Road Test Written by Richard Gooding

54

ROAD TEST

Renault Kadjar Dynamique S Nav dCi 110 Conceived as a global car, the Renault Kadjar is one of the more recent entries into the busy C-segment crossover market. With low emissions and latest-generation dCi engines, Richard Gooding examines if it is destined for fleet success What is it? It’s surprising that the Renault Kadjar only arrived in 2015: based on the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s ‘Common Module Family’ (CMF) vehicle architecture which also underpins the Nissan Qashqai, it’s an eminently sensible move by the French company to enter the booming crossover market with a car which shares many unseen components with one of its Japanese bedfellow’s most popular models. And that’s not to do the Kadjar a disservice – the Qashqai is a very capable and very popular car, so if the Kadjar has inherited some of its cousin’s DNA, then all for the good.   Building on the looks of the smaller and staggeringly popular Captur mini-SUV (GreenFleet issue 84), the Kadjar embraces Renault’s current design language with a prominently striking front end, flowing haunches and a Clio-like rear. Available in both

two and four-wheel drive versions with both manual and automatic transmissions, and with emissions starting at 99g/km thanks to the company’s proven 110bhp dCi engine, the Kadjar is now an established C-segment crossover player. Other obvious rivals the Kadjar can count in its sights include the Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson and Volkswagen Tiguan. How does it drive? Renault claims that the range of petrol and diesel engines fitted to the Kadjar are “advanced, reliable and low on consumption”. Latest-generation injection, regenerative braking, and stop/start systems, as well as downsizing and friction reduction technologies certainly seem to bear this out. The

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

108bhp Euro 6 four‑cylinder dCi 110 engine will be familiar to Renault and Nissan drivers past, and with 191lb ft/260Nm of torque available at 1,750rpm, the 1,380kg Kadjar Dynamique S Nav feels relatively swift, reaching 62mph from rest in 11.9 seconds. At speed the familiar diesel unit is refined enough – cruising at motorway legal limits the engine is spinning at only 2,000rpm – with only marginal levels of noise entering the cabin.   That cabin is cushioned from the outside world by a suspension set-up which delivers a comfortable ride, and with a lolloping – but not unengaging – nature, the Kadjar is 2 a relaxed motorway companion. Bumps and other road imperfections

With CO ns emissio , the km of 99g/ namique S Dy Kadjar dCi 110 Nav o VED slips intd A Ban