76: Renault Kadjar – Smart exterior styling let down by dull interior

Top 100 cars for 2018: Spacious and well-priced but Nissan Qashqai has a stronger sense of quality

The Kadjar can lay claim to being one of the best looking mid-size SUVs and crossovers around. It really is an uncommonly handsome car, and one that, 18-months on from being launched, still looks fresh.

It’s a shame, then, that when you climb inside rather a lot of that good initial impression work is undone. It’s just wall-to-wall grey plastic in there, and little of it looks or feels all that pleasant. And the digital instruments and R-Link touchscreen both look and function in a manner that suggests they were bought in cheap from an aftermarket supplier.

Certainly, the Nissan Qashqai, with which the Kadjar shares a chassis and engines, has a far more satisfying, high-quality cabin and a superior infotainment system. The Kadjar’s not bad to drive, though, and it’s certainly spacious and well-priced, but it really needs an improved interior to go with its handsome styling.

Best model: 1.6dCi Dynamique S Nav

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Prices start from: €25,490

Finance package from: €199

CO2 emissions: 99-129g/km

Sum-up: Great looking, but the cabin lets it down badly.