Cajoling Kadjar

What we like:

Superb ride and build feel; frugal like any self-respecting diesel should be

What we dislike:

Engine could do with a bit more poke

Powered by a 1.5l turbodiesel – yes it’s a diesel – that puts out 110 bhp and 250 Nm which is not exactly a rocket ship but it’ll shove along nicely. An interesting thing about the way the Kadjar drives is that you’ll never really feel the turbo surge, if at all, so it actually feels more like a naturally aspirated car than you might imagine a turbodiesel would.

Power is sent through a 6-speed double clutch transmission to the front wheels, and while the car doesn’t ever feel fast it will pick up speed at quite a linear pace. For those that want something a bit more pokey and lively you’ll have to look elsewhere though, because the Kadjar is not what you might think of as lively.

What it is though is agile. Steering is light and easy to use and the car is surprisingly easy to manoeuvre through tight HDB multi-storey carparks despite its large size.

The main highlight about the way it feels on the road however is the ride quality. Immediately when you start driving the car you’ll notice it’s refined, composed and absolutely comfortable even on the roughest of roads. There’s not an inch of flex, shudder or squeak as the car handles all kinds of imperfections with ease which makes for a fantastic highway cruiser or even a trip up north.

Sure there are problems with it too. For instance the Kangoo-like clatter can be heard when you rev the car or even when you’re sat idling at the light without any music on. But that really shouldn’t be a deal breaker consider the frugality the engine will deliver and that the cabin is actually pretty well insulated otherwise.

With a solidly built feeling through the cabin and ride quality that outclasses many, you’d be silly not to give this French turbodiesel more attention.

Credits: Story and Photos by Alvan Sio