Getting the best bang for your buck – Buying a used Renault Kadjar

 

By Chad Lückhoff

We take a look at the enigmatic Renault Kadjar and see how the various trims differ and which presents the best value for money on the used market.

With only a little more than a year on the market, the Renault Kadjar isn't a vehicle that is seen too often on our roads. This is a pity really, as the compact SUV is rather well equipped and a wonderful drive.

Released in April 2016 and last registered in January 2018, the Renault Kadjar only offered up 23 listings when checking autotrader.co.za. Renault has been rumoured to be replacing the Kadjar with the new Koleos, but should your budget not allow a brand new vehicle, a Kadjar may be worth checking out.

Three engine choices await you, either a 1.2-litre turbo petrol making 96 kW (review here), a 1.5-litre 81 kW turbodiesel or the range-topping 1.6-litre turbodiesel that produces 96 kW. Not all engines were available in all trim models, with the Expression models making do with the 1.2-litre petrol engine only.

Two trims were made available with a limited edition model introduced briefly. Expression was the entry point in the Kadjar range with the more popular Dynamique serving as the higher-spec variant.

Expression.

Kicking off the range is the Expression model, powered by the aforementioned 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.

It was fitted with:

• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Emergency Brake Distribution (EBD)
• Emergency Braking Assistance (EBA)
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
• Anti-Skid Regulation (ASR)
• Electronic Parking Brake
• Cruise control
• ECO Mode
• Manual air con
• Remote central locking
• Front & rear electric windows
• Body coloured door handles & mirrors
• 16” steel wheels plus covers
• Height adjustable driver’s seat
• Tyre pressure sensors; rear parking sensors
• Driver, passenger, side & curtain air bags
• ISOFIX 3-point safety belts for rear seats
• Gearshift indicator
• 3-button retractable key
• Colour 7” LED cluster
• Height and depth steering
• Split rear seats
• MP3 CD player; Hands-free Bluetooth®
• 1 x USB plug and AUX
• Spare wheel

Optional extras:

• 17” alloys
• Cornering fog lights

Dynamique.

The Dynamique model variant offered the option of a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic, a 1.5-litre turbodiesel with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic and the range-topping 1.6-litre turbodiesel with a 6-speed manual and sending drive to all four wheels.

It was trimmed the same as the Expression models but added the following features:

• Roof rails (satin chrome)
• 17” alloys (black and aluminium)
• Full LED headlights
• Colour-coded electrically adjustable foldable door mirrors
• Chrome stripping on door protectors
• Fog lights (cornering functionality)
• Extra tinted rear windows
• 7” Touchscreen infotainment system
• Navigation with Southern African maps
• Leather steering wheel & gear knob
• Automatic dual-zone climate control
• Light & rain sensors
• Hands-free Renault key card
• Park distance control (front & rear)
• 2 x USB plug and AUX

 Optional extras included:

• 19” Alloys
• Panoramic fixed sunroof
• Leather seats - electric (driver) + heated front
• Self-Park System with Rear Camera / Side Park Distance Control / Blindspot warning.

Our pick:

We would shop for a 2016 Dynamique 96 kW 1.6 dCi 4x4 . These still have relatively low mileage and offer a full-house of equipment, with the added benefit of all-wheel drive for extra go-anywhere capabilities.

These were under R300 000 at the time of writing this article.