Now in 2019, Renault has looked at their Kadjar range once again and made a few updates to styling, equipment and engines.
What’s new for the latest Renault Kadjar?
The Renault Kadjar now has a new front-end design and C-shape light signature in line with Renault’s other SUVs, the Captur and the Koleos. Some new trim elements and LED lights have also been added to the rear of the car. There are new alloy wheel designs and new colours for the Kadjar range including Oural Green, Highland Grey and Iron Blue.
Inside, the Kadjar always had a straightforward cabin that was easy to feel at home in and a comfortable place on the move. New satin chrome trim has been added to the interior and the touchscreen for the infotainment system is now flush with the centre console. Some of the dials and switches have been changed also. Redesigned seats feature length adjustment on some models, double density foam to enhance comfort, and firmer side reinforcements for more support.
Standard equipment now includes climate control, 7” touchscreen with Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay®, alloy wheels, parking sensors, and automatic lights and wipers. Other additions include bigger cup holders, bigger bins in the front doors and two rear USB sockets.
Interior space is good for this class of vehicle and the Kadjar will seat five. There is a 472 litre boot with a large square opening.
Engines and Equipment
In Ireland the Kadjar is available now in four trim levels: Play, Iconic, S-Edition and GT Line. The range kicks off at €26,995. Iconic models start from €29,695 and add cruise control and speed limiter, parking camera, and keyless entry/start and privacy glass.
The new sporty S-Edition (from €31,395) adds a half leather interior, panoramic roof, and LED/Xenon lights. The top of the range GT-Line (from €33,995) adds 19” alloys, leather seats, full LED lights, auto park, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and automatic high/low beam.
The Renault Kadjar range has also been refreshed with some new or updated engines. There’s a new 1.3 TCe turbo petrol engine with 140 or 160hp. The Kadjar also features an updated 1.5 Blue dCi 115 diesel engine. It’s the most efficient engine in the range. For customers requiring more performance, the new 1.7 Blue dCi engine is now available with 150hp and comes in 4×2 and 4×4. Manual and automatic gearboxes are available. My test car was a Renault Kadjar GT Line 1.5dCi 115 with a list price of €35,995.
Driving the Kadjar
On the road the Renault Kadjar 1.5 diesel is smooth and comfortable to drive. The updated Blue dCi 1.5 litre diesel engine is remarkably refined and economical, with my fuel consumption averaging at 5.1 litres per 100 km over a week of driving. It makes for a good combination, with the sort of pleasant driving character that is a must for a family car.
Renault has refined the Kadjar a little more to keep up with rivals. The Renault Kadjar with its redesigned nose is now arguably even more stylish than before, while the interior of the car has been given a better fit and finish also.
Underneath the Kadjar is still a practical and comfortable vehicle, with new engines meeting the latest emissions standards. Competition is of course fierce in the compact SUV segment but the Renault Kadjar brings some flair and passion with an utterly capable and enjoyable family vehicle.
Caroline Kidd
Model tested: Renault Kadjar GT Line Blue dCi 115
Price: €35,995 (Range from €26,995)
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo diesel
Power: 115 hp
Torque: 260 Nm
0-100km/h: 11.7 seconds
Top speed: 188 km/h
Fuel Economy: 4.9l/100km
CO2 emissions: 117g/km
Motor tax: €200 per year