Renault Kadjar is pretty but not perky

ROAD TEST: Renault Kadjar 1.2T Dynamique

By: Jesse Adams

Johannesburg - In a medium-size softroader segment awash with variety, a new model needs to stand out. It can offer extreme value, come with unique styling, or be attributed with a feature specific to only it. Or, it can be given a fantastically peculiar name.

Enter Renault’s new Kadjar. Quite an unfortunate combination of consonants, hey? Just like VW’s Tiguan, Toyota’s Yaris and Kia’s Quoris (not sold in SA), the Kadjar moniker is derived from an outlandish melding of two French and Latin words, which are already altered beyond original recognition. It’s supposed to mean “go anywhere agility” or something like that. Doesn’t really matter, but it’s rather odd.

Also read: New Tucson's surprisingly fun to drive

Thankfully those six chrome letters are stuck to quite a stylish body. The Kadjar has curves for days and all of its proportions are spot on sexy. Looks can be a subjective topic, but most would agree that this is an attractive vehicle. Attractive for a medium-sized softroader anyway.

Sizing it up

Because of Renault’s alliance with Nissan, most of what’s happening beneath the skin is borrowed from the equally bizarrely named Qashqai. Actually, this is a mish-mash of Qashqai and X-Trail mechanicals but it’s closer to the smaller Qashqai in dimension. The Kadjar’s boot is a tad bigger though, and can hold either 472 litres with the back seats in place or 1 478 when folded. Overall cabin space is good, and my rear-seat passengers commented on its generous legroom on a six-hour holiday journey.

If we don’t count the dead-on-its-feet Koleos (a new one is imminent) the Kadjar is currently Renault’s big SUV offering – dwarfing both the Duster and Captur crossover. Size-wise it slots right between the aforementioned Nissans, but is comparable to a wide range of rivals including Rav4, Tucson, Sportage, Kuga, CR-V and CX-5.

Needs more grunt

Our test car was a mid-range Dynamique derivative with a 1.2-litre turbopetrol driving the front wheels only. All-wheel-drive is available but only with 1.6 turbodiesel power. This is fine, because I’m not sure if our car’s 96kW and 205Nm would have the guts to turn all four wheels in a sticky offroad situation. It’s a smooth revver, and it’s quiet with the windows up (I could hear the remarkably vocal little turbocharger whistling with the windows down), but it is in all fairness a little pap in power delivery.

I’d say it’s at best adequate in around-town environments, but proper planning is required for overtaking moves on the open road. It’s also surprisingly thirsty for a car which claims a combined petrol consumption average of 5.8 litres per 100km. Our trip computer showed 8.4, and that was including said six-hour trip with plenty of sixth-gear cruising at low revs. All Renault Kadjar softroaders come with six-speed manual gearboxes.

FWD, basic suspension

With 200mm of ground clearance it’s possible to venture into untarred territory, but front-wheel-drive does limit offroad ability. I managed some sandy game-farm middlemannetjies without much hassle, but I wouldn’t stray too far from civilisation in what’s ultimately designed to hop suburban kerbs and speed humps. Our car’s optional 19-inch (17s are standard) wheels wouldn’t be ideal for rocky roads either.

It did, however, ride quite well on the low, 45-profile rubber. Suspension is a fairly basic MacPherson front and torsion-beam rear setup, but Renault has managed to fine tune its settings to soak up rough surfaces nicely. Spring rates are on the soft side, and there’s a bit of body lean and roll when driven hard, but this is fine by me. Too many SUVs in this segment try too hard to be sporty and end up with uncomfortably harsh ride qualities.

Modern tech, infotainment

Of all the previously mentioned rivals, the Kadjar is certainly among the most modern in terms of tech and infotainment.

In the dashboard’s centre is a 7-inch colour touchscreen which, besides navigation, offers all sorts of widget-style icons for vehicle settings, phone connections, audio controls and photo viewing functions (who needs this?). Here it’s possible to choose between various background colours, for both it and the fully digital instrument cluster, which is also customisable with different speedo displays. It’s even possible to alter the sound of the indicator click. Nice touch.

But, it is a little finicky in operation. It defaults to a home screen on every startup, and getting to music selections (from a paired phone) requires far too many screen pushes. The system could be much simplified. Our car was also plagued with a warning chime which irritatingly rang out randomly with no indication of what it was signalling. I never did figure out its source.

Kudos to Renault though for making the Bluetooth phone pairing process so easy. Upon first entry to the Kadjar I was greeted with one simple pairing request within the central touchscreen, and after a one click acceptance the marriage was done. Probably the simplest I’ve ever experienced in any car. I also like that two USB ports are positioned conveniently above a small storage nook ahead of the gearlever, where two more phones (or iPods) can be linked with easy access to their contents from inside the infotainment system.

VERDICT

Strange name. Pretty car. The Kadjar is attractively styled and specced for the money. It’s comfortable, spacious and comes loaded with hi-tech convenience features, but the single petrol engine option is a bit weak for this relatively big body. Bigger engine choices and auto gearboxes would go down well in this package.

FACTS

Renault Kadjar 1.2T Dynamique

Engine: 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder turbopetrol

Gearbox: 6-speed manual

Power: 96kW @ 5500rpm

Torque: 205Nm @ 2000rpm

0-100km/h (claimed): 10.4 seconds

Top speed (claimed): 189km/h

Price: R384 900

Warranty: 5-year / 150 000km

Service plan: 5-year / 90 000km

ALTERNATIVES