Search
Close this search box.
Sign up for our weekly Newsletter

Renault Kadjar Review: Renault’s bold new player in crossover game

Renault Kadjar 1
The Renault Kadjar crossover has enticements for business users

Share

2 October 2015

Renault Kadjar Dynamique S Nav dCi 110

What is it?

Crossovers are huge business these days and here’s Renault entering the fray with the Kadjar, its new and curvaceous family sector contender.

Cast an eye over the Kadjar and the lineage from the Captur, Renault’s hit compact crossover from the class below, is immediately apparent. Renault indeed refers to the Kadjar as the Captur’s bigger brother.

For all that, the 1.2-1.5-litre Kadjar comes to market with its own style and character, ready to cut a sizeable Gallic-style dash on the road.

Renault Kadjar
The Renault Kadjar’s cabin.

If the Kadjar model name seems a trifle contrived and awkward (we’ll be back to that one later), for the UK business car community, the news that the Kadjar shares platform and underpinnings with the hugely successful Nissan Qashqai must surely count as a plus.

In fact, while 60% of parts are shared, 95% of the parts that you can see and touch with the Spanish-built Kadjar are unique, Renault says, as it’s set about creating that vital differentiation between the two.

It’s a big range with the new Kadjar: kicking off with 18 models, four trim levels, three engine choices (petrol and diesel), manual and auto boxes, plus 2WD and 4WD options.

Renault expects 90% of buyers will opt for the mainstream 4×2 version and take up on the two diesel engines will also be up at the 80% mark.

Maybe no surprise, then, that at Renault’s recent intro for the Kadjur in the UK, two diesel editions were presented. First, the 1.6-litre Signature Nav dCi 130, then this 1.5-litre Dynamique S Nav dCi 110: the latter likely to figure higher up on fleet and user chooser lists due to its enticingly low 99 g/km C02 rating.

Careful though; opt for the more highbrow 19-in alloys fitted to “our” Kadjar, however, then emissions bump up 103 g/km, thus incurring more tax.

In a booming UK crossover sector, one thing the Renault Kadjar is clearly not short on is competition with the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tuscon and Kia Sportage already up for contention. So how does the Kadjar stack up on UK roads? Let’s find out…

Share this article

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Reddit
Email

Want more motoring news?

Sign up here for our free weekly serving of motoring.

Sign up here for our free weekly serving of motoring.

Latest news

Top