Renault Kadjar review (2015-2022)
The Renault Kadjar made quite a splash in the medium-sized SUV market in the face of fierce competition. It exists alongside the subcompact Captur and the larger Koleos. Thanks to its partnership with Nissan, it also shares much of its underpinnings with the ever-popular Qashqai. Read our full Renault Kadjar review.
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Pros
- Low running costs
- Well-equipped
- Spacious interior
Cons
- Rivals have sharper looks
- Not that inspiring to drive
Interior
Our rating: 7/10
The Kadjar’s cabin feels sturdy and well put together, and the quality of the plastics is a definite step up from Renault interiors of old.
The soft-touch dashboard is made from a pleasingly textured, tactile material, while all interior switches and buttons feel solid and don’t give the impression that they’ll snap off any time soon.
Driving position
The Renault Kadjar’s elevated driving position and tall windows give you a good view out – plus, a height-adjustable driver’s seat and adjustable steering wheel standard across the range.
As well as being impressively comfortable, the Kadjar’s cabin is quiet with tyre and wind noise largely absent when you’re on the move.
Tech and features
Entry-level Play-spec cars come with an array of standard equipment, including a seven-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The higher-spec Iconic adds a reversing camera and Renault’s intuitive R-LINK 2 infotainment system with sat-nav.
If you splash out on the range-topping Kadjar GT Line, you’ll enjoy heated leather seats, autonomous parking and blind-spot monitoring. Nice.
Since its release, the Kadjar’s climate controls were updated, going back to traditional dials to make them easier to use.
Performance
Our rating: 7/10
Handling and ride comfort
Considering this is a fairly lofty SUV, the Kadjar handles surprisingly well.
Thanks to its precise steering, plentiful grip and ability to take corners with minimum body roll, the Kadjar is enjoyable to take down a twisty B-road.
Renault’s engineers have done a good job with the Kadjar’s suspension too, giving it a comfortable, compliant ride on all but the roughest, pothole-scarred surfaces.
Engines and power
The Kadjar’s engines – a 1.3-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel – offer impressive performance for their size and are equally at home nipping around town as they are covering long-distance motorway miles.
The diesel engine slightly outperforms the petrol on narrow country roads, and its added punch is useful for fast overtaking manoeuvres.
Practicality
Our rating: 8/10
Storage solutions
The Kadjar boasts an amazing 30 litres of storage capacity just within the passenger area, thanks to numerous cubbyholes where you can store everyday stuff like phones, chargers, wallets and water bottles.
Boot space
Boot space is equally impressive, with the Kadjar offering more room in the back than its Qashqai cousin – quite a feat considering that both cars are around the same size.
With the split-folding rear seats dropped completely flat, the Kadjar’s boot offers more than enough space for a family on the move.
High-spec models feature a moveable boot floor, which makes sliding in large or cumbersome loads a lot easier.
Running costs
Our rating: 7/10
Low running costs are one of the Kadjar’s main selling points.
Fuel economy
The introduction of exhaust particulate filters to the engine lineup in 2018 improved the Kadjar’s already impressive fuel economy figures.
The 1.5-litre diesel auto is able to return 57.7mpg, while the 1.3-litre petrol model with manual transmission delivers 42.8mpg.
The more powerful variant of this engine does even better, returning 44.1mpg. C02 emissions figures are largely in line with the competition.
Reliability
While the Kadjar has been generally reliable, and Renault has improved its reputation in recent years, there have been reports of problems with transmissions and electrics.
The verdict
Interior
7/10
Performance
7/10
Practicality
8/10
Running costs
7/10
With its spacious and comfortable interior, combined with generous levels of standard equipment and low running costs, the Renault Kadjar thoroughly deserves its reputation as a serious player in the medium-sized SUV sector.
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