Review
Renault has announced the Kadjar ahead of its launch at the Geneva Motor Show. Maurice Glover takes a look at what's expected from the new model.
Renault can be forgiven for being among the last major carmakers to launch a mid-size crossover model when the Kadjar reaches the showrooms later this year. Back in 2008, market research findings left product planners at the French firm in no doubt that products blending the virtues of saloons, estates and sport utility vehicles were set to be a big hit.
But the storm clouds of recession put paid to all ideas for next-generation motoring and, seven years on, company bosses have to admit to being late to the party. “Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If only we’d known how things would turn out,” product planning senior vice president Thomas Lane told Fleet News.
“The company was very committed to going ahead with its plans for a crossover, but along came the financial crisis. We had the right ideas but couldn’t execute them.“
Due to be showcased at the Geneva motor show next month, the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage rival arrives as the firm is enjoying dramatic sales success with Captur, the B-segment crossover launched last year. That model is already the most popular vehicle in its segment and the five-seater newcomer – Renault’s first C-segment crossover – is set to play a significant role in furthering ambitions for growth.
“We are looking to this car to continue our development – and it is a key product because crossovers now account for 25% of all vehicles sold in the world,” said chief executive officer Carlos Ghosn at the reveal in Paris.
Safety
With headlights using LED 'pure vision' modules for dipped and main beam, the Kadjar has lighting 20% more powerful than halogen units for enhanced night-time vision. Equipment also includes 'hands free' parking, emergency brake assist, lane departure warning, road sign recognition and a reversing camera.
Exterior
The Kadjar has all the virtues of a crossover by having a 190mm ground clearance, wheels sized up to 19 inches, lower door protective mouldings, black wheel arch extensions, anodised aluminium roof bars and front
and rear skid plates.
But it is claiming to make a break from current crossover design trends with more emotive style lines. Based on the Alliance common module family platform, it shares more than 40% of its components with the Qashqai, but is slightly longer and wider at 4.45m and 1.84m respectively.
“We think our car stands apart from competitors because it blends elegance with a robust appearance,” said chief performance officer Jerome Stoll.
Interior
Refined and sporty – that’s how Renault describes an interior lit by a 1.4-square metre fixed glass sun roof.
The design is based on horizontal lines to emphasise the width of the cabin. The dashboard uses soft touch materials and double rows of stitching on the seats, door handles and instrument panel cowling, giving the Kadjar an upmarket feel.
A multimedia system based on a seven-inch colour touchscreen will offer voice recognition to control navigation, phone, apps and radio functions.
Engines
Powertrain details are under wraps until the new model’s debut in Geneva – but it’s likely the Kadjar will make use of the engine and transmission packages used in the Nissan Qashqai, its Alliance sister model and the most successful C-segment crossover in Britain.
Expect petrol power to start with the peppy, 1.2-litre turbocharged DIG-T motor, which develops 115bhp, and end with the 163bhp 1.6-litre DIG-T unit. In between – and expected to account for the bulk of registrations – will be the acclaimed dCi units offering a choice of 110bhp or 130, the latter also linked with four-wheel drive.
CO2 and economy data is not yet available.
