Renault Kadjar review

Overview

The pre-facelift Kadjar is a practical family SUV rather than a sporting vehicle, and the 2017 dCi 110 Dynamique Nav manual is a coherent way to buy that brief. It pairs a modest 1.5-litre diesel with a six-speed manual and front-wheel drive. Later 1.3-litre petrol engines, Blue dCi updates and EDC automatic figures are not included here. RoadMatch's conclusions are original research-based judgement, not a personal road test. The consulted assessments support its accommodation and everyday usability more strongly than its excitement or cabin modernity. A household doing regular longer trips can find useful value, provided the actual car's servicing, early multimedia functions and optional parking equipment are checked rather than assumed.

Exterior and interior

The Kadjar's height and curved body panels create a familiar SUV stance without requiring the footprint of a very large seven-seater. Dynamique Nav's 17-inch wheels are a sensible starting point for a comfort-led purchase, not a compromise to fix with larger replacements. Inside, the controls and display should be tried from your normal seat position. Inspect the steering rim, seat bolsters and rear-door trim for wear inconsistent with the claimed mileage. Check roof and door seals, particularly where previous repairs or accessory installations are visible. The cabin's relatively restrained design may suit some buyers more than a screen-heavy alternative. A tidy presentation should still be backed by dry carpets, working switches and a clear history of care.

Practicality

Renault's period guide quotes 472 litres using the VDA method with a tyre-inflation kit. Its 527-litre water-volume number is a different measurement convention, not extra space created by another trim badge. Check the actual luggage floor and any spare-wheel installation, then try your usual family equipment beneath the cover. Rear occupants should sit behind the driver's normal position and test foot space and door access. This is a five-seat car, so occasional extra passengers beyond that require another solution. The folding mechanisms and optional compartmentalised floor deserve direct inspection. Child-seat combinations must be tried according to both manuals; reasonable overall cabin space does not automatically make every three-restraint installation safe or achievable.

Driving experience

The Kadjar's research-led appeal is a raised driving position and a comfortable everyday route rather than unusually vivid steering feedback. Independent reviews differ over its refinement relative to related rivals, but they broadly support a practical family role. Our interpretation is to use a personal demonstration to resolve those differences on the roads you actually drive. Include an uneven urban stretch and a sustained faster section. Listen to tyre noise and check whether passengers find the ride settled. The manual should select cleanly and the clutch should not make slow manoeuvres difficult. Pulling, vibration or knocks are maintenance questions, not traits to accept simply because reviews describe the vehicle as ordinary to drive.

Performance

The 1,461 cc diesel produces 110 PS, approximately 108 mechanical bhp, and Renault's manual specification gives 11.9 seconds from zero to 62 mph. The EDC version has different torque and sprint figures, and the stronger dCi 130 is another derivative entirely. This output favours steady family use rather than hurried overtaking, especially when passengers and luggage are added. Check warm response through normal traffic speeds and ensure the engine does not hesitate or illuminate warning lights under ordinary load. The clutch should hold without revs rising independently of speed. A seller's remap claim is not a useful substitute for maintenance evidence. Predictable standard performance and an appropriate driving style suit this comfort-and-economy version more than pursuing unverified extra output.

Fuel economy

The 74.3 mpg combined headline is the old NEDC result for the 16/17-inch dCi 110 manual configuration. Renault's larger-wheel column differs, and neither number is a guaranteed real-world outcome. We assume 52 mpg in the annual ownership plan as an explicit editorial scenario, not an extracted owner average. A diesel SUV should regularly complete warm longer journeys for its economic case to be convincing. Repeated cold school runs, heavy traffic and roof-mounted luggage can materially change consumption. Compare likely fuel savings with the cost of servicing and exhaust-filter care. If your annual mileage is mostly brief local trips, a different fuel type may make better sense even if it has a less impressive official comparison number.

Reliability

The score and moderate confidence are original used-car judgement, not a measured failure rate. The most useful evidence is a complete invoice trail showing servicing and scheduled timing-drive work for the precise engine. Ask Renault or an appropriate specialist to establish the VIN-based requirements instead of relying on a general interval found online. Investigate previous diesel exhaust-filter repairs, warning resets or difficult starting before making a non-refundable commitment. The clutch, parking brake and multimedia system also deserve repeated checks after warming. A maintained example can make more sense than a cheaper car with little paperwork, but no history removes all future uncertainty. Retain financial headroom for wear and unexpected repairs rather than spending the entire budget on acquisition.

Safety

The exact historical generation reference is Euro NCAP's 2015 Kadjar record, linked here without protected ratings, scores or imagery. That context should not be treated as a modern-protocol comparison or proof that every assistance feature is fitted. The Dynamique Nav specification does not inherit optional automatic-braking packages from richer trims merely because broad promotional material lists them. Check the build record and any assistance warnings directly. Inspect tyres, seatbelts and evidence of previous accident repairs, and use the correct manuals for child restraints. GOV.UK provides the registration recall-check procedure; Renault's VIN-specific completion history is necessary to verify remedial work. A valid MOT establishes neither full campaign clearance nor every aspect of structural condition.

Technology and features

Early R-Link navigation and Bluetooth can be useful, but their branding should not be confused with the latest smartphone interface. Connect your own handset and check calls, audio, navigation and USB access. Conventional cruise is established in the period range, and front/rear parking sensors are conditional because the Dynamique Nav options table lists them separately. A camera or heated-seat claim from a richer specification must not be silently applied to this trim. Test both keys, the electronic parking brake and automatic climate controls. Determine whether navigation subscriptions or maps remain useful to you. The purpose of the technology check is everyday usability, not awarding the car modern features because the screen still looks familiar in photographs.

Running costs

The £6,500–£10,500 purchase band is RoadMatch's dated 3 October 2026 editorial planning estimate, not a live valuation. Fuel at 8,000 miles, assumed 52 mpg and diesel costing £1.55 per litre comes to approximately £1,084 using 4.54609 litres per imperial gallon. With a rounded £200 tax allowance and £600–£1,100 for routine servicing, MOT and tyre wear, the annual scenario is roughly £1,900–£2,400. Confirm actual tax by registration and obtain insurance quotations for your circumstances; no commercial group value is reproduced. Depreciation, finance and major repairs are excluded. A timing-belt service due soon or a diagnosed exhaust-filter problem belongs in a separate acquisition budget. Sensible 17-inch tyres help the routine brief, but they cannot compensate for deferred maintenance elsewhere.

Advantages and disadvantages