Major responsibilities for the successor of Renault Kadjar . In the Renaulution plan presented at the beginning of the year, Luca de Meo, the executive director (CEO) of the Renault Group, revealed his intention to increase the weight of the C and D segments in the fortunes of the diamond brand, where prices are higher and the most desirable margins.
One of the key pieces of this strategy will reside in the new Renault Kadjar. The current generation has failed to reflect the success of the smallest Captur, which didn't take long to rise to the top of the segment. Not only did Kadjar arrive late, archrival Peugeot 3008 — with much more style and perceived quality — ended up sending him to a secondary role.
The next generation promises, therefore, to be much more ambitious both in terms of image and commercial objectives.
What do we already know about the new Renault Kadjar?
Starting with its appearance, and despite the camouflage it still shows in these spy photos, we know that the final look will be influenced by the brand's latest concepts, especially Morphoz (below). Expect a much more distinctive face and luminous signature.
Inside, a revolution in relation to the current model is expected. The interior design should be dominated by a generously sized screen at the top (as has been the norm at Renault), complemented by a digital instrument panel, betting on a cleaner appearance and higher tactile quality materials.
Like the current one, the new Kadjar will be technically close to the new Nissan Qashqai, being built on the same CMF-C/D platform. However, it will be longer than the Qashqai — it is speculated to be slightly above 4.5 m in length — which should be reflected in the internal dimensions.
One of the novelties is the number of bodies. In addition to the expected five-seater version, there will be room for a larger body with seven seats. In other words, a rival to the equally successful Peugeot 5008 and others, like the Skoda Kodiaq or the soon-to-be-unveiled seven-seater Jeep Compass, also already caught up in spy photos, but which is expected to adopt a distinct name.
In terms of engines, the new Renault Kadjar will continue to have the 1.3 TCe associated with a mild-hybrid system, but little or nothing is possible to confirm in relation to the other engines.
Recently, Renault announced that engines will be part of its future and we know that, from 2025, there will be essentially two gasoline engines, but with multiple versions that will correspond to different levels of electrification: a three-cylinder with 1.2 l capacity and a four-cylinder with 1.5 l. It remains to be seen when these engines will actually be introduced.
So we can only speculate. Everything indicates that Nissan's e-Power engines debuting by the new Qashqai in Europe should be limited to models of the Japanese brand. But it is known that the new Kadjar will also have hybrid engines, whether or not they are plugged in to the mains — will it inherit the existing ones on the Captur and Mégane? Or will it introduce new ones, already associated with new combustion engines?
Uncertainty also hangs over a Diesel option. According to Renault's plans, from 2025 onwards, the only models to have a diesel engine will be commercial vehicles. Can the new Kadjar already do without Diesel as the new Qashqai did?
When arrives?
The answers to all these questions will be known during 2022, when the new Renault Kadjar will be unveiled and launched on the market. Before that, at the end of 2021, we will see the production version of the Mégane eVision concept, an exclusively electric crossover that could take the definitive place of the Mégane in a few years.
