Renault Kadjar Hatchback
Need finance for your new vehicle?
Review of the Renault Kadjar Hatchback
The new Renault Kadjar Hatchback is a slick-looking crossover that’s spacious, affordable to buy and run, and which is quickly turning into a firm family favourite.
It hasn’t been around too long, but it’s based on the top selling Nissan Qashqai, and its eye-catching looks have ensured that it’s attracted a lot of attention. And while you’ve got plenty of choice in this sector, the Kadjar stands out with its ability to combine the best of the hatchback and crossover worlds.
Founded in France over 100 years ago, Renault has a long history in manufacturing. Find out more about the history of Renault and how they went from making the Renault Voiturette 1CV to the modern day.
OSV takes a closer look at what it’s all about with our 2018 Renault Kadjar Hatchback review.
Overview of the Renault Kadjar Hatchback
On the Road
There are four engines on offer here, and they’re all taken from the popular Nissan Qashqai, which pretty much means that you can be sure each one will be a solid choice.
Four-wheel drive is available as an optional extra, but because most Kadjar buyers will be sticking to the tarmac, we hardly think it’s an option worth considering.
Moreover, the car performs perfectly fine on the road without it. The steering is nice and accurate, there’s plenty of grip on offer without the addition of four-wheel-drive, and body lean is kept to a minimum.[vc_single_image image=”83119″ img_size=”article-image”]In terms of the engines, a 1.2-litre TCe 130 petrol kicks things off. It develops 128bhp and feels right at home in the towns and cities. That said, despite being able to cover the 0-62 sprint in 10.1 seconds, it isn’t the most confident when it comes to overtaking.
More recently, Renault added a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine to the ranks. It has a swift 0-62 time of 9.2 seconds, which makes it the fastest in the range. However, it lacks low-down grunt and doesn’t feel as fast as those numbers suggest.
The diesel engines suit this workhorse of a car better, with the 1.5-litre engine proving to be the most popular with buyers so far. It’s a tad on the slow side (0-62 is taken care of in 11.9 seconds), but it’s economical, smooth and doesn’t make too much noise.
A bigger 1.6-litre diesel engine is also available. It has a 0-62 time of 9.9 seconds if you stick to two-wheel-drive, and it’s our top pick if you’ll regularly be carrying five people around in your Kadjar. On the other hand, because it really is quite powerful you might find that it’s not the easiest to handle.
adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Renault Kadjar Interior, Design and Build
[vc_single_image image=”83118″ img_size=”article-image”]The Kadjar’s cabin is nice to look at, and the car is comfortable on the move. What more could you ask for?
Build quality is very good, while the amount of standard kit on offer means you won’t need to spend too much time checking out the optional extras. Insulation is mostly fine, but if you opt for the bigger alloys, you will experience a degree of road noise.
For the most part, Renault have indulged you with soft touch plastics, and the way the digital instrument cluster is arranged makes it easy on the eye.However, we think buyers will be a lot less enamoured with the dark-grey colours that are a tad sombre.
Is the Renault Kadjar Hatchback practical? It’s essential that cars in this sector have big boots, and the Kadjar doesn’t disappoint on this front. Its boot measures 472-litres, which makes it one of the biggest in this class. Fold the rear seats and you can extend it to 1,480-litres. If you go for one of the more expensive trims, your boot also comes with a movable floor for ease of use.
Other than that, this is a really practical car. Headroom is the biggest problem, but it’s hard to argue with the amount of storage spaces on offer in here.
Legroom is good, rear-seated passengers are treated well (with the exception of limited headroom) and Renault claim that each cubby has a 30-litre capacity.
Is the Renault reliable? Check out our honest assessment of the French car manufacturer.
Equipment and Safety of the Renault Kadjar Hatchback
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Standard kit is good across the range, with all models coming with LED daytime running lights, air conditioning, a digital radio, Bluetooth and an electronic parking brake. One thing the entry-level model does miss out on, however, is alloys.
The Dynamique Nav model adds automatic headlights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, keyless entry, twin-zone climate control and 17” alloys.
Next up is the Dynamique S Nav model, which nets you 19” alloys, all-round parking sensors and part synthetic leather trim, while the Signature Nav model comes with a BOSE stereo system and a panoramic sunroof.
Rounding things off is the Signature S Nav model with its autonomous parking, parking camera and heated leather seats.
In terms of how safe the car is, Euro NCAP awarded the car all five stars for its crash test performance, scoring it 89% for adult occupant protection.
Standard safety kit on all models includes 6 airbags, hill-start assistance, electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes.
The Dynamique Nav model adds the likes of automatic headlight beam adjustment, traffic sign recognition and lane departure warning, but you’ll need to splash out on the Signature S Nav model if you want blind spot monitoring.
Costs of the Renault Kadjar Hatchback
Prices for the new car start at £21,775 and rise to £26,995. For more information on our leasing deals, you can check out our page here.
In terms of its running costs, the 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine is the most frugal in the range. It can manage returns of 74.3mpg on a good day and emits less than 100g/km of CO2. This qualifies it for a BiK rating of just 24%. Not bad for such a big car.
The 1.6-litre diesel engine, meanwhile, is good for returns of 65.7mpg at best and has a BiK rating of 27%. However, if you specify four-wheel-drive, this diesels economy drops to 58.8mpg, and its BiK rating goes up to 30%.
The 1.2-litre TCe petrol averages 50.4mpg, which is pretty solid. Emissions are as high as 132g/km which gives it a BiK rating of 27%.
The TCe 165 rounds things off with returns of 47.1mpg and emissions that top 134g/km.
Pros and Cons of the Renault Kadjar Hatchback
Pros:
Looks great
Many cars in this sector are getting ever more stylish, and the smart Kadjar keeps up with the best of ‘em.
Large boot
At 472-litres, its boot is almost class-leading.
Safe
A wealth of standard safety kit complements a 5-star safety rating.
Cons:
Expensive
The lowest spec model is fairly priced, but the top spec model is pricey and its running costs are high.
Grey interior
It’s sombre and really quite dull.
Renault Kadjar Hatchback vs Subaru XV Hatchback vs Honda HR-V Hatchback
Let’s see how the car compares against its rivals in the comparison section of our 2018 Renault Kadjar Hatchback review.
Renault Kadjar Hatchback vs Subaru XV Hatchback
The new Subaru XV Hatchback is bolstered by four-wheel-drive and makes for a smart choice for families.
It’s a smart choice, but it’s also a bit of a niche choice and you won’t see too many of these on the road. That’s a bit of a shame because there’s nothing wrong with the way it drives. It’s agile and even fun.
Moreover, four-wheel drive comes as standard, and it arms the car with plenty of grip for off-road pursuits.[vc_single_image image=”83121″ img_size=”article-image”]In terms of its engines, there’s only one available. This is a 2.0-litre, so-called “boxer” petrol unit that affords the car more centre of gravity thanks to the way it’s designed. Without a turbocharger in sight, the engine develops 154bhp and can get you from rest to 62mph in 10.4 seconds.
That said, the absence of a turbocharger means it can’t offer as much pulling power as some turbocharged rivals.
Running costs? Subaru have reworked its engine so that it now offers more power than last time, and also so that it’s more economical. It can return 41mpg on a good day, while emissions stand at 155g/km of CO2. This qualifies it for a BiK rating of 30%.
Inside, Subaru models as a whole look better than they used to, but while the XV is an improvement on its predecessor, there’s still work to be done.
It’s more comfortable this time around, Subaru have added more soft-touch plastics, and we think buyers will appreciate the high gloss trim. On the whole, though, it’s still far from plush and more focused on functionality than anything else.
Is the Subaru XV practical? It’s spacious, visibility is good, and access is easy thanks to doors that open nice and wide. Rear headroom is excellent thanks to a high roofline, storage solutions are fine, but the 385-litre boot is on the small side. Fold the rear seats and you can extend it to 1,270-litres.
Price:
Renault – £21,775 – £26,995
Subaru – £24,995 – £28,495
Renault Kadjar Hatchback vs Honda HR-V Hatchback
The new Honda HR-V Hatchback is an assertive-looking family car that’s spacious and versatile.
It looks good and it drives pretty good, although Honda have made a comfortable cruiser instead of a sporty crossover. That’s not a bad thing, of course, and the HR-V smooths out poorer road surfaces with ease. The steering, meanwhile, is accurate and light, ensuring that the car is easy to drive in towns and cities.
On the other hand, body lean is a bit of an issue, and there isn’t much feedback.[vc_single_image image=”83120″ img_size=”article-image”]In terms of its engines, there’s only one petrol available. This is a 1.5-litre unit that can do 0-62 in 6.2 seconds if you stick to the 6-speed manual transmission. If you specify the CVT auto ‘box, that time changes to 10.9 seconds.
One thing to note, though, is that this engine is rather noisy.
Running costs? The sole petrol engine does well on this front, returning 50mpg if you stick to the manual ‘box, and 52mpg if you upgrade to the automatic. Emissions, meanwhile, stand at 134g/km of CO2 for the manual and 125g/km for the automatic.
Insurance-wise, the HR-V sits in group 18.
Inside, the Honda looks and feels rather premium. That said, although the car is comfortable for the most part, the noisy engine means insulation isn’t brilliant while specifying the larger alloys will compromise comfort.
Other than that, the materials used look good and feel solid, we think buyers will appreciate the soft-leather steering wheel, as well as the gloss-black inserts on the centre console and the dashboard. The high centre console, meanwhile, is so perfectly positioned that the controls are easy to find and reach.
Is the Honda HR-V practical? It’s one of the most usable cars in the market, with Honda once again demonstrating how good they are at making family cars. There are plenty of storage areas, rear-seated passengers are treated to lots of room, while the brand’s Magic Seats makes the car super versatile.
The boot, meanwhile, measures a very respectable 448-litres. However, when you fold the seats, it only extends to 1,026-litres.
Price:
Honda – £19,320 – £26,250
Verdict of our Renault Kadjar Hatchback Review
Being based on the popular Qashqai means the young Kadjar had a bit of a head start in life. That said, as good as the Qashqai once was, the needle has since moved and rivals have overtaken it.
This ultimately means that, while the Renault Kadjar Hatchback is very good in some areas – looks, a massive boot and practicality – it’s not the quintessential all-rounder. Will you be disappointed with it? Not at all, but over time its deficiencies will become more apparent.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