Jealous at alliance partner Nissan’s success with the Qashqai in Europe, Renault wanted a Qashqai of its own. And since they couldn’t use the same name, they called it Kadjar.
In terms of design, this is a classic case of disciple outdoing its master. While the Qashqai is no ugly car, the Kadjar somehow manages to look more stylish inside and out and Renault’s designers clearly deserve credit for that. But how does it drive?
As Carbuyer’s Mat Watson found out, the Kadjar feels just like the Qashqai to drive. As for engine choices, the reviewer recommends the 1.5-liter dCi turbo diesel engine. There’s a catch, however: if you want your Kadjar all-wheel drive, Renault only lets you have the bigger, noisier 1.6-liter dCi turbo diesel.
Needless to say, the Renault Kadjar is rather expensive in AWD configuration, getting dangerously close to Audi Q3 territory. However, all is well if you stick with the base diesel in 2WD configuration – it’s even a better deal financially than the equivalent Qashqai.