Renault Kadjar Review (2015-present)

When is a Nissan Qashqai not a Nissan Qashqai? When it’s a Renault Kadjar, is the answer. The Kadjar is Renault’s entrant in the small, family-friendly SUV market, and was developed in conjunction with the second-generation Qashqai, which means it shares the same basic underpinnings, as well as the same engine range, though with a different body and interior plonked on top.

As a family-sized crossover it has countless rivals, including the Qashqai, Ford Kuga, Seat Ateca, and Mazda CX-5.

Every Kadjar is spacious and well thought-out inside, with a big boot (up to 527 lires), and enough room in the back seats for two adults to sit comfortably, or three at a push. What you don’t get is the same sort of versatility you’ll find in a Skoda Karoq or Citroen C5 Aircross with their rear seats that slide backwards and forwards individually; instead, the Kadjar is much more like a normal hatchback inside, with rear seats that split and fold, but don’t do much else.

Up front both driver and passenger will find themselves with plenty of room to spare, as well as a useful array of storage options.

The Kadjar feels a little soulless to drive, which isn’t such a big deal in a family car, though the slightly bouncy ride quality on earlier cars is more of a concern. For that reason, smaller-wheeled Kadjars with their squidgier tyres are more desirable.

At launch, you had the choice of two turbocharged diesels in 108bhp 1.5-litre and 128bhp 1.6-litre forms, as well as a turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol which also kicks out 128bhp. In 2017, a 1.6-litre petrol turbo with 163bhp was added to the range, before in 2018, the entire engine range was revamped, with a touch more power for the diesels and the 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre engines replaced by two 1.3-litre petrols, of 138bhp and 158bhp respectively.

The model range was originally slightly bewildering, with each version given a name that offered little indication of its position in the Kadjar hierarchy. The range kicked off with the Expression-, then moved up through Dynamique, Dynamique S and Signature to the top-of-the-range Signature S. This all changed in 2018, when Play became the entry-level version, with Iconic, S-Edition and GT-Line then the next rungs up the ladder.

Which to choose, though? Well, we’d ignore the Expression-, which is rather stingy; however, both earlier Dynamique and later Play models are keenly priced, and should be well enough equipped that life with either will be pleasant and hassle-free.

Downsides include a central infotainment screen that isn’t the best, with slightly juddery, complicated software, and a few rather suspect plastics that don’t feel as upmarket as those you’ll find in the Kadjar’s best rivals.

Also in its favour is that the Kadjar is cheaper to buy on the used market than most cars of its type, and with all that space on offer, that makes it a tempting choice if value is a priority.

Fuel economy is one of the Kadjar’s strong suits. The most efficient 1.5-litre diesel versions should achieve around 60mpg out on the road, driven sensibly, while even our preferred petrol-powered models should get around 40-45mpg. Even four-wheel-drive examples are pretty efficient, with a real-world 50mpg relatively easily achievable.

Thanks to those impressive fuel economy figures, and correspondingly low CO2 outputs, the Kadjar is also cheap to tax. Models registered under the old tax regime – i.e. before 1 April 2017 – will cost as little as £20 a year to tax, if you choose the 1.5-litre diesel; the 1.6-litre diesel will cost you £30 a year, meanwhile, and the 1.2-litre petrol £125 a year. Of course, if you’re buying a car registered after 1 April 2017, all Kadjars are taxed at the flat rate – so if you care about car tax, choosing an older model makes sense.

Renault offers a fixed-price servicing menu for cars more than three years old. For £169 you get a minor service, while a full service will cost you a very reasonable £269. The frequency with which you’ll need to service your Kadjar varies depending on which engine is fitted, but as a guideline, bank on getting it serviced every year, or sooner if you cover high mileages.

Most Kadjar engines are fitted with a timing chain, which shouldn’t need replacing, but the 1.5-litre diesel has a timing belt, which should be replaced every four years or 48,000 miles. This should cost around £500-600 if you change the water pump at the same time, which is recommended.

Reliability survey results suggest that the Kadjar is a pretty reliable choice, with relatively few complaints from owners and no serious mechanical flaws to its name.

Where the Kadjar does fall down is on its electrical systems, which have proven glitchy for plenty of owners. Many report problems with that infotainment system, with issues ranging from stalling and freezing, to certain functions becoming unavailable or even the satnav system defaulting to some European settings.

Apart from that, Kadjar owners have relatively few concerns, though given its position as a popular family car and those slightly brittle-feeling interior materials, it’s worth checking any prospective purchase over carefully to make sure there’s no evidence of cracked or scuffed plastics, stained upholstery, or any other damage.