2022 Renault Kadjar II: Everything We Know About The Nissan Rogue Sport’s French Cousin

This article includes illustrations made by Francois Hubert/SB-Medien for CarScoops based on prototype models we’ve spied and information we’ve obtained. They are not related to or endorsed by Renault.

We’ve updated this story with improved illustrations that take into consideration the design cues we saw on the new electric Megane E-Tech this month, while also adding new renders of the rear end as well as all the latest details. [Updated 9/30/2021]

Recent Renault-related news has focused almost exclusively on electric cars like the retro-styled 5 supermini, the Megane E-Tech Electric crossover, and sister brand Alpine’s plans to expand its model range while ditching ICE powertrains starting in 2024.

But Renault isn’t about to abandon ICE technology, or its traditional ICE-powered models just yet. As SUVs and crossovers continue to dominate the sales charts, the all-new Kadjar due in mid-2022 will play a key role in Renault’s near-term future. Reports from France suggest the Kadjar will expand from one model to a family, eventually including seven-seat and coupe SUV variants.

That would make it a replacement for both the current Kadjar and the larger Koleos, which is still available in France, but was dropped from the UK market in 2020 due to low sales.

Related: All-New 2021 Nissan Qashqai Arrives With Sharper Looks, Previews America’s 2022 Rogue Sport

The 2022 Renault Kadjar is paired with the Nissan Qashqai/Rogue Sport (illustration credits Francois Hubert/SB-Medien for CarScoops)

Double-Team

Originally launched in 2016 and sharing major components with sister company Nissan’s Rogue Sport (sold as the Qashqai in Europe), the Kadjar will again be paired with the Nissan for its second generation. But this time it’s based on the latest CMF-C/D platform found under the third iteration of the Rogue/Qashqai released earlier this year.

That means the Kadjar could be sold in Renault showrooms alongside a pure electric SUV based on the Megane E-Tech Electric’s CMF-EV platform that Auto Express claims Renault will reveal at the 2022 Paris Motor Show and have in showrooms early in 2023.

The Kadjar, which will arrive earlier in 2022, and may get a new name, might be leaving the role of EV to its sister car, but it won’t escape electrification altogether. Renault will offer mild hybrid engines as standard, and the option of full hybrid engines, as we’ll cover later in this story.

And as our latest artist’s renderings reveal, the Kadjar will adopt styling details from the Megane E-Tech Electric, including the twin arrow-shape motif in the lower bumper, plus the company’s latest slim headlights and swan-neck daytime running lights.

Ready to find out more about the 2022 Renault Kadjar? Keep reading.

Bigger, Bolder, Better

Also Read: Everything We Know About Alfa Romeo’s Stylish 2022 Baby SUV

The latest Qashqai grew 1.4 inches (35 mm) in length, 1.3 inches (32 mm) in width, and 1 inch (25 mm) in height. The wheelbase also climbed by 0.8 inches (20 mm). However, if you’re expecting a simple rebadge of a Rogue Sport, Renault would have us believe this won’t be the case. Nissan and Renault have both shared their desire to maintain their brands’ unique identities.

Drivetrains

We initially expected the Kadjar to launch with the same engines as the Qashqai at launch. This could mean offerings such as a 1.3-liter mild-hybrid, with 138 and 156 HP, and a 1.5-liter e-Power hybrid with 188 HP.

However, according to a report by the French website Largus, the 2022 Kadjar may set its own path in the powertrain department. As such, it could feature at least two electrified petrol units in the line-up, one being a conventional hybrid as well as a more powerful plug-in Hybrid PHEV model.

The self-charging hybrid will incorporate a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine to be known as an E-Tech Hybrid. It is expected to produce a combined output of around 200 bhp.  Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid model will feature close to 280 hp from a 1.5-liter four-cylinder. This may be achieved via two electric motors, which would give the 2022 Kadjar an all-wheel-drive option.

The plug-in hybrid drivetrain was initially thought to be shared with Mitsubishi’s Outlander. However, the report states that Outlander’s powertrain would not meet Euro 7 requirements — which makes sense as, at one point, it seemed that Mitsubishi was exiting Europe.

While the sister brand of Renault now looks to stay, the Japanese company will be offering rebadged Renaults. Whether one of these is the Kadjar remains to be seen.

Death Of Diesel And the Rise Of The EV?

It remains to be seen if a diesel model will be offered on the Kadjar. However, early reports indicate that Renault may be pulling the plug on the fuel soon, which is why Renault is working on a companion electric SUV to fill the gap.

Nissan is ready to share more EV components with Renault, and the French manufacturer plans to offer ten EVs in total by 2025 as part of its “Renaulution” plan that maps the automaker’s future strategy.

See: Previewing Next Year’s Electric Hatchback Is The New Renault Megane eVision Concept

Styling

The 2022 Renault Kadjar is apparently set to take a more upmarket approach. It follows in the footsteps of many manufacturers making a push for higher-priced vehicles in a changing market.

Our rendering shows what we expect the Kadjar to look like. It features slimmer headlights, a more dynamic grille, and a waistline reminiscent of that found on the Qashqai. In addition, there are hints in the shape of the lights and lower grille of the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric launched earlier this year, while the interior is expected to follow suit.

See: The Cold Is Where We Spotted The 2022 Renault Kadjar Hiding Most Of Its Secrets

The first generation Renault Kadjar has been in production since 2015. Read our review here

One rumor that has been doing the rounds is that the Kadjar may sprout two additional spin-off models. These would essentially be a seven-seater version, as well as a coupe-SUV body style.

Release & Pricing

With early production prototypes still being spied on the roads, we expect a reveal in 2022 at the earliest, with an on-sale date likely in Q2. Pricing is yet to be announced, but expect it to be priced slightly higher than the outgoing model.