Renault Kadjar vs Jeep Renegade
What's the difference?

Renault Kadjar

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2021 price

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Jeep Renegade

$6,999 - $15,990

2016 price

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Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mini Countryman

Mitsubishi ASX

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Summary

2021 Renault Kadjar

2016 Jeep Renegade

By Laura Berry

By Peter Anderson

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 1.3L

Inline 4, 2.4L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

6.3L/100km (combined)

7.5L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Cool styling inside and out
Bose stereo
Leather seats

Tonka tough
Lots of standard inclusions
Looks the part

Dislikes

Jerky dual-clutch auto at low speeds
Falling behind in advanced safety tech
Pricey

Iffy entertainment software
Naff interior
Vague steering

2021 Renault Kadjar Summary

Don’t let people talk you into buying a tiny car just because you live in the city. That’s what I’ve learnt from being a car reviewer and living about eight kilometres from the CBD.

Yes, car spaces are small, or almost non existent, but the people that live there are as full-sized as people elsewhere and they often carry around just as much gear. What you need is a big, little car and the Renault Kadjar is that – a small SUV which is actually bigger than most.

The Kadjar is also French, and that’s appealing to us city folk because even though there are millions of us living in one square metre we like to think of ourselves as different, as individuals, cosmopolitan, metropolitan.

So the Kadjar looks perfect then, right?

Well, it’s good yes… in some ways, but after reading this you might prefer its Japanese cousin, the Nissan Qashqai. Let me explain...

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2016 Jeep Renegade Summary

Jeep's Renegade might be late to the mini-SUV party but it comes with a pretty impressive back catalogue to suggest that this is a SUV that can cash the cheques its name can write.

The top of the range Trailhawk can write even bigger cheques than the lower models, bringing with it a range of off-road tech toys to let you really get down and dirty.

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Deep dive comparison

2021 Renault Kadjar 2016 Jeep Renegade

Verdict

The Renault Kadjar Intens ticks a lot of the urban boxes. It’s small, which is good for navigating narrow city streets and parking in tight spaces, but it’s also spacious and practical. The Kadjar is fuel efficient for a four-cylinder petrol engine and it has that sophisticated French styling.

The Intens is expensive, though, and unless you absolutely have to have leather seats, a glass roof, and the Bose stereo I’d go for the mid-range Zen grade and save yourself $5K but still have all the same safety tech. That said the Intens has auto parking as standard which is a nice convenience for the city.

Safety could be better. The AEB system doesn’t have pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross traffic alert, or reverse emergency braking.

Finally, the dual-clutch automatic and 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine while a fuel efficient combination, isn’t all that easy to live with and can make driving a less-than-smooth experience. The Nissan Qashqai’s combination of CVT auto and four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine is better suited to the urban jungle - something to think about there.

Now the scores, the Kadjar Intens gets the same mark for daily driving and its urban talents – it could be smoother to drive, but there’s still lots to like.

Verdict

Rugged, dependable and good off-road are the most obvious qualities of the Trailhawk. It stands out from the rest of the mini-SUVs by being able to do the S and the U with plenty of vigour.

It's just a shame that its on-road manners can't match that of its big brother, the Cherokee. Unless you're planning on proper off-roading, the Trailhawk might not be quite what you're looking for.

Renault Kadjar vs Jeep Renegade What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Renault Kadjar vs Jeep Renegade
What's the difference?