Compact crossovers are all the rage these days. Offering Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV)-like space and practicality, combined with sleek coupe-like looks and a more compact footprint, it's easy to see why compact crossovers seem to dominate our roads of late.
Now, Renault has decided to get in on the action. Born out of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the all new Renault Kadjar is the brand's first compact crossover. It shares its platform with the Nissan Qashqai, its brother from a different mother, as it were.
Sharing some 60 percent of the same parts as the Qashqai, will the Kadjar eschew all the Japanese sensibility of its sibling and replace it with dainty French flair and fireworks?
Exterior
On first glance, the answers appear to be yes. The Kadjar is a striking and immediately impressive-looking car, managing to disguise its SUV-size well.
Now, Renault has decided to get in on the action. Born out of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the all new Renault Kadjar is the brand's first compact crossover. It shares its platform with the Nissan Qashqai, its brother from a different mother, as it were.
Sharing some 60 percent of the same parts as the Qashqai, will the Kadjar eschew all the Japanese sensibility of its sibling and replace it with dainty French flair and fireworks?
Exterior
On first glance, the answers appear to be yes. The Kadjar is a striking and immediately impressive-looking car, managing to disguise its SUV-size well.
Good-looking sheet metal is wrapped all around the car, with generous adornment of curved surfaces that give the car a certain sense of movement and flow.
It has a handsome and captivating front end, headlined by the Pure Vision full LED auto head lights as well as the sculpted C-shape daytime running lights. There is a slight resemblance to the bonkers R.S. 01, which is a good thing.
It has a handsome and captivating front end, headlined by the Pure Vision full LED auto head lights as well as the sculpted C-shape daytime running lights. There is a slight resemblance to the bonkers R.S. 01, which is a good thing.
Interior
The interior is comfortable, with materials on the right side of quality. The spacious interior will fit five adults comfortably. Much of that extra space comes from the fact that despite sharing the same wheelbase as the Qashqai, the body that sits atop it is much longer, with the rear end extending out more.
This also translates to bigger, best-in-class boot space, all 472 litres of it. The boot also has some quirky touches, such as a reversible boot floor that is waterproof on one side. This said floor can also be slotted vertically to create partitioned sections to separate cargo (or create a space to fit a small pet).
The new Renault R-Link 2 multimedia system is easy to navigate on the 7.0-inch touchscreen display. It also has a customisable homepage display where you can place your most-used apps for easy and quick access.
The Bose Edition that we drove comes equipped with a thumping Bose sound system, which is a pleasant touch (though it does come at a slightly eye-watering premium - $10,000 more).
We were impressed with its ability to tackle a wide range of musical genres, everything from classical music to full-on heavy metal. You would be well-served to turn it up, though, to help mask the diesel drone of the engine. There is also a panoramic roof, which is a nice touch, though we suspect it will seldom be open given the state of our weather.
The Bose Edition that we drove comes equipped with a thumping Bose sound system, which is a pleasant touch (though it does come at a slightly eye-watering premium - $10,000 more).
We were impressed with its ability to tackle a wide range of musical genres, everything from classical music to full-on heavy metal. You would be well-served to turn it up, though, to help mask the diesel drone of the engine. There is also a panoramic roof, which is a nice touch, though we suspect it will seldom be open given the state of our weather.
The Drive
This is perhaps where the car is the most divisive. It starts (and largely ends) with its drivetrain. The 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine is an uninspired little unit, offering little in the way of power. According to Renault, the car packs 250Nm, the highest torque level in its class. Unfortunately, we are not quite sure where all that torque goes to, as it certainly doesn't feel like it goes to the wheels.
The car isn't slow per se, managing comfortably on Singapore roads. However, it lacks the low-rev punch you would expect from a diesel engine, especially one with this much torque. Diesel drone can be annoying, as mentioned earlier, but it is a problem easily solved by turning up the volume on the Bose sound system. The gear box also lacks refinement, and tends to linger too long in the lower gears.
However, on the flip side, the engine is a ridiculous piece of kit, with off-the-chart fuel efficiency numbers. Renault pegs it at 25.6km/L, and while we didn't achieve that number (as a result of inefficient driving habits), 22-23km/L is definitely achievable. That means upside of 1,200km on a full tank of diesel - a figure quite hard to fathom for any vehicle this side of a hybrid.
A diesel engine also means the Kadjar is incredibly affordable to run on a daily basis. With CO2 emissions of just 103g/km, the Kadjar also qualifies for the $15,000 CEVS green rebate, which is good news for the wallet.
The ride quality is pretty good, with a suspension setup tuned towards comfort. The car is neither great in corners, nor should it be, and it's easy to look past the fact that it feels a little 'loose' in corners.
The Kadjar also offers an impressive and comprehensive suite of safety features. The Bose Edition gets the full gamut, including Handsfree Auto-Park Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring System and Road Sign Recognition with Speed Limit Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Electronic Stability Control, Anti-Slip Regulation Traction Control and Hill Start Assist. Conclusion
The new Renault Kadjar is a quirky car that leaves us in two minds. On one hand, it is disappointing that the drivetrain fails to live up to the fairly high standards the rest of the car sets. It feels like a car that has been engineered to perhaps 80 percent of its full potential. It could have been a great car, but it isn't.
On the other hand, this pretty little crossover has a ton to offer. It offers all the amenities you could need, all the safety features that you could want (and more), and all the practicalities and comforts that you would require on our crowded Singapore roads. And its incredible fuel economy means that beyond the initial outlay, the car represents good value. Throw in a good dose of French style and the car's appeal continues to grow.
It frustrates us that the lacklustre drivetrain detracts from what is otherwise a comfortable, practical and sensible car. But if a stylish, brutally efficient and equipment-packed crossover is what you are after - one that will certainly stand out among a crowd - it's hard to ignore this little French darling.
The new Renault Kadjar is a quirky car that leaves us in two minds. On one hand, it is disappointing that the drivetrain fails to live up to the fairly high standards the rest of the car sets. It feels like a car that has been engineered to perhaps 80 percent of its full potential. It could have been a great car, but it isn't.
On the other hand, this pretty little crossover has a ton to offer. It offers all the amenities you could need, all the safety features that you could want (and more), and all the practicalities and comforts that you would require on our crowded Singapore roads. And its incredible fuel economy means that beyond the initial outlay, the car represents good value. Throw in a good dose of French style and the car's appeal continues to grow.
It frustrates us that the lacklustre drivetrain detracts from what is otherwise a comfortable, practical and sensible car. But if a stylish, brutally efficient and equipment-packed crossover is what you are after - one that will certainly stand out among a crowd - it's hard to ignore this little French darling.
