In the traditon of setting a thief to catch a thief, Renault has decided that the best way to take on the hugely successful Nissan Qashqai in the lucrative crossover segment is to base its new Kadjar on the Qashqai itself.
This is hardly a surprise - Renault and Nissan have been joined at the hip since their 1999 merger - but this is the first time that the all-conquering Qashqai will have had a rival that sits quite so uncomfortably close in technical terms.
So, the Kadjar will use the same 1.5-litre 110hp diesel engine with 99g/km and to judge from what we’ve seen so far of the interior, it looks as if Renault has learned important lessons from its Japanese partner in terms of interior quality. That will need to be right first time if Renault wants this car to surpass the Megane and Clio and become its best-selling model.
To do that, Renault has stuck closely to its own internal success the Captur compact crossover, which has itself become a big seller. The Kadjar looks like a scaled-up Captur (albeit its relationship to the Qashqai is obvious from the rear three-quarters). Renault is hoping that the Kadjar will be seen as a sportier, more stylish alternative to the big-selling Nissan.
Mind you, it’s hedging its bets by pointing out the Kadjar’s practical nature too. A 472-litre boot with a split-level floor and split folding rear seats takes car of the luggage area while there’s 190mm of ground clearance and optional four wheel drive should your address be No.1, Goat Track Road.
For the more style conscious there are optional 19” wheels while the tech-heads will be pleased with optional full LED headlights (LED daytime lights are standard) and the new R-Link infotainment system that features voice control and an app store. There’s also a seven-inch TFT digital screen in place of traditonal instruments.
Sales will start this summer follwing a global debut at the upcoming Geneva motor show.
