This is how the Renault Kadjar comes out of the 100,000 kilometer test of AutoBild

These 6 things stood out after a 100,000 kilometer test:

1. The seats show clearly visible signs of use. The leather-look upholstery shows cracks on the driver’s side, the driver’s seat makes creaking noises and moves back and forth.
2. The valve operation is robust. The timing chain is barely stretched and the sprockets, slide rails and camshafts all show no special features.
3. The gearbox shows no measurable wear. There are visible signs of wear on the double clutch, but it can all still go through fine. While driving, the clutch kit sometimes made a grumpy impression.
4. The hollow spaces are well preserved, there is no visible rust in the sills and the side members. Beginning corrosion can be observed at the ends of the crash box.
5. The materials in the interior started to look worn after a short time. The ravages of time clearly took hold on the carpet, fabrics and numerous surfaces.
6. The crankshaft, like the pistons and cylinders, shows only minuscule signs of wear. All bearing shells still look very good after the endurance test.

In photo 1 you can see all the parts next to the body.

AutoBild drove 100,000 kilometers with Renault Kadjar TCE 160. That is the 1.3 four-cylinder turbo that Mercedes-Benz and Nissan also use.

Doubts about Kadjar at the beginning

AutoBild received the keys to a Renault Kadjar TCe 160 in May 2019. Initially, skepticism predominated. Did the compact SUV have enough to clear Renault’s name and successfully pass the endurance test? For starters, it does look good, with its elongated lines and harmonious proportions. Among the compact SUVs, there are models that look less attractive, but that is a matter of taste. The interior also leaves a successful impression at the outset. Finally, the climate control no longer needs to be operated with the renewed R-Link control system.

The interior of the Renault Kadjar after the facelift that came in 2018.

Apple CarPlay is not convincing

Because the Apple CarPlay function keeps showing quirks over the entire test distance of 102,603 ​​km, which causes irritation, the system ultimately fails to convince. The loading times are too long, the USB recognition is poor and the operation consists of too many steps. Many colleagues, on the other hand, find the control satellite behind the wheel to be a lot more intuitive, with which you control the music playback. In an early variant, this system developed by Renault was already used in the first Espace, in the 1980s. Nice to see that the French brand has stuck to this special operating system, which many of our colleagues quickly master.

Interior has signs of wear except for floor mats

Unfortunately, the manufacturer has also stuck to the use of cheap interior materials. “You’re done with that, with such a magnetic carpet”, grumbles a colleague when he can’t get the dirt out of the carpet even with the strongest turbo vacuum cleaner. The materials also quickly look worn. After the test, the load compartment cover looks as if a mob of rodents has struck. Also the plastics at the level of the doors (blowing) and the center console (causes cracking noises and are under the scratches at the end of the test) do not meet today’s standards. The driver’s seat, which was very movable after 100,000 kilometers, does not exactly raise the quality impression. The mats succeed better in this, because after 100,000 kilometers they surprisingly look as if they are still in new condition.

Home button petulant behavior

The starting process of the Renault gives cause for complaint. “The start button requires a certain way of pressing it. If you press it too short, it won’t respond, and if you press it too long, the engine will immediately switch off,” we read in the log. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission also causes irritation time and again with its surly behavior when starting off. “In tight parking spaces you constantly wonder when the Kadjar will finally drive away,” commented one of the colleagues.

Moderate on the autobahn

Once the Renault rolls, the stiff-legged roll-off and the soft-adjusted damping throw a spanner in the works. As a result, the Kadjar comes out of the springs on long bumps in the asphalt. “You notice that the French do not often drive at speeds above 140 km/h”, concluded a colleague after a ride on the autobahn. During highway trips, the wind noise, the reciprocating bonnet and the sharply increasing consumption at high speed also stand out in a negative sense. However, if you take it easy, the Kadjar consumes less than 8 liters of petrol per 100 km (1:12.5). In any case, many drivers have praise for the 1.33 liter petrol engine. Apart from the somewhat raw engine run, the engine convinces with a good amount of torque and a linear power delivery. It is a pleasant engine for everyday practice, without allures and with enough meat on the bones.

This car is also quite a reliable companion. The Kadjar never lets its occupants down by stranding along the road. We do, however, have to go to the garage outside the scheduled maintenance for a defective cooling fan.

The engine of the Renault Kadjar can easily last another 100,000 kilometers.

When AutoBild completely disassembles the car after the test, there is hardly any visible wear. They also see practically no oil residues and there is no significant oil consumption either. The engine would be able to handle another 100,000 kilometers without any problems.

Gearbox still like new

Despite the sometimes rough character, the transmission comes across as new after the test. A look with the endoscope in the cavities shows that the sills are still free of rust, even though the protective wax has been applied somewhat unevenly. In the end, only a few small things, such as the skewed tank lid, the chafing marks left by the wheel arch trim and the rust on the tailgate hinges, cause points to be deducted.

Is the Renault Kadjar all in all a must? Yes and no. Even though the quality of the car can absolutely withstand the basics, it lacks a bit of fine grinding.

We should of course point out that an endurance test car leads a heavier life with us than a car that is pampered by a private person. However, that does not mean that most competitors after 100,000 kilometers on the inside look neater than this Renault.

In addition, the Renault Kadjar with a price of €35,570 (in 2019) is also not a bargain. However, it is a quirky Frenchman who has his own charm. The skepticism of our colleagues was therefore unjustified.

Looking for a Renault Kadjar? View the used car offer here.

Curious about user experiences with the Renault Kadjar? Here you will find the reviews.