SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8
This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Most, but not all, the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.
My most recent drive is on the home page. Archived reviews and opinion pieces are in the active menu down the left side. Hover your cursor over a heading or manufacturer's name and follow the drop-down.
Posted: 24 June 2016
The numbers
Base price: R389 900
Price as tested: R422 400
Engine: 1197 cc, DOHC, 16-valve, inline four-cylinder, turbopetrol
Power: 96 kW at 5500 rpm
Torque: 205 Nm at 2000 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 10.4 seconds
Maximum speed: 189 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 8.2 l/100 km
Tank: 65 litres
Luggage: 370 – 1478 litres
Ground clearance: 200 mm
Approach and departure angles: 18 / 28 degrees
Warranty: 5 years / 150 000 km
Service plan: 5 years / 90 000 km, at 15 000 km intervals
An old Jewish tailor’s joke ran: “Don’t look at the qvality, feel the vidth!” In the case of Renault’s Kadjar crossover-sportwagon-hatch we could say: “Don’t look at its engine size, feel the power!” Its build quality is pretty sharp too.
It’s easy to forget that this mid-size SUV is pulled along by a little 1197 cc motor, because it develops a very respectable 96 kilowatts of power and 205 Nm of torque. Those numbers translate into zero to 100 km/h in a little over ten seconds and on to a most acceptable 189 km/h should you feel the need.
Most 1200 cc turbopetrols develop between 66 and 81 kW, although the similarly sized three-cylinder machine in Peugeot’s 308 GT Line matches this one for power and is actually a touch stronger torque-wise. But you must have exceptions in order to prove rules, est-ce pas?
Ford’s little one-litre turbo also comes close, at 92 kW and 170 Newton-metres, but the point is that one shouldn’t shrug off small engines; count kilowatts rather than cubic centimetres. Before long, you will simply accept that your Kadjar 1200 gets the job done, hauls its loads and won’t embarrass you in traffic. Engine size becomes immaterial.
Rather than get into a long description of models available and what goes into them, why not cross over (ouch) to our launch report because all the basics are there. Our test machine was the middle choice out of three; the 1.2 TCe Dynamique that comes standard with almost everything the range has to offer, although a few options were fitted.
These included a fixed, full length sunroof at R8000; self-parking plus rearview camera, side PDC sensors and blindspot warning for R10 000; a pair of warmed leather seats with electrical adjusters for the driver, decent under-thigh length and supportive shaping, at R12 000 and finally a gorgeous Flame Red paint job at R2500. There is only one way to avoid paying the extra for metallic finishes – buy Glacier White.
This little bundle added R32 500 to the basic price. Considering that certain manufacturers expect you to shell out almost that much for satnav (included free with Dynamique), it was probably a bargain.
Because “SUV” is in the description somewhere, and it boasts 200 mm ground clearance, we took it along the back route to Fort Nottingham from the Dargle road side. This particular stretch of provincial gravel has its fair share of washboard corrugations and embedded stones that can do uncomfortable things to one’s dental work if the car isn’t suitable. Admittedly not as squishily comfy as a Range Rover, the Kadjar nonetheless soaked up whatever was dished out and passed the test well.
Also noted: Apart from boot space and accessibility mentioned in the launch report, rear seat legroom and headspace is plentiful; storage is mostly generous although the bins in the back doors are really too small; the six-speed manual gearbox is smooth and pleasant to use; control pedals are nicely spaced and the footrest is easy to reach; air conditioning controls are neat and easy to operate and the car is a pleasure to drive.
Minor niggles are that certain functions in the infotainment and operations command centre are awkward to use. If you like to see details of music being played, you have to re-request the relevant screen every time the car is restarted. That entails digging through the main menu with half-a-dozen screen taps each time.
Another awkwardness concerns the trip computer. It, too, is only accessible via the menu and doesn’t show distance to empty. This could be a problem because fuel gauges aren’t always accurate. Apart from these little gripes, however, the Kadjar was a very pleasant and workmanlike family SUV.
The ever-practical spouse summed it up like this: She: “We’ll have one of these.” Me: “Because?” She: “It’s comfortable, goes well, feels solid and secure, has plenty of room for everything and it’s nicely made.” Can’t argue with that, can you?
Test car from Renault SA press fleet
This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.
I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material. If I ever place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with that vehicle at least once already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.
Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. As quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.
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SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8