Renault Kadjar: Comfortable SUV

Renault Kadjar

What you need to know:

There is bold and sporty about Kadjar’s front bumper with two level grilles, big statement Renault badge straddled by the trapezoid LED head lights and flowing into the well-crafted fluid body and chic rear end.

Renault Kadjar’s bold adventurous intentions are stated by its compact but fluid body which is reminiscent of the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage. There is bold and sporty about Kadjar’s front bumper with two level grilles, big statement Renault badge straddled by the trapezoid LED head lights and flowing into the well-crafted fluid body and chic rear end. The Kadjar makes such a sharp and bold opening statement of intent for a small new crossover.

Trim levels
Renault goes to great lengths to present the Kadjar not as a clone of the seasoned Nissan Qashqai but as a credible practical alternative with multiple trim levels, bigger seating and loading space. The Kadjar comes with four trim levels. Expression is the entry level which comes standard with air conditioning, cruise control and 16’’ alloys. The mid-level specs are Dynamique and Dynamique S which are almost as generously kitted as the top of range model, Signature. These three top Kadjar trims come with a touch screen infotainment system, alloy wheels, a Bose stereo and a higher price tag.

Comfort, safety and practicality
When you step inside the Kadjar, the driver and front passenger are treated to a spacious but practical dashboard and it’s easy to find knobs, switches and accessory controls. This five-seater offers comfortable wide seats with ample leg and headroom. The Kadjar safety rating is good and it boasts a three point inertia reel seat belt design with electronic pre-tensioning to prevent whiplash.
This works well with the air bag supplementary restraint system to secure all the passengers. The load space is cavernous with 472 litres of space. The Kadjar is a good blend of sporty looks, reasonable quality, comfort and good practicality suitable for a Ugandan family transport needs.

Performance and handling
Renault offers three engine alternatives with the Kadjar. The only petrol option, a 1.2 litre TCe turbo 4-cylinder is mated well with a 6-speed manual gearbox and will accelerate from 0-100 KPH in 10.1 seconds, thanks to its 130 brake horse power (bhp). This petrol engine has good low end power, an impressive but lowest fuel economy result (Highway: 23.2 KM/Litre) and a bigger emissions polluter with 126gm/KM.
However the 1.2L TCe is definitely meant for more than tiptoeing around Kampala city. The 1.2 litre TCe will feel a little overworked when you attempt to drive it to Masaka or Mbarara at high speeds.
It will be less economical on fuel as you keep shifting down for power to go uphill or overtake. This is why you will want to get the diesel engines. The 1.6 litre diesel engine gives a better balance between fuel economy and engine power (Highway: 22.2KM/L) delivering 130 bhp.
This stands out when compared to the weakest 1.5 litre dCi diesel which delivers 109 bhp but the best fuel economy result (Highway:26.3 KM/L). I would go for the 1.6 litre diesel overall as it has good torque, a bigger punch and exciting drive on the highway while maintaining excellent fuel economy. You can only get the 6- speed automatic transmission with Dynamique and Signature trims.
However, the 1.6 litre dCi works well with All Wheel Drive as it will send 50 per cent of the power to rear wheels for additional power. You can go for the 4WD option which allows you to lock the differential for an equal 50:50 split of power when driving in the rain over a slippery marram stretch from your suburban home. However, do not be tempted to go for serious 4WD offroad experiences with the Kadjar. Like other cars in its class, it will be limited by its size and ground clearance.

Maintenance and affordability
The Kadjar can only be maintained at the Renault appointed dealer in Uganda where you will get genuine service and repair parts. The modern common rail diesel engines are sensitive to dirty or adulterated diesel. While both petrol and diesel engines require dedicated maintenance with good quality lubricants and fuels. A brand new Kadjar with Dynamique specs will cost $42,000 (About Shs156.8m).