Renault Koleos, with slots into the French maker’s line-up just above the successful Captur and Kadjar Crossover models.

Koleos buyers get a choice of two familiar diesel engines and most will choose the 1.6-litre dCi 130 unit, a 130bhp engine with six-speed manual transmission mated to front-wheel drive. If you want a 4x4 Koleos, you’ll have to have the pokier dCi 175 variant which offers a 2.0-litre 175bhp engine putting out 380Nm of pulling power and is available with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed auto ‘X-Tronic’ transmission. The four-wheel-drive Koleos model comes equipped with ALL MODE 4x4-i technology borrowed from its X-Trail design stablemate. This enables you to select your driving mode - AUTO, LOCK or 2WD - and keep complete control of the powertrain on any terrain.

Visually, the Koleos echoes the look that’s proved so successful for Renault in its Kadjar Crossover and under the skin, you’ll also find that model’s Renault-Nissan Alliance ‘Common Module Family’ ‘CMF’ platform. The designers say that it helps this SUV provide optimum space for both front and rear passengers. At the kerb, the Koleos is of course a significantly bigger thing than the Kadjar, measuring in at 4,672mm in length and offering impressive interior space thanks to a lengthy 2,705mm wheelbase. Indeed, rear knee room is amongst the best in its class at 289mm with rear passengers also benefitting from dual air vents, dual USBs (with two more in the front), a central armrest with cupholders and extra tinted rear windows.

The Koleos represents the logical next step in Renault’s gradual expansion of its Crossover SUV line-up. Now that the French brand is fully recognised as a producer of cars of this sort, this one should fare a lot better than its forgettable first generation namesake. Of course, the proven Nissan X-Trail design and underpinnings of this car will also help, though Renault has chosen to equip its contender to a level that positions it some way above the price of its Japanese cousin.