Renault Kadjar facelift
Renault facelifts its hit SUV New look inside and out ● ●
Fresh look, new engines and more tech for Qashqai rival
RENAULT has thrown the wraps off a refreshed Kadjar SUV, updating its Nissan Qashqai rival with a handful of minor design and ergonomic changes, a small bump in tech and a revised engine line-up including a new petrol unit.
Since launch in 2015 the company says more than 450,000 Kadjars have been sold across the globe. While that doesn’t match its Qashqai sister model for total volume, it’s still a hugely important car for Renault.
The Kadjar’s subtle redesign is most evident at the front. As with most facelifts these days, new headlamps with new LED lighting signatures appear, while the foglights are now rectangular, housed in a revised front bumper.
The grille has changed, too, and is now completed with chrome inserts. New LED indicators, reversing lights and foglamps are introduced at the rear of the car, and a new selection of alloy wheels ranging in size from 17 to 19 inches will be offered.
Inside there’s a new seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, which Renault says is brighter and more responsive than before.
For the main part, though, the interior rethink majors on improved ergonomics. Renault says the climate control, air vent surrounds, plus the electric window and mirror controls have all been redesigned to be nicer to touch or easier to use. The seats have also been altered, and Renault claims they are now more comfortable. The centre console features new cup-holders, and the front door bins are now larger.
Under the bonnet, the Kadjar now comes with Renault’s latest 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, available in two states of tune: 138bhp and 158bhp. The firm claims that the 1.5-litre and 1.7-litre diesel options are now cleaner, and both produce more power than before, too, the 1.7-litre leaping to 148bhp in total, and available with all-wheel drive.
UK specs have yet to be finalised; we’ll get a clearer picture of what British Kadjar buyers will get for their money closer to the car’s launch.
“Kadjar is a hugely important car for Renault, with over 450,000 sold globally since launch in 2015”