Exterior Following Renault's Design Language

The Renault "Kadjar," a C-segment SUV, debuted at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Its platform uses the Renault-Nissan Alliance's CMF, shared with the Nissan Qashqai and others.

The model introduced in Japan is front-wheel drive, powered by a 1.2-liter direct-injection turbo engine, producing a maximum output of 131 ps and a maximum torque of 205 Nm. With an overboost function, torque is increased in the low-speed range of 2nd and 3rd gears, offering acceleration comparable to a 2-liter class engine.

The transmission is a dual-clutch 7-speed electronic automatic (7EDC). Evolved from the previous 6-speed to 7-speed, and with the clutch changed from dry to wet type, it offers smoother gear changes and torque transfer.

The exterior design was developed with the aim of faithfully translating design sketches into a real vehicle. Unlike conventional SUVs that focus on straight lines, it is composed of many curves, expressing the muscular strength of an athlete. At the same time, it shares similarities with the curves around the doors of models like the Clio.

Furthermore, the front face follows the motif of recent Renault designs, but by extending the chrome elements to connect with the LED headlights, it creates a wider appearance, emphasizing stability.

The interior is designed with a focus on straight lines and improved quality. Specifically, soft pads are used for the sides and door trims. The instrument cluster features a full-color TFT display, offering 5 color options (red, blue, brown, green, purple) and 4 display layouts.

The center console is equipped with a 7-inch multifunction touchscreen. Through "Renault R-Link2," it manages multimedia functions such as radio, Bluetooth, and playback via USB/AUX, as well as vehicle settings for driving assistance systems. It also displays smartphone screens via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, allowing direct operation of the smartphone from the touchscreen. The operation is said to be very smooth, similar to an iPad.

The Kadjar Excels on Long-Distance Vacations

While the Kadjar's ride height is 10 cm lower than the Renault Koleos, it offers nearly the same interior space, with 905 mm for the front seats and 910 mm for the rear seats. The interior width is said to be the largest in its segment.

The seats use urethane with varying elasticity depending on the area. The backrest and lumbar support are particularly strong, with moderate side support, contributing to a comfortable ride. "These seats are designed for driving non-stop for 3 to 4 hours without issue, for both front and rear passengers. This contributes to the Kadjar's concept of 'Active Vacances,'" says Frédérick Brien, Marketing Department Manager at Renault Japon, emphasizing the ride comfort.

The trunk capacity is 527 liters. The 6:4 split-folding rear seats can be folded individually by pulling handles on either side of the luggage area. The luggage compartment is equipped with two luggage boards, front and rear, at the same height as the opening.

Normally, the luggage area is divided into two levels (Easy Folding function). When the rear seats are folded in this state, it becomes a fully flat luggage space (Flat Mode). From there, by placing the two luggage boards on the luggage floor and folding the rear seats, the luggage capacity expands to 1,478 liters (Maximum Load Mode). Furthermore, with the rear seats upright, if one of the two luggage boards is placed on the luggage floor and the other is placed vertically in the center of the luggage area, the luggage can be divided into front and rear sections.

Equipped with Driving Assistance Systems

The Kadjar now features driving assistance systems for the first time. The systems introduced in Japan are the same as those in the European model.

One is the Emergency Brake Support. It operates between 30 km/h and 140 km/h, without a full stop function. In case of an emergency, it alerts the driver via warning lights and buzzers to take evasive action, and finally applies the brakes for up to 2 seconds to mitigate collision damage.

Lane Departure Warning operates above 70 km/h. Primarily on highways, if the vehicle drifts towards the right lane, a warning sound will emit from the right speaker, and if drifting towards the left lane, it will sound from the left speaker, alerting the driver.

Blind Spot Warning operates above 30 km/h. An orange light on the door mirror illuminates to indicate a vehicle in the blind spot. If the turn signal is activated, the light will flash to warn the driver.

Easy Park Assist uses 12 ultrasonic sensors to detect parking spaces. The driver only needs to operate the accelerator, brake, and shift, while the car handles the steering for semi-automatic parallel or perpendicular parking.

Additionally, it is equipped with Auto High-Low Beam, which automatically switches between high and low beams by detecting oncoming or preceding vehicles with camera sensors.

The "BOSE sound system" included in this limited edition model is specifically designed for the Kadjar, reproducing an acoustic space like a concert hall with 9 high-performance speakers.

Why the January Launch Was Moved Up

The concept of the Kadjar is "For your life, Active Vacances."

"French holidays are quite long, during which we enjoy active lives. The distance from Paris to the Mediterranean is about 1,000 km, and to the Alps about 500 km, so family travel is mainly by car. The Kadjar is perfect for such journeys. Families go to the sea or mountains, enjoy various activities to their fullest, and spend their holidays," he commented, stating that the Kadjar demonstrates its capabilities in all these aspects.

Renault Japon's sales performance is currently strong, with sales figures by September already exceeding last year's total annual sales (5,303 units, according to JAIA). This is attributed to the hit model Twingo, as well as the significant expansion of the sales network.

Mr. Tsukasa Ohgoku, President of Renault Japon, stated, "We have achieved steady growth in the A-segment (Twingo) and B-segment (Clio, Captur), but in the C-segment, which is one level higher, the Megane has already ended production and we are awaiting a new model. This means our C-segment offerings, which are mainstream for an importer, are currently limited."

Therefore, "Although the original development and production plan was for sales in January next year, we engaged in rigorous negotiations with the French side because we wanted Japanese customers to experience Renault's C-segment SUV earlier. As a result, we were able to have just 100 units specially produced for Japan," he explained, sharing his thoughts on this model. He added, "From here, we will introduce various new models in the C-segment and target the mainstream market as an importer."

Renault Kadjar Bose
Body Dimensions | Length 4,455 x Width 1,835 x Height 1,610 mm
Wheelbase | 2,465 mm
Tread Front/Rear | 1,560 / 1,560 mm
Vehicle Weight | 1,420 kg
Engine | 1,197cc Inline 4-cylinder DOHC Turbo
Bore x Stroke | 72.2 x 73.1
Compression Ratio | 9.5
Max Output | 96 kW (131 ps) / 5,500 rpm
Max Torque | 205 Nm (20.9 kgm) / 2,000 rpm
Transmission | 7-speed AT (7EDC)
Drivetrain | FF
Suspension Front/Rear | MacPherson / Torsion Beam
Tires | 225/45R19
Minimum Turning Radius | 5.6 meters
Minimum Ground Clearance | 200 mm
Limited Units | 100
Price | 3.44 million yen