CONTINENTAL THRIFT
SHORT CUT — RENAULT KADJAR
VALUE
Renault has cut the price of the Kadjar across the range, and the top-of-the-tree Intens model now costs $36,990 driveaway, a discount of more than $4000. If you want a colour other than white, that will cost $750. The Intens is well equipped for the price. There are leather, heated front seats, built-in satnav, sunroof and an above average Bose audio unit. The Kadjar will also park itself semi-automatically, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Ambient lighting, a digital dash display and electric park brake let you know you’re in the most expensive model. The centre touch screen is on the small side and not the simplest to navigate, while the voice-activated controls will quickly drive you mad. It’s best to use the wheelmounted buttons for the audio and phone. Servicing for five years is expensive at $2385 but the intervals are longer at 30,000km so if you do a lot of driving it could pay off. You get up to five years’ roadside if you service through the dealer.
COMFORT
The heavily-bolstered leather seats in the Intens are comfortable and supportive, while the heating function is great for winter mornings or getting some heat on a sore back when driving longer distances. The Kadjar has more room inside than most of its rivals and the rear seats fold at the touch of a button, which is handy if you’re juggling kids and groceries. The Kadjar does a pretty good job of soaking up lumps and bumps, although the low-profile 19inch tyres on the Intens can jiggle you a little bit on pockmarked surfaces. Back-seat passengers aren’t forgotten. They get separate air vents, a centre armrest with cupholders, two USB outlets and a 12-volt plug for charging devices. For the spatially challenged, the auto parking feature can reduce stress in city traffic.
SAFETY
The Kadjar hasn’t yet been rated by our independent crash test authority ANCAP, but it has six airbags and received a five-star rating from Euro NCAP back in 2015. It has auto emergency braking, blind-spot detection and lane keeping assistance, but there’s no rear cross-traffic alert or active cruise control, which puts it behind key competitors.
ON THE ROAD
For a company that makes razor-sharp hot hatches, Renault’s approach to its standard models is perplexing. They seem to be built for comfort rather than speed. The steering feels a little lazy and disconnected, while it will lean and pitch when cornering and stopping. It’s not necessarily a bad thing for a family SUV – and the ride is comfy as a result – but you’d think some sportiness could flow down from crackerjack cars such as the Megane RS. The Kadjar’s cabin is quiet and refined at highway speeds and handling is predictable through the corners. The turbo engine is a highlight. Relatively small at 1.3 litres, it punches above its weight, providing ample acceleration off the mark and good performance when overtaking at highway speeds. The seven-speed dual-clutch auto can be a little jerky and hesitant in stop-start traffic, but keeps the engine in its sweet spot when cruising. Claimed fuel consumption is impressive at 6.3L/100km.