- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He
Renault Kadjar. 1st generation, restyling 2018
The Renault Kadjar is a compact SUV produced by Renault (France) since 2015. Both front and all-wheel drive versions are available. There are petrol and diesel engines, manual gearbox and 6-speed semi-automatic dual-clutch transmission. In 2021, Israeli buyers can purchase the first generation SUV after the 2018 restyling.
The Nissan Qashqai is the best-selling SUV in Europe. And Renault encroached on the laurels of the model of its allies, and turned to the experience of the Japanese manufacturers in creating vehicles of this type, as the French did not have their own. In 2015, Renault released its own SUV on the same chassis with a mysterious name ‘Kadjar’. However, the new French SUV has failed to win a competition with the best-seller: since the beginning of production, 450 thousand Kadjar vehicles have been sold in 50 countries of the world, while 700 thousand Qashqai models were sold for the same period in Europe alone. Nevertheless, the result is not bad.
Distinctive features
In 2018, the SUV was restyled or even improved. The vehicle looks dynamic, boasting of the tilted windshield and inclined hood, which has a positive effect on aerodynamics and makes the SUV look sporty. In profile, the car is a bit like the Mazda CX.
The Renault Kadjar is built on the flexible modular CMF platform, also used in the creation of the current generations of the Nissan Qashqai and X-Trail. Thus, the Kadjar’s body is 4,449 mm long, 1,836 wide and 1,598 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,645 mm. The platform also assumes the use of the MacPherson strut at the front and two rear suspension options, selected depending on the type of drive and engine: semi-independent torsion suspension or independent multi-link suspension (for all-wheel drive versions). It is comfortable and quiet. At the front, Kadjar is equipped with the front ventilated disc brakes and the standard rear disc brakes. The vehicle has the ground clearance of 200 mm and has the 215/55 18-inch tires.
The passenger compartment of the 2019/2020 Renault Kadjar is comfortable and made of high-quality materials. At the front, it does not resemble the Qashqai at all, but some similar features can be found at the rear: the rigid upholstery of the doors or the armrest in the middle with two cup holders. The volume of the trunk (manufacturer’s data) is 409 liters, plus there is a convenient organizer under the raised floor. The rear seat backrests are folded down by pressing the electric keys, providing a level cargo area. In order to get even more space, for example, when transporting long items, you can fold down the backrest of the front passenger seat, which lies almost horizontally, providing also a level area.
Engines
In Israel, the new Renault Kadjar is supplied in the New Intense version, which is equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged diesel direct injection engine with 116 hp. The double-clutch EDC pre-selective seven-speed semi-automatic transmission shifts gears quickly and imperceptibly. This combination provides an acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 11.5 seconds and a top speed of 189 km/h. The engine is quite fuel-efficient: 5.3 liters/100 km in the combined cycle.
Trim levels
The Renault Kadjar New Intense version, which is offered to the Israeli buyer, offers the following pleasant elements: power accessories, leather steering wheel, and lumbar support of the driver’s seat. The electronic units are represented by the RLINK 2 multimedia system, including a 7-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as an interface in Hebrew, 6 speakers, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control with a speed limiter controlled from a steering wheel, electric handbrake and light and rain sensors. The SUV is equipped with a panoramic roof with an electric curtain, tire pressure sensors and many safety systems: traction control, hill start assist, lane departure warning system, ABS with EBD and BAS, etc.
