Renault Kadjar (KAD) — complete buyer's guide

Compact family SUV introduced in 2015 as a sister model to the Nissan Qashqai (shared platform and many components). Built on the CMF platform. Available as a five-door SUV with front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive on certain diesel versions. The 2018 facelift brought revised styling (new lights, grille and bumpers), the 1.3 TCe petrol engines in place of the 1.2 TCe, updated diesels and interior changes. Production ended in 2022 when the Austral replaced it. Produced mainly in Spain.

Length approximately 4,449 mm (pre-facelift) to 4,489 mm (facelift); width around 1,836–1,840 mm (excluding mirrors); height around 1,600–1,617 mm; wheelbase 2,646 mm. Boot volume is about 472–527 litres, expanding to roughly 1,478 litres with the seats folded. Fuel tank capacity is 55 litres (65 litres on some early AWD diesel versions). Ground clearance is around 200 mm. Front and rear space is good for the class; the boot is one of the more usable in the segment. Easy Break levers allow the rear seats to be folded from the boot.

• 1.2 TCe (H5Ft): well-documented excessive oil consumption (often over 1 L/1,000 km) that can lead to engine damage or failure, especially on 2015–2017 cars. Timing-chain wear and cold-start rattle are also common. Avoid if service history is incomplete or oil consumption is not documented as low.
• 1.3 TCe: more reliable overall. Thermostat housing leaks, carbon build-up on intake valves with short-trip use, and occasional camshaft phaser or high-pressure fuel pump issues reported on earlier examples.
• Diesels: generally solid. Occasional turbo, injector or DPF issues on high-mileage urban cars; AdBlue system faults on later Blue dCi versions.
• EDC dual-clutch: low-speed judder, hesitation and rough shifts, especially on early cars and in town use. Clutch wear is accelerated by frequent stop-start driving.
• R-Link / R-Link 2 infotainment: freezes, slow response or connectivity issues (often improved by software updates).
• Brake disc corrosion and premature wear, particularly on cars used for short trips.
• 12-volt battery drain linked to the stop-start system on some examples.
• Suspension bush and control arm wear at higher mileage (clunks over bumps).

• Full service history, including regular oil changes (especially critical on the 1.2 TCe).
• Oil level and any evidence of high consumption or blue smoke on the 1.2 TCe.
• Cold-start engine noise and any power loss under load.
• Transmission behaviour from cold and in low-speed traffic (smooth engagement on EDC).
• Infotainment system function and software version.
• Coolant level and thermostat housing condition on the 1.3 TCe.
• DPF regeneration history and AdBlue system on diesels.
• Brake disc condition and any uneven wear.
• 12-volt battery condition.
• Suspension noises and tyre wear.
• Confirmation that any software or technical campaigns have been completed (check by VIN).

Typical fuel consumption is 4.0–6.5 L/100 km depending on engine and driving style; diesels are the most economical for higher-mileage use. Maintenance costs are moderate for the class. Post-2018 examples are Euro 6d and unrestricted in Belgian low-emission zones. Earlier diesels may face restrictions depending on local rules.

The Kadjar is a common compact SUV in the Belgian used market. The 1.5 dCi / Blue dCi and post-facelift 1.3 TCe dominate listings. It competes with the Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008 and Volkswagen Tiguan of the same era. Clean, low-mileage cars with full history remain easy to sell. Pre-facelift 1.2 TCe examples carry significant risk if service records are incomplete. The practical boot and straightforward mechanical layout help residual values relative to more complex rivals.