VIVE LA DIFFERENCE
Renault’s stylish Kadjar stands out from the crowd
Renault’s Kadjar was launched late last year and has been as low 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-top ping—and very well equipped — Intens version for $36,990driveaway.
We threw keys to the flag ship to our family of testers.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
IAIN: 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 arch es. 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: Trait or. You’ ll concede it’ s a decent size?
JULES: It is. A far better family SUV size than something like a Mazda C X -3. The rear doors are huge; really useful for the kids to clamber in.
IAIN: Ours is the flag ship model. Amid-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 K on a Highlander, Kia Se ltos Sport +, Mazda C X -30 Touring, Nissan Qashqai ST-Land Toyota C-HR Koba.
JULES: What about the other Renault SUV? IAIN: Ahyes, the Koleos. It’s the pick if you want a bigger, medium SUV with French flair. A well-equipped K oleos Zen is currently $35,990 —cheaper than our K ad jar.
THE LIVING SPACE
JULES: Classily minimalist? IAIN: It’ s a bits horton 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 sun roof ,7- inch digital dashboard, ambient lighting and built-in sat nav. Fancy.
IAIN: Really comfy seats too. These at 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 be wilder. They’ re typically only able to hold a tiny piccolo.
IAIN: The K ad jar’ s an improvement with three different sizes. There’ s one for the kids’ babycino, the na piccolo and maybe a medium flat white. No chance for a sports bottle, though.
THE COMMUTE
JULES: O kay, K ad jar. Your dodgy looks are for given. 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 Car Play/ 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 gear box 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 K ad jar’ 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 under whelmed. The little turbo spits out 117 kW /260 Nm and manages 100 km/ hi na 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 more power. Take it quickly into a corner and the balance is impressive and Michel in tyre grip excellent. Not so good is woolly steering and it’ s crying out for paddle shifters.
THE FAMILY
JULES: Loads of rear leg room for a small SUV. The kids were in acres of space and had air vent sand US B ports back there. It proves you don’ t need a larger SUV for a family off our.
IAIN: Renault’ s devised an impressive split-fold system for the rear seats. Clever handles drop them in two seconds flat.
JULES: No AN CAP 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. Thirst was a decent 6.6 L /100 km, 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 K ad jar. 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.