WITH car buyers clambering to get their hands on quality crossovers, Renault has built on the success of its striking Captur model and introduced a bigger brother - the Kadjar.

It is the company's answer to the highly-successful and very popular Nissan Qashqai and is actually built on the same platform thanks to a Renault-Nissan Alliance, but while many mechanical parts and technologies are shared, Renault is very quick to point out that almost everything you see and touch is unique to Kadjar.

Priced from £17,995 to £26,395, the five-door Kadjar is available in 18 different versions with a choice of two or four-wheel-drive, manual or automatic transmission, three powertrains and four trim levels.

The entry-level Expression+ has air conditioning, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity, a seven-inch infotainment system, LED daytime running lights, a two-way adjustable steering column, tinted windows, front fog lights and lots more.

Move up to Dynamique Nav and you will see the addition of features like dual zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, extra chrome detailing and a highly-effective sat nav system.

The Dynamique S Nav brings 19-inch alloys, leather upholstery, a one-touch easy-folding rear bench and plenty more beside.

Finally, the range-topping Signature Nav adds full LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, an eight-speaker BOSE sound system, painted front and rear skid plates, side and boot kick plates and a few other features.

There are also personalisation options available with seven themed packages on offer such as a climate pack, parking pack, safety premium pack and techno pack.

The Kadjar looks athletic from any angle with muscular lines, sharp styling cues, angular light clusters, plus a bold grille with a large Renault logo.

Move inside and the spacious cabin can easily accommodate five adults with ample leg, head and shoulder room in the back.

The boot is also generously-sized with a 527-litre capacity that can quickly be increased to 1,478 litres with the rear seats dropped flat.

There are a number of handy storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin, but the door pockets are a little narrow and can only hold a small water bottle for example.

The interior is neatly arranged and has a very modern feel to it with plenty of soft-touch materials and a whole host of on-board technology to be explored.

All the instrumentation and dials are well positioned for driver usability and it's beautifully reassuring for once to find a car that is rich in technology yet remains simple to operate without having to navigate touchscreen menus to raise the temperature a notch!

The Kadjar has already been awarded the maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP safety ratings and features a whole range of systems, including anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, stability control, cruise control, understeer control and numerous airbags. An optional pack available on Signature Nav models introduces the likes of advanced emergency braking and blind spot warning.

So the Kadjar looks attractive, is richly-equipped and boasts a host of safety specifications, but importantly, how does it handle when put to the test? The answer is very well indeed.

We drove two models along sweeping country lanes, through busy towns and on fast-moving motorways and the cars were up to any challenge we threw at them.

It is predicted that more than 90 per cent of customers will buy 2WD models and a whopping 85 per cent will be diesel powered, so with that in mind we took to the road in the Kadjar Signature Nav 1.6 dCi 130bhp model priced at £24,795 (£27,470 with options).

This model can reach 62mph from a standing start in 9.9 seconds and tops out at 118mph. It can deliver combined fuel economy of 62.8mpg with carbon emissions of 117g/km.

In busy towns, the elevated driving position offers a better all-round view than a standard hatchback would and despite its size, the Kadjar proved nicely nimble and easy to manoeuvre around tight corners.

But it was out on the open road where the car really excelled. The acceleration through the six-speed manual gearbox was smooth and responsive. The steering is precise, road-holding assured and cabin noise is kept to a minimum. There is a little wind sound when pushed quite hard on motorways, but that aside, the Kadjar responded beautifully and delivered a comfortable and thoroughly enjoyable driving experience.

Next up was the slightly lower-powered and lesser spec'd Dynamique S Nav1.5 dCi 110bhp model priced at £22,395 (£23,015 with extras fitted). This car reaches 62mph from a standing start in 11.9 seconds, has a top speed of 113mph, combined fuel efficiency of 72.4mpg and emissions of 103g/km (on 19-inch wheels).

Once again the car was a delight to drive and coped admirably with the different challenges. It certainly had ample power on tap when needed and sharp bursts of acceleration to overtake slower-moving vehicles was never a problem.

To be honest there was little to choose between the two cars performance-wise. The first was a little sharper and faster out of the starting blocks, but the second was certainly no slouch and offers better economy.

One in 10 cars sold in the UK belong to the C-segment crossover, so it's clear to see why Renault wanted to enter that sector. And the introduction of the Kadjar is likely to ruffle a few feathers, not just with the Nissan Qashqai, but also other established models such as the Ford Kuga, Kia Sportage, Peugeot 3008 and VW Tiguan.