LIVING WITH A... RENAULT KADJAR
We experience Renault’s award-winning dealer service as SUV hits 18,000 miles
Crossover service allows us to see if dealers are as good as you say they are.
THE Renault Kadjar has notched up plenty of victories in Auto Express road tests, seeing off many of its major rivals in the process. But earlier this year, Renault and the Kadjar edged themselves ahead of the competition when it comes to ownership.
In the Auto Express Driver Power survey, the Kadjar was voted the best SUV to live with by our readers, while the French brand’s network of garages topped our 2016 car dealer rankings. So with ‘my’ Kadjar now having covered 18,906 miles and due its first service, we headed to Glyn Hopkin Renault in Chelmsford, Essex, for its first round of routine maintenance so I could experience first-hand what puts Renault’s dealers top of the pile.
The first impressive thing is that the Kadjar’s 18,000-mile service intervals are relatively long, so despite being in the car almost every day covering lots of miles, I’ve not had to book it in before now. Rivals like the Honda CR-V need servicing every 12,500 miles, for example, so after every two trips to the dealer for the Kadjar, the Honda would be due its third. It’s not this alone that makes the Kadjar a great family SUV, though. For many of the features you want in a crossover – things like ride quality, comfort and in-car tech – the Kadjar finished in the Driver Power top 10. Consistent results across the board in our survey for running costs, build quality and practicality saw the Renault outscore its rivals, too.
That’s exactly what I’ve experienced over my time with the car so far. Apart from having to top up the oil slightly, it’s been totally trouble-free – and when I did visit the dealer, I was impressed with the service.
As part of the work – what Renault calls the ‘A& B service’ – there’s a routine oil and filter change, while a whole host of checks is performed on the brakes, safety kit and other mechanical components to ensure the Kadjar stays in fine fettle. You can see the results of your car’s health test, as you’re given a colour-coded check sheet detailing the work afterwards for peace of mind.
Our Kadjar passed with flying colours, and although a bill of £234.60 for parts and labour isn’t the cheapest, it was a fair enough price. However, opt for Renault’s £299 three-year service plan up front, and you’ll get even more value for money. The brand notched up second place in the dealer survey for value, as well as for technical knowledge and standard of workmanship, while it took first place for helpfulness and attitude. I can see why, as the service advisor at the Chelmsford branch, Jasmyn Clarke, was helpful, efficient and easy to deal with.
Renault is rightly proud of its Driver Power achievements, too, and was showing off the award inside the dealership, with a huge banner celebrating the Kadjar’s success. Work on the Renault was conducted while I waited in the newly decked out showroom, and with complimentary drinks and Wi-fi, I could catch up with some E-mails.
Such small touches might not sound like deal breakers, but when some premium manufacturers struggle to offer a satisfactory service, it seems Renault has really thought hard about how it treats its customers.
Once you’ve bought a car, some brands leave you to your own devices, but I found the Renault staff keen to keep me informed of what was going on – which fits exactly with what our readers told us in Driver Power.