Renault Kadjar

Renault Kadjar at a glance

Within Renault, the Kadjar is positioned as a more prestigious, well-equipped and therefore more expensive model. It is a monocoque crossover with a transverse engine. More Renault models are listed in our Renault catalogue.

The 2018 facelift

Competition was intensifying, and even its Nissan sibling was in strong demand in several European countries, so Renault gave the Kadjar an update with improved styling, a refined interior, a completely new range of engines and better equipment.

Exterior

Compared with the original, the facelifted Kadjar looks more expressive and upmarket. A larger grille with a big Renault diamond in the centre, modern headlights with prominent LED daytime running lights and a new front bumper with less protective plastic and redesigned fog lamps define the front.

The side changed little: steeply raked windscreen pillars, muscular wheel arches, pronounced creases and a window line that rises towards the rear, a gently sloping roof, silver trim and chrome sill protectors. New alloy wheels were designed specifically for the Kadjar, in 17- or 18-inch sizes. Ground clearance is an impressive 200 mm on paper — enough for town and rough tracks, though real-world clearance is somewhat lower. A Black Edition has unique interior trim, bumper inserts, larger wheels and black mirrors.

At the rear, a completely new bumper has revised fog lamps and a new diffuser with two integrated exhaust outlets. Expensive versions have a shark-fin antenna instead of the old roof aerial. Silver badges and horizontal wave-like creases decorate the tailgate. Renault hopes the more elegant, youthful look will widen its customer base, and the colour palette was extended.

Interior

The dashboard architecture was kept, as it was already stylish and clean, but materials and build quality improved. Upholstery is fabric or leather depending on version. The instruments are dominated by the speedometer, behind a comfortable, attractive multifunction steering wheel with a flat bottom that adds a sporty touch.

Updated front seats offer better ergonomics, stronger side support, an adjustable cushion length and a wider range of adjustment. A fairly high centre tunnel carries the gear lever, a rotary controller, the electric parking brake button, a storage well, cupholders and organisers, and a wide armrest that now slides forward and has a cooled compartment. Air vents with two buttons between them sit at the top of the console, above a 7-inch R-Link 2 touchscreen that is brighter, more responsive and works better with Android and iOS devices. The climate controls were completely redesigned, with three multifunction knobs and small displays in their centres. The front door areas are lit at night to make getting in easier.

Three adults sit comfortably on the rear bench, which has two USB sockets and a more convenient folding mechanism. The boot holds 527 litres, rising quickly to 1,478 litres with the rear backrests folded, and the improved layout makes loading easier. A repair kit and full-size spare sit under the floor. Most of the modern equipment is available even on entry-level versions.

Engines and transmissions

Before the facelift, the Kadjar had a 1.2 petrol with 96 kW (130 PS), a 1.6 petrol with 120 kW (163 PS), and 1.5 and 1.6 diesels with 81 and 96 kW (110 and 130 PS). The facelift brought a new range:

The 1.3 TCe was developed together with Daimler and is also used in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and the latest Renault Scénic, Captur and Mégane. It features direct injection, specially coated cylinder bores, an improved turbocharger and a gasoline particulate filter. The Blue dCi diesels have selective catalytic reduction (SCR), higher injection pressure and a new heat exchanger, and meet the Euro 6d-Temp standard.

Gearboxes are a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, with front-wheel drive as standard. The top diesel can have ALL MODE all-wheel drive with three selectable modes, available only with the manual gearbox.

Chassis

The chassis was not changed. The Kadjar uses the CMF platform shared with the Nissan Qashqai. Front-wheel-drive versions have MacPherson struts at the front and a semi-independent torsion beam at the rear; all-wheel-drive versions have a multi-link rear suspension. Steering has electric assistance, and the brakes are discs all round (ventilated at the front) with electronic aids.

Safety and equipment

The facelifted Kadjar offers front and side airbags, curtain airbags, ABS and EBD, emergency brake assist and traction control, hill-start assist, tyre-pressure monitoring, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, traffic-sign recognition, driver fatigue monitoring, Chassis Control, lane-change monitoring, LED lights, fog lamps, blind-spot monitoring, head restraints and belts for all seats and ISOFIX anchorages. The body makes extensive use of high-strength steel. The base version has ABS, an electronic parking brake, ISOFIX, front and side airbags, brake assist, air conditioning, a basic audio system, an immobiliser, heated power mirrors, LED running lights, disc brakes, central locking, a height-adjustable driver's seat, fabric upholstery and 16-inch wheels. The top-spec version adds all-round parking sensors, high-beam assist, lane-change monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, driver monitoring, curtain airbags, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, tinted rear windows, rain and light sensors, a leather multifunction steering wheel, an advanced infotainment system and Bose audio.

Key specifications

Strengths and weaknesses

Owners like the Kadjar's looks, decent ground clearance, gearbox, reasonable fuel consumption, equipment, roomy cabin, large boot, good sound insulation, value for money and affordable servicing, along with its many assistance systems and high level of safety; the all-wheel-drive version adds capability. Shortcomings reported for the pre-facelift car include mediocre build quality, noise with the diesel engines and modest performance. Rivals included the Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Ford Kuga, Skoda Karoq and SEAT Ateca.