Renault Kadjar review: Good looks help SUV stand out from the crowd
The small SUV market is one of the most crowded in the country, so are good looks enough to set this little family car apart? We find out.
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Renault’s Kadjar was launched late last year and has been a slow seller, handicapped by its relatively high asking price and the strength of competition in the small SUV market.
The French brand has since tweaked its prices and is offering the range-topping — and very well equipped — Intens version for $36,990 drive away.
We threw keys to the flagship to our family of testers.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I ain: Your French heritage must make you all patriotic to see such a stylishly-designed Renault SUV?
Jules: Non, I’m afraid.
Iain: But look at the dazzling Flame red paint, the 19-inch alloys that look like ninja throwing stars, the intricate LED front lights, the chunky rear arches. I think it’s gorgeous.
Jules: Sorry, it looks a bit like it’s melting. I don’t like its big bull nose, or its little diamond nostrils.
Iain: Traitor. You’ll concede it’s a decent size?
Jules: It is. A far better family SUV size than something like a Mazda CX-3. The rear doors are huge; really useful for the kids to clamber in.
Iain: Ours is the flagship model. A mid-range Zen is $31,990 and entry-level Life $28,990.
Jules: It’s still a lot. What are my alternatives?
Iain: Fully loaded small SUVs around the $35k mark include the Hyundai Kona Highlander, Kia Seltos Sport +, Mazda CX-30 Touring, Nissan Qashqai ST-L and Toyota C-HR Koba.
Jules: What about the other Renault SUV?
Iain: Ah yes, the Koleos. It’s the pick if you want a bigger, medium SUV with French flair. A well-equipped Koleos Zen is currently $35,990 — cheaper than our Kadjar.
THE LIVING SPACE
Jules: Classily minimalist?
Iain: It’s a bit short on pizzazz, but it’s a clean design, roomy cabin and we’re spoiled with goodies.
Jules: This is more like it. Heated power leather seats, panoramic sunroof, 7-inch digital dashboard, ambient lighting and built-in sat nav. Fancy.
Iain: Really comfy seats too. The seat cushion base extends to better support your legs. Brilliant for long journeys.
Jules: In the many years I’ve been sitting in Renaults, their cup holders never fail to bewilder. They’re typically only able to hold a tiny piccolo.
Iain: The Kadjar’s an improvement with three different sizes. There’s one for the kids’ babycino, then a piccolo and maybe a medium flat white. No chance for a sports bottle,
though.
THE COMMUTE
Jules: Okay, Kadjar. Your dodgy looks are forgiven. You have a Bose sound system from the gods.
Iain: A belter, isn’t it? Ideal for your Serge Gainsbourg playlist.
Jules: I’ll ignore that. It has Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring, but the infotainment screen’s not quick.
Iain: And annoyingly the volume control is a touch button rather than a knob. Why? Far more fiddly.
Jules: The actual drive is quite lovely. Quiet, composed and good at absorbing bumps.
Iain: The little 1.3-litre turbo engine — shared with a Mercedes A-Class by the way — is quite fun. It’s not sporty, but it hums along nicely on the highway. The dual-clutch auto gearbox is generally slick, but can be a bit jerky at low speed.
Jules: Call me lazy, but radar cruise control would have been nice at this price.
THE SHOPPING
Iain: The Kadjar’s a “big” small SUV. The boot’s an impressive size and there’s a clever hidden floor to hide valuables.
Jules: Most importantly, it parks itself! Touch a button and it hands-free reverses into a space. Love that.
Iain: It has a reversing camera plus sensors all around if you can bring yourself to self-park.
SUNDAY RUN
Iain: Prepare to be underwhelmed. The little turbo spits out 117kW/260Nm and manages 100km/h in a fraction less than ten seconds. Not many fireworks to report.
Jules: It’s a small SUV. Get a Renault Sport hot hatch if you want thrills.
Iain: I wouldn’t care but the chassis could handle so much more power. Take it quickly into a corner and the balance is impressive and the Michelin tyre grip excellent. Not so good is woolly steering and it’s crying out for paddle shifters.
THE FAMILY
Jules: Loads of rear legroom for a small SUV. The kids were in acres of space and had air vents and USB ports back there. It proves you don’t need a larger SUV for a family of four.
Iain: Renault’s devised an impressive split-fold system for the rear seats. Clever handles drop them in two seconds flat.
Jules: No ANCAP crash rating’s a concern. Key active safety features are there, but rear cross-traffic alert should be standard.
Iain: The kids loved the giant panoramic
glass roof, even if it doesn’t open. Our fuel use was a decent 6.6L/100km, helping the family budget.
THE VERDICT
Jules: There’s a little French flag just beside the window, making the patriot in me struggle to dislike the Kadjar. I’m not a fan of the styling, the interior’s well equipped but not special and I’d prefer a sportier drive for the money. A good effort, I just think some rivals do it better.
Iain: I like the fact it’s a less obvious SUV choice and it rightly gets plenty of attention as it’s gorgeous to behold. Its purchase price, costly servicing and quality competition means it would be a heart-over-head buy.
Originally published as Renault Kadjar review: Good looks help SUV stand out from the crowd