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Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Renault Kadjar I: the buying guide

SUV · 2015–2022 · Petrol, Diesel

✓ 31 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Buy with care
Reliability
3.0/5
Estimated monthly cost
€406/month
Indicative prices
€9,240 – €17,544

3 known faults

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Renault Kadjar I, front three-quarter view

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Buy with care

Compact SUV rated 5 stars by Euro NCAP in 2015, with a 472 L boot. The launch 1.2 TCe 130 is the engine to avoid (oil consumption that can lead to engine failure); Car Verif judges the facelift's 1.3 TCe 140 far more convincing. Test the EDC gearbox carefully.

Reliability
3.0/5
Indicative prices
€9,240 – €17,544
Monthly cost
€406
Euro NCAP
5/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: 1.3 TCe 140, 1.5 Blue dCi 115.

  • 1.2 TCe 130

    Petrol · Manual · 130 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.2 turbo (1,197 cm³) at launch, sold from 2015 to 2018, also offered with the 7-speed EDC gearbox. Engine exposed to oil consumption.

    Engine: Renault-Nissan 1.2 TCe / DIG-T (H5Ft, HRA2DDT)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 1.5 dCi 110

    Diesel · Manual · 110 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 dCi at launch, with a manual or EDC dual-clutch gearbox, the only automatic gearbox offered at launch.

    Engine: Renault 1.5 dCi / Blue dCi (K9K)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 1.6 dCi 130

    Diesel · Manual · 130 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.6 dCi with 320 Nm, manual gearbox, sold until the facelift.

    Engine: Renault-Nissan 1.6 dCi (R9M)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • 1.6 dCi 130 4x4

    Diesel · Manual · 130 hp · Crit'Air 2

    The same 1.6 dCi with all-wheel drive: the only 4x4 version of the Kadjar before the facelift.

    Engine: Renault-Nissan 1.6 dCi (R9M)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • 1.3 TCe 140

    ✓ Recommended

    Petrol · Manual · 140 hp · 6.2 L/100 km · 141 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1

    1.3 TCe from the 2018 facelift, with a manual or EDC gearbox. Car Verif judges it far more convincing than the former 1.2 TCe.

    Engine: Renault-Nissan-Mercedes 1.3 TCe / DIG-T (H5Ht, HR13DDT, M282)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice

  • 1.3 TCe 160

    Petrol · Manual · 160 hp · Crit'Air 1

    The most powerful 1.3 TCe of the facelift, with a manual or EDC gearbox, reserved for the upper trim levels.

    Engine: Renault-Nissan-Mercedes 1.3 TCe / DIG-T (H5Ht, HR13DDT, M282)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice

  • 1.5 Blue dCi 115

    ✓ Recommended

    Diesel · Manual · 115 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 Blue dCi from the facelift, 5 hp more than the former dCi 110; first with a manual gearbox, then with a 7-speed EDC.

    Engine: Renault 1.5 dCi / Blue dCi (K9K)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

Market prices

€9,240 – €17,544

Indicative range: 2015 to 2022, yearly medians of 499 online listings collected by AutoUncle (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

Oil consumption and 1.2 TCe 130 engine failure

Severity 3/3 · Serious

The 1.2 TCe (H5Ft) is prone to oil consumption that can lead to engine failure, according to Que Choisir; this engine was replaced at the end of 2018 by the 1.3 TCe. Car Verif reports, based on Caradisiac, engine failures sometimes before 30,000 km on the Kadjar. Kadjar owners describe repeated oil top-ups, a cracked cylinder at 29,000 km, or an engine replacement partly covered by Renault. Coverage depends on documented maintenance.

Versions
1.2 TCe 130
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

EDC gearbox: jerking and hesitant gear changes

Severity 2/3 · Costly

Car Verif reports noises, cold slipping and refusals to change gear with the Kadjar's EDC gearbox. Owners of the 1.5 dCi 110 EDC describe jerking, the gearbox going into neutral at low speed or lack of responsiveness; on a Blue dCi 115 EDC7, random jerks between 1st and 3rd gear appeared at around 70,000 km.

Versions
1.2 TCe 130, 1.5 dCi 110, 1.3 TCe 140, 1.3 TCe 160, 1.5 Blue dCi 115
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

1.3 TCe: power loss linked to the camshaft phaser

Severity 2/3 · Costly

Car Verif advises checking the 1.3 TCe 140 for lack of power linked to camshaft lubrication. On the Planète Renault forum, cases of a faulty camshaft phaser control valve are described on the 1.3 TCe (Kadjar, Mégane, Scénic, Talisman): loss of power and the injection warning light, with updates carried out during servicing on engines built before October 2019.

Versions
1.3 TCe 140, 1.3 TCe 160
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Renault Kadjar”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€153
Insurance€79
Maintenance€29
Depreciation€145
Total per month€406

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Fuel (petrol)€153

1.3 TCe 140 version: combined consumption of 6.2 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.

6.2 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €153

Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.

Insurance€79

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€29

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€145

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • 1.2 TCe 130: check the oil level, make sure there is no top-up can in the car, and ask for the maintenance invoices (essential for any Renault goodwill coverage).
  • EDC gearbox: test it cold and check for noises, slipping, jerks or refusals to change gear.
  • EDC gearbox on a Kadjar built before 9 May 2018: check that the selector knob is not cracked; Renault replaces it on request.
  • 1.3 TCe: have the fault codes read and check for lack of power or the injection warning light.
  • Diesel: check that the car has not been driven only in town, which is unfavourable to the particulate filter according to Car Verif.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Do you have the service book and all the maintenance invoices, including updates carried out at the dealership?
  • How much oil does the car consume between two oil changes? Have the engine or gearbox been repaired or replaced?
  • Has the EDC gearbox ever shown jerking or a warning message, and has the selector knob been changed?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nissan Qashqai

II · 2014–2021

Buy with care
Price
€9,000 – €18,490
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Peugeot 3008

II · 2016–2023

Buy with care
Price
€7,980 – €17,294
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Renault Austral

I · since 2022

Buy with care
Price
€25,300 – €31,500
Reliability
3.5/5
Fuel types
Hybrid

Photo: (G)jabz, CC BY 4.0

Dacia Duster

II · 2018–2024

Buy with care
Price
€11,700 – €20,500
Reliability
not rated
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Renault Kadjar I (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Renault Kadjar reliable?

It depends on the engine. Car Verif gives the 1.2 TCe 130 a "GO under conditions" (6.5/10) because of oil consumption and reported engine failures, and warns against the EDC gearbox. The 1.3 TCe 140 from the facelift scores 6.8/10 with Car Verif.

Which engine should I choose on a used Kadjar?

For petrol, the 1.3 TCe 140 introduced with the 2018 facelift, judged by Car Verif to be far more convincing than the 1.2 TCe. For diesel, the 1.5 Blue dCi 115, best reserved for non-urban use to spare the particulate filter. Only the 1.6 dCi 130 offered four-wheel drive before the facelift.

What is the boot capacity of the Kadjar?

472 litres with the rear seat in place and 1,478 litres with the rear seat folded, according to the Renault brochure.

Found a listing?

Soon, we will analyse your Renault Kadjar listing: price, mileage, watch points.

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