Renault Kadjar SUV - Engines, drive & performance (2015-2022)

The engines that made up the Renault Kadjar’s range were borrowed from the Nissan Qashqai, which uses a lot of the same mechanical parts. A 148bhp diesel with four-wheel drive was available from 2018 onwards, but later versions weren’t offered with either a diesel engine or four-wheel drive.

The Renault is, however, very good to drive on the road. The steering is precise and the Kadjar turns into corners well. There’s a lot of grip on offer and, for a tall-riding SUV, the Kadjar does a good job of keeping body lean at bay.

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Petrol models

All engines are smooth, and the 138bhp TCe 140 1.3-litre petrol is quite punchy given its small size, but it's powerful enough to make quick progress around town and on motorways. The petrol unit is also fairly quiet at lower speeds, but can become more vocal if you work it hard to get up to speed. It can feel a little strained at times when overtaking, despite its 0-62mph time of 9.8 seconds looking quick on paper.