Renault Kadjar

At a glance

Who is this car for?

Families or couples planning multi-region itineraries mixing the coast with Durmitor, Skadar and a cross-border run, where a large boot and diesel range matter.

• Long distance
• Family road trips
• Cross-border runs

On Montenegro roads

Behind the wheel

The Kadjar is a proper compact SUV by European classification, a 4.45-metre crossover built on the same platform as the Nissan Qashqai. Montenegrin rental fleets most often carry the 1.5 Blue dCi 115 hp diesel with a six-speed manual; the 1.3 TCe 140 hp petrol automatic is available on some rosters and is a better match for renters who dislike manual gearboxes in city traffic. Ground clearance of 200 mm is the headline figure for a Kotor hire; it exceeds the Stonic and 2008 by a margin that matters on the rougher approach roads in the interior. Four adults and a week of luggage travel without compromise.

On Montenegro roads

The Kadjar's clearance and diesel torque make the interior routes from Kotor genuinely comfortable rather than merely possible. The unsurfaced track to the Risan Roman mosaics above the bay, usually a thought-twice-about diversion in a hatchback, is a straight-line drive in a Kadjar. The full Kotor–Cetinje–Virpazar–Podgorica–Skadar loop, a 220 km day that uses the motorway and the old lake road in one circuit, completes at 4.8 L/100 km in the diesel. The Kotor to Žabljak run on the Morača canyon road or the new Smokovac motorway both suit the Kadjar's long-haul character.

Space and load

The 472-litre boot is the largest seats-up on this roster, exceeding even the Megane by 38 litres. Four adults' checked bags fit without compromise for a two-week Kotor stay; add beach chairs, a parasol, snorkelling gear and the weekly shop from Voli and there is still room. Fold the 60/40 rear bench and 1,478 litres opens up: two full sets of mountain bikes travel wheels-on; a family camping setup for three nights at Biogradska fits without planning. The high load lip of an SUV is the trade, heavier bags need a lift rather than a slide, but the deeper boot depth compensates once things are inside.

Best journeys for this car

The Kadjar's Kotor rental customer is the family of four or five on a two-week stay who wants maximum range, comfort and luggage capacity on a single rental. It is also the car for serious off-season visitors targeting Durmitor, Biogradska and the Morača monastery circuit in one trip, where road surfaces vary and the diesel range means fewer fuel stops on remote routes. Returning visitors who rented a 308 or Megane on a previous trip and found the boot marginal for a family step to the Kadjar; couples who value space and high seating without moving to a minivan.

Practical notes

Diesel economy at 5.0 L/100 km in mixed driving is slightly worse than the 308 because the Kadjar carries an extra 150 kg, but the 60-litre tank delivers over 1,200 km between fills, the longest range of any car on this roster. At 4.45 m long the Kadjar requires Tabacina's larger marked bays or the Benovo main lot for Old Town overnight parking; the tight Muo waterfront lanes and Prčanj stepped terraces are narrow enough that a confident reverse is needed on exit. Diesel is available at all main Jugopetrol and INA stations on the bay road and at Podgorica; AdBlue topping is needed around every 8,000 km.

The verdict

Pick the Kadjar when the itinerary is genuinely ambitious, multi-day interior loops, rough approach roads, heavy family luggage, and maximum diesel range, and the Kotor base is simply the anchor point for a wider Balkans exploration. Skip it for a bay-contained stay where it is oversized, over-fuelled and harder to park than any hatchback or crossover on the list.

Inside the car

• 1.5 Blue dCi diesel
• Manual gearbox
• 472 L boot
• Front-wheel drive