Used Renault Kadjar cars for sale

Used Renault Kadjar pros and cons

Is a second-hand Renault Kadjar a good car?

The Renault Kadjar is a medium-sized family SUV that, thanks to Renault and Nissan being long-standing partners, is actually the same under the skin as a Nissan Qashqai.

The imposing nature of the exterior didn’t quite make it through to the cabin. While the inside of the Kadjar looks distinctively different to that of the Qashqai, it’s also a rather less successful design. The dash wraps around the driver’s seat in an interesting way, but the materials and plastics used just don’t look nor feel solid enough. Go for a Kia Sportage instead, if you want a high-quality cabin. Or a VW Tiguan, for that matter.

The back seats are very roomy — subjectively it feels more spacious in the back of a Kadjar than in a Qashqai, but the real differences are tiny — and there’s enough room for three adults in the back. There aren’t any clever sliding back seats like you get in a Skoda Karoq, but the boot is roomy — 472 litres — and has a nice flat floor so it’s easy to get big, heavy items in.

The Kadjar is smooth and comfortable, although it doesn’t ride quite as smoothly as a Nissan Qashqai. It’s smoother than Kia or Hyundai options too, but it’s not as good through the corners as a Tiguan.

What to look for when buying a used Renault Kadjar

There are quite a few issues with the Kadjar. The most common are problems with the central locking related to the ‘keycard’ key that comes with all Kadjars. This often fails, and can be expensive to replace. Ignition issues — including one where the engine won’t switch off — are common, while engine overheating problems aren’t unknown. The infotainment system is glitchy and often drops DAB radio reception altogether, while cabin rattles and loose trim are also common. 

The Kadjar didn’t make it into the most recent Driver Power Top 50 Cars To Own list, but Renault itself finished in a poor 28th position out of 32 brands, with 24% of owners reporting faults with their cars.