Present since 2017 in the Portuguese market, the Renault Kadjar until now it had a problem with competition: the toll law. In order to be classified as Class 1, Renault's SUV had to go through a long process of modification and approval that not only robbed it of about a year on the market but also forced it to be offered with just one engine.
However, and not on purpose, practically at the same time that Renault renewed the Kadjar, the toll law changed, allowing the French brand to sell its SUV in Portugal with what we can call a range: three levels of equipment, four engines, 4×2 and 4×4 versions (these are still Class 2), in short, everything the competition already had.
Thus, thanks to the new toll classification and the arrival of four engines, Renault believes that its SUV will be able to withstand models like the Nissan Qashqai, the Peugeot 3008 or the SEAT Ateca. To find out how much Kadjar is up to the competition, we went to Alentejo to discover it.
Aesthetics have changed... but little
Aside from a new LED signature on the headlamps, new fog lamps, redesigned reversing lamps, redesigned bumpers (front and rear), new wheels (19″) and some chrome applications, little has changed in the French SUV. However, live the changes seem to have paid off, with Kadjar appearing to have a more muscular pose.
Seen from the front, the new lower part of the bumper and the grille with chrome accents stand out.
If the renovation was discreet on the outside, then on the inside you have to carry a magnifying glass to detect the differences. With the exception of new climate controls, new power window controls, ventilation columns and USB inputs for the rear seats and a new armrest, everything is the same inside the French SUV, including the 7″ infotainment screen (which it is). quite intuitive to use).
In terms of build quality, the Kadjar alternates between soft (on top of the dashboard) and hard materials, but the sturdiness is in a good plan, with no parasitic noises being heard.
Four engines: two diesel and two gasoline
For the first time since arriving in Portugal, the Kadjar will offer more than just an engine. The main novelty is the adoption of the new 1.3 TCe in 140 hp and 160 hp versions , with Diesel coming from the 1.5 Blue dCi of 115 hp and the new 1.7 Blue dCi of 150 hp (It only arrives in spring and is the only engine that can be associated with all-wheel drive).
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In the less powerful version, the 1.3 TCe delivers 140 hp and 240 Nm, and can be combined with a six-speed manual transmission or the EDC seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, with Renault announcing consumption of 6.6 l/100km on a combined cycle (6.7 l/100 km with EDC box).
In the most powerful version, the new engine delivers 160 hp and 260 Nm of torque (270 Nm if you choose the dual-clutch gearbox) with Renault announcing a combined consumption of 6.6 l/100km with manual transmission and 6, 8 with double clutch box.
Among Diesels, the offer starts with the 1.5 l Blue dCi 115. It delivers 115 hp and 260 Nm of torque and can be combined with a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed EDC. In terms of fuel consumption, Renault announces 5 l/100 km on the combined cycle (5.1 l/100 km com, automatic teller machine).
Finally, the new 1.7 l Blue dCi delivers 150 hp and 340 Nm of torque and will only feature a six-speed manual gearbox, which can be associated with front or all-wheel drive.
At the wheel
Let's do it by steps. First of all let us remind you that if you are looking for strong emotions then you should look for another type of car. The Kadjar, like almost all SUVs, favors comfort, so if you're hoping to have fun behind the wheel of Renault's proposal while driving along a mountain road, forget about it.
Robust and comfortable, the Kadjar stands out for its versatility and can be used both in long stretches on the highway and on dirt roads (where the comfort, even with 19″ wheels, impresses), as we were able to prove. When you get to the corners, it's the typical SUV: uncommunicative steering, pronounced body roll and, above all, predictability.
In this first contact, we had the opportunity to drive the top gasoline version, the 1.3 TCe of 160 hp and EDC gearbox and the version with manual gearbox of the Blue dCi 115. In the gasoline engine, the smooth operation stands out, the way in which increases in rotation and consumption — we registered 6.7 l/100km. In Diesel, the highlight has to go to the way it disguises the 115 hp, appearing to have more power than it actually has, all while maintaining consumption at around 5.4 l/100km.
Three levels of equipment
The renewed Renault Kadjar is offered in three equipment levels: Zen, Intens and Black Edition. The Zen corresponds to the base of the range, highlighting equipment such as the 17″ wheels, the MP3 radio (does not have the 7″ touchscreen) the cruise control or the fog lights.
The Intens version has equipment such as 18″ wheels (19″ as an option), chrome front grille, 7″ touchscreen, warning of involuntary lane crossing, Easy Park Assist (“hands-free” parking), automatic air conditioning bi-zone or the ventilation columns and USB inputs for the rear seats.
The 7" touchscreen is standard on Intens and Black Edition versions.
Finally, the top-of-the-range version, the Black Edition, adds equipment such as the Bose sound system, glass roof, Alcantara upholstery or the heated and electrically adjustable front seats to the Intens version's equipment list.
In terms of safety equipment and driving aids, Kadjar has systems such as emergency braking, cruise control, blind spot detection, warning or automatic switching between low and high beam.
First in 4×2 then in 4×4
With arrival on the national market scheduled for January 25th (the Blue dCi 150 engine and the 4×4 versions arrive in the spring), the prices of the renewed Renault Kadjar will start in the 27,770 euros for the Zen version equipped with the 140 hp 1.3 TCe going up to 37 125 euros which will cost the Black Edition version equipped with the Blue dCi 115 engine and automatic transmission.| Motorization | Zen | Intensities | Black Edition |
| TC 140 | €27,770 | €29,890 | – |
| TCe 140 EDC | €29,630 | €31 765 | €33 945 |
| TC 160 | – | €30,390 | €32,570 |
| TCe 160 EDC | – | – | €34 495 |
| Blue dCi 115 | €31 140 | €33 390 | €35,600 |
| Blue dCi 115 EDC | €32,570 | €34 915 | €37 125 |
Conclusion
Thanks to the change in the toll law, Kadjar gained a “second life” in the national market. With the arrival of new engines, Renault and classification as Class 1 (only with the green lane) could aim for a more prominent place in the segment of the medium SUV, who knows, even threaten the king Qashqai.
While it's true that with these new engines the Kadjar has become much more appealing, it's also true that when compared to some of the competitors (especially the Peugeot 3008) the Renault model seems to have a bit of the weight of the years, even though it has been renovated recently. It remains to be seen how the market will react to Renault's proposal.