Renault Kadjar, presentation and road test in Madrid

The people at Renault have it clear; they want their share, their slice of the cake, from one of the most succulent cakes in today’s market.

We are talking about C-segment SUVs, for which the French have developed their new creation, named Kadjar, and which we have already put to the test in all kinds of scenarios.

Exterior design

The exterior design of the Renault Kadjar is possibly one of the most attractive in its segment. The designers at Renault have decided to create a body that, without a doubt, catches the eye. We are talking about a highly contested segment, where standing out from the rest is more than important.

The design language of the Kadjar fits perfectly with the latest trends from the French manufacturer. We all know that the Kadjar is built on the platform of the Nissan Qashqai, although Renault insists that this Renault has nothing to do with the Qashqai, even though some lines of the body may remind us of the Japanese model.

The front has a fully recognisable design. It takes the basic lines we can already see on the Captur or the new Espace, with a very large logo and headlights with elongated shapes and C-shaped LED daytime running lights. Both elements are joined by a black plastic grille. Overall, the front has a strong personality that will gradually extend to all the brand’s models.

The side profile has no particularly eye-catching elements, but the lines are harmonious and pleasing to the eye. The shoulder line, rising both in sheet metal and glass, is accentuated at the rear by broad shoulders that combine very well with the rear end, integrating rear light clusters that also feature LED technology. The bumper has black plastic mouldings that add robustness and enhance the off-road look. Depending on the trim, we get 17, 18 or 19″ alloy wheels.

Interior design

Inside, the atmosphere catches your attention as soon as you open the door. The leap in perceived quality is very striking, and wherever you look you will find trims, materials and fit and finish of a high standard.

The dashboard has an easy, simple design, with which we quickly feel at home. The people at Renault have decided to add touches of quality with leather upholstery on a grab handle on the centre console, the door trims and the instrument cluster hood. We find soft-touch plastics both in the middle/upper part of the dashboard and on the doors.

The vast majority of switches and systems are fully Renault, with only a few details such as the window switches, the air conditioning module or the mirror controls originating from Nissan. The instrument cluster is very eye-catching as it is fully digital and customisable, as is the multimedia system, the well-known R-Link, which has been reworked to be faster, more comfortable and easier to use.

The seats deserve a special mention, as they feature quality upholstery and a very firm structure that holds the body in bends. In addition, depending on the version, you can enjoy a glass panoramic roof, very fashionable in this segment, which adds light and a sense of space to the cabin.

Speaking of space, the Kadjar’s cabin is one of the most spacious in its segment. Five people will travel without feeling cramped, as the width, height and longitudinal space dimensions are very good. The boot has a capacity of 472 litres, expandable to 1478 litres if you fold down the second row of seats. The Kadjar also offers the option of folding down the front passenger seatback, providing a loading length of 2.56 metres.

Handling

The Kadjar’s driving dynamics have been carefully studied. Obviously it cannot hide its Nissan genes, since, as we mentioned earlier, the Kadjar is built on the CMF C/D modular platform used by other models such as the Nissan Qashqai, the Nissan X-Trail and the Renault Espace.

The car has great composure, which is evident both on the motorway, where the Kadjar offers excellent ride quality and a good level of comfort, and on winding roads, where the Renault corners almost flat, with very contained body roll. Both the suspension and the steering have been recalibrated starting from the Nissan components.

The Renault Kadjar will be offered in both diesel and petrol versions. The petrol model will be a 1.2 TCe with 130 CV and 205 Nm, paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. It is homologated with an average consumption of 5.6 litres per 100 km.

In diesel we have the 1.5 dCi with 110 CV and 260 Nm, which will be offered with both a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed automatic dual-clutch gearbox (EDC). Combined consumption is 3.8 litres for the manual and 4.3 litres for the automatic. Finally, we have the renowned 1.6 dCi with 130 CV and 320 Nm, paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox and offering an average consumption of 4.3 litres per 100 km.

The all-wheel drive system, available in a first phase for the Kadjar dCi 130 CV, comes from the Nissan-Renault alliance and is similar to the one fitted to models such as the Qashqai or the X-Trail. It offers 3 operating modes: front-wheel drive, an automatic mode, and a final one that locks the power distribution between axles at 50/50.

Using a magnetic coupler and an oil-bathed multi-plate clutch, the system autonomously sends whatever amount of power it deems necessary to optimise the car’s behaviour (Auto mode), which becomes evident when accelerating hard or taking a corner.

On front-wheel drive models with X-Mod trim, Renault offers the Extended Grip system, an intelligent traction control that maximises grip depending on the surface you are driving on at any given moment.

Prices and equipment

The Renault Kadjar will be available in our country with a starting price of €19,850 for the TCe variant in Intens trim. The most expensive model will be the dCi 130 4×4 Zen, priced at €28,800. The best-selling variants will hover around €24,000, which places it at the average price for the segment.

The Kadjar’s technological equipment is on a par with its rivals, and it can be fitted with systems such as LED lighting, emergency braking, blind spot warning or lane change alert, as well as an automatic parking assistant. Of course, features such as the R-Link navigation system, dual-zone air conditioning, the panoramic roof and keyless entry and start are also included.

Photography | Daniel Valdivielso