An adventurous crossover with class-leading torque and fuel-efficiency, the Renault Kadjar is indeed impressive. We took it out for a spin over three days and our first impression of the Renault Kadjar was its robust and assertive appearance.
The modern sporty design is visually-stunning and definitely a head-turner. Although the build of the Renault Kadjar may seem somewhat similar as the Nissan Qashqai; they are in fact quite different as the Renault Kadjar is bigger in size and seems more like a facelifted version of the Nissan Qashqai.
The Renault Kadjar certainly stands out from the crowd with its raised ground clearance and distinctive appointments, such as Renault’s new signature C-shaped LED daytime-running lights, 19” sport rims, sporty longitudinal roof rails on top of dynamic front and rear skid plates.
As for the interior, the cabin of the Renault Kadjar is exceptionally plush and roomy and the enveloping seats, soft-touch dashboard, high and wide centre console convey a refined finish. The controls were all within reach and it feels good to be in the driver’s seat. What was quite impressive about the interior was also the fact that it was equipped with a BOSE premium sound system that comes with 7 speakers and subwoofer.
So, what about its driving performance?
Well, I must say, the driving experience was somewhat a let-down as I expected the drive to be as fun and sporty as its exterior appearance. Instead, the driving experience that I got from the Renault Kadjar was one that is more family-oriented (slow and steady). When I pedalled hard on the accelerator, the pick-up wasn’t as fast as I had wanted it to go but it was way better than the Renault Captur that I test drove last year.
Powered by a 1.5L turbocharged diesel engine that is mated to the 6-speed Efficient Dual Clutch gearbox, the Renault Kadjar is very fuel efficient; albeit a little noisy at the lower gears when the stereo isn’t switched on.
For the more safety conscious ones out there, the Renault Kadjar is equipped with lane departure warning, blind spot warning (my personal favourite), traffic sign recognition, reverse camera and a self-parking system which can tackle parallel, perpendicular and diagonal parking spaces. You might also want to know that the Renault Kadjar was awarded the top-tier 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
Overall, the Renault Kadjar provides an economical and pleasant driving experience for the slow and steady driver who aspires to own a sporty and spacious car. However, for the aggressive driver that drives fast and furious, the Renault Kadjar may not be that suitable.
In terms of style and design, the Renault Kadjar is a worthy contender but when comparing its driving performance with its competitors, the Renault Kadjar certainly have room for improvement.
If the Renault Kadjar is on your shortlist, you might want to know that Wearnes Automotive is having a promotion for the Renault Kadjar at just SGD$111,999 and it even comes with a 5-year factory warranty. Hurry though, the promotion ends on 15 April 2016!
For more information about the Renault Kadjar, head down to the Renault showroom for a test-drive session or alternatively, you can check out Renault Singapore’s Website!