The second-generation Nissan Qashqai is popular for many reasons, notably comfort, economy and build quality. However, what if you would like all these benefits, but you don’t want to follow the crowd? Well, there’s just the thing in the shape of the Renault Kadjar (2015-2022).
A Kadjar shares a great deal of its running gear with its Japanese sister car. So is it a case of ‘same difference’ when you’re looking at the best used car for towing a caravan market? Not quite.
What’s a used Renault Kadjar like inside?
There is masses of space inside, something that is likely to be an important factor whether you’re buying a new or used car. Even if you’re tall, you’ll have no problem finding an ideal driving position – and that applies even if the car you’re looking at has the optional panoramic glass roof (these usually steal vital headroom).
Quite often, a tall driver means that somebody sitting behind them would struggle for a bit of legroom, but not here. There’s space for a six-footer to sit behind someone of similar height, and the cabin is easily wide enough for three people to sit in comparative comfort.
If there’s a ‘but’, it’s that the central transmission tunnel (which is needed for the four-wheel-drive versions) reduces the amount of foot space for a middle passenger occupying the rear seat.
Still, the doors open extra wide, to allow easy access to the rear, which is a boon if you need to install a child seat.
People who buy tow cars tend to need a fair amount of boot space for all of their essential caravan accessories, in which case the Renault Kadjar makes a fine choice. It has 472 litres on offer when the rear seats are raised, which is 42 litres more than the Qashqai can provide.
The Renault also has a false boot floor, allowing you to stash valuable items out of sight.
If you need to fold down the rear seats, a tug on levers at either side of the load bay does the trick, and increases the load space to 1478 litres.
All models feature cruise control, DAB radio and some form of air conditioning, but going for one of the higher trims brings a larger touchscreen, lane-departure warning and partial leather trim. Add in a pair of the best towing mirrors and you’ll be well on your way to a safe and enjoyable experience on the road.
How does a used Renault Kadjar drive?
If you were never going to use your Renault Kadjar as a tow car, then the 1.5-litre diesel, front-wheel-drive model would be a fine choice. It’s very quiet, smooth and economical.
However, if you’re choosing a used car for towing, you will be better off going for the more powerful 128bhp 1.6-litre diesel, which became an even better 1.7dCi after the 2018 facelift. These are the only engines that come with four-wheel drive.
Whichever Kadjar you end up with, you’ll have a car that likes to keep the outside world out, so wind, road and engine noise are all pretty subdued. It also handles very neatly, although calling it fun is a stretch.
It’s comfortable when driven on motorways, although sharp bumps in town can catch out the suspension, crashing rather rudely into your day. As for towing, the Kadjar watchword is ‘stable’, always a trait we look for in the best caravan tow cars. It isn’t affected by crosswinds or when passing large vehicles, and you’ll never get a sense of the tail wagging the dog. The brakes could do with being a touch more powerful, though.
What to pay for a used Renault Kadjar
- High: price: £20,700; model: 1.3 TCe Techno; year: 2022 miles: 5600
- Sweet spot: price: £12,000; model: 1.6dCi Signature S Nav; year: 2019; miles: 33,000
- Low: price: £3500; model: 1.5dCi Dynamique; year: 2015 miles: 150,000
What will a Renault Kadjar tow?
As always, taking care when you’re matching a car to a caravan to achieve a sensible match will ensure you stay safe and legal on the road. In the case of a used Renault Kadjar, it has the following spec:
- Kerbweight: 1536kg
- Towing limit: 1800kg
- Towball limit: 75kg
- 85% match: 1305kg
Running costs
- Insurance group: 19
- Annual VED: £190
- Average economy: 57.6mpg
- Service: £208
Servicing price supplied by Servicing Stop, 0844 324 5262, servicingstop.co.uk
Trouble spots
Early on, 10,613 cars were recalled because of side airbags that could fail to go off in the event of a side impact. Then, child locks caused 45,023 cars to return to dealers. Faulty curtain airbags were the cause of a recall of 610 Kadjars, and incorrect NOx emissions forced another recall of a very small number of cars. A full list of recalls can be found at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk
Verdict
The Renault Kadjar may share underpinnings with the Nissan Qashqai, but it arguably puts everything to better use.
The Renault drives similarly and is thrifty on fuel, but offers more interior space than its sister car, and is well equipped. Later models will have some of Renault’s five-year/100,000-mile warranty remaining.
If 2025 will be your first year of caravanning, don’t miss David Motton’s advice on the 6 things I wish I’d known when I first started towing.
Alternatives to consider
Used Škoda Karoq (2017-)
The Škoda Karoq has always been a fine example of the brand’s ‘Simply Clever’ thinking, because it just goes about doing all of the stuff people need on a daily basis, and doing it well. It blends neat handling with a comfortable ride, it has plenty of interior space, and it has rear seats that can be removed if necessary. Its electric parking brake makes hill starts a doddle when towing.
Volkswagen Tiguan (2018-)
The second-generation Tiguan represented quite a step up from its predecessor. It was bigger, which translated into much greater interior space. The rear seats slide to vary the legroom as needed. If you can find one, a car with adaptive suspension rides much better than the standard model. Choosing a car with the slick-shifting DSG automatic gearbox will take the stress out of towing.
Kia Sportage (2016-2021)
Back in 2016, the then-new Sportage showed Kia’s mojo was entirely present and correct. It looked great outside and in, and had an interior that was full of the sort of kit that just makes life easier. It remains a great tow car, because its torquey engines make light work of moving a tourer, and it’s utterly unfazed by side winds. It’s just a shame the larger wheels of higher trims spoil the ride quality.
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