BUYER’S GUIDE: Renault Kadjar

FROM £12,500 Capable SUV makes a great family car. Just watch for quality glitches

WHEN Renault first embracedced the SUV market in 2008, its Koleos was a sales disaster. So when the companympany responded five years later with thehe much smaller Captur, the only way was up.

Sure enough, the Captur provedved a hit and for an encore Renault came up with the Kadjar in 2015, using the Nissansan Qashqai’s platform and running gear.

At launch we reckoned the Kadjaradjar eclipsed the Qashqai, but in turn the Renault is now beaten by newer rivals such as the SEAT Ateca and Peugeotgeot 3008. The Kadjar is still a great used buy, but build quality is proving to be an issue for some owners, so makeake thorough checks before buying.

History

RENAULT delivered the first Kadjarsars to dealerships in September 2015. Petrol fans could opt for a 1.2 TCE engine, ne, while diesel buyers could pick from om 1.5 dci or 1.6 dci powerplants ratedted at 109bhp and 128bhp. The smallerler diesel was offered with manual or dual-l-clutch automatic boxes, while the largerr engine came with front or four-wheel drive. ve.

Two years after the Kadjar’s launch, aunch, Renault tweaked the model rangee with a new 163bhp turbocharged 1.6-.6-litre petrol engine, available only withh a six-sixspeed manual gearbox. At the same ame time, a continuously variable X-tronic ronic automatic transmission was introduced roduced for the front-wheel-drive dci 130 diesel.

Which one?

THE smaller engines (1.2 petrol and 1.5 diesel) are all you need, but only the 1.6 dci is available with four-wheel drive; the 1.5 dci EDC auto is slicker than the 1.6 dci X-tronic.

Entry-level Expression+ spec has cruise control, steel wheels, all-round electric windows, air-con, hill start assist and Bluetooth. Dynamique Nav adds 17-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, a seveninch touchscreen and extra driver aids.

Dynamique S Nav features front and rear parking sensors, 19-inch wheels, synthetic leather trim and powered door mirrors, while the Signature Nav brings LED headlights, a panoramic roof and upgraded hi-fi. The top-spec Signature S Nav features a reversing camera, leather trim and blind spot warning.

Alternatives

THE Nissan Qashqai is related to the Kadjar, so it’s arguably the closest rival, and a very talented one. Kia’s Sportage is also very desirable because it’s well equipped and brings a class-leading warranty; its cousin the Hyundai Tucson isn’t far behind, albeit with a five-year

guarantee. The Mazda CX-5 strikes a fine balance of excellent build, sharp looks, top value and a great driving experience – attributes which are generally shared by the Ford Kuga, which is widely available.

If your budget is flexible, take a look at the Volkswagen Tiguan. It’s well made and comes with some excellent engines, but prices are higher than for the Renault.

Verdict

WE liked the Kadjar so much when it was launched that we named it our Crossover of the Year. To ensure we’d made the right choice, we then ran one for 10 months and 22,500 miles. Our dci 110 averaged 52.1mpg and proved an ideal family car, although one or two minor ergonomic and infotainment tweaks would have been welcome.

Rounding up our experience, we said: “While newer cars like the Ateca deliver more involving handling, the Renault’s supple ride and low noise levels made it a brilliant companion on typical, everyday journeys when the traffic was heavy or you just wanted to cruise.”