2021 Renault Kiger compact SUV review

Renault failed to want to go for a normal boxy SUV glance with the Kiger, which is clear by its raked rear windscreen, tapering roofline and unique spoiler component, all of which lends it a SUV-coupe-like profile. The standout function at the back again are the 3D, C-shaped LED tail-lamps with gloss black things. The boot lid also has loads of cuts and creases and it also has a chunky rear bumper, human body cladding and a faux skid plate. What completes the SUV glance is the 205mm of ground clearance, the roof rails which can just take masses up to fifty kg and the wise 16-inch diamond-slice alloys. 

The Renault Kiger can be had in six exterior colors, with a twin-tone paint plan accessible across the entire variant line-up. This certain colour on our test vehicle, Caspian Blue, looked decidedly great less than the Goan sunshine. 

What’s it like on the inside?

Action inside the Kiger and you are greeted with a neat dashboard, one that is very similar in structure to that of the Triber’s. An all-new eight-inch touchscreen, which is slick sufficient in its operation, can take centre phase on the dash. What seriously is a boon is the wi-fi integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Automobile. In its major trims, the Kiger is also outfitted with a significant-res, seven-inch digital instrument cluster that displays seriously cool graphics dependent on the drive method you are in, which we’ll get to in a bit. 

You will not discover any delicate touch elements on the dash but plastic top quality is additional than satisfactory for the Kiger’s price. Renault has also completed a very good job to spruce up the cabin with chrome detailing all around the equipment lever, piano black things on the centre console and the weather control knobs with built-in readouts (shared with the Magnite) glance top quality also. Nevertheless, there’s no escaping that charges have been slice in purchase to price the Kiger so competitively. For example, things like the inside rear- view mirror, solar shades and roof lining experience very basic.  

Up front, it is effortless to discover a cozy driving place and you get a very good view out of the cabin. The seats on their own are supportive, nicely-bolstered and have a cool pattern on them. 1 of the highlights on the Kiger, though, is the space on present for rear seat passengers. Headroom and legroom at the rear are both equally great and the flat ground also helps make everyday living much easier for the middle passenger. The fold-down armrest is also nicely positioned, and if anything at all, it’s that the rear home windows are a bit small. 

You will find loads of headroom and kneeroom on present at the rear.

The Kiger is one of the most functional SUVs in the section, with loads of storage space inside the cabin. This is many thanks to functional and large storage areas like the twin gloveboxes and the cental storage space in between the elbow box and the equipment lever.)  The Kiger also impresses with a course-primary 405 litre boot. The mix of a significant loading lip and low boot ground do make loading hefty baggage tricky. Nevertheless, Renault will present an accent shelf that helps make the boot ground stage with the opening. There is also the additional adaptability of 60:40 split rear seats.  

On the products front, the vary-topping Kiger RXZ has an Arkamys 3D seem technique, keyless entry-go, automatic weather control with PM 2.five filter, ambient lights, cooled glove box and electrical power folding mirrors, though the all-critical sunroof is missing and there are a number of blank switches on the steering wheel, presumably for a cruise control that could be additional on a long run update. A wi-fi charger and an external air purifier can be had as part of an accent pack. Protection attributes contain 4 airbags, Ab muscles with EBD, ISOFIX youngster-seat mounts, a rear-view digital camera and parking sensors.

What’s it like to drive?

Powering the Kiger are two, a few-cylinder 1.-litre petrol engines. There is a the natural way aspirated device that places out 72hp and 96Nm of torque and can be had with both a five-velocity manual or an AMT gearbox. This motor also does obligation in the Renault Triber. The other motor option is the new HR10 turbo-petrol motor that produced it’s debut on the Nissan Magnite and will discover its way into a variety of Renault-Nissan Alliance products in the long run. The device produces 100hp and 160Nm of torque with a five-velocity manual gearbox and 152Nm when paired to a CVT automatic. Renault expects the automatic variants to make up 30 % of gross sales. Just like in the Magnite, there’s no diesel option with the Kiger, nor will there at any time be as the CMF-A+ platform merely can’t accommodate one. We acquired to sample the Kiger turbo-petrol manual on our drive in Goa. 

Thumb the starter button in the centre console and the motor will come to everyday living, settling into a silent idle. While the motor is somewhat silent, you do experience some of the a few-pot motor’s vibrations in the cabin, namely on the steering wheel and equipment lever. 

Nevertheless, after you established off, the motor feels smoother and builds velocity with self-assurance even when its off-enhance. The enhance will come in at all around 1,700rpm, but it does so devoid of any notable surge or spike, as is typical with turbocharged engines. Effectiveness stays solid until eventually earlier five,000rpm, following which it tapers off, though you can wind the motor to six,500rpm. Revving tough helps make the motor seem quite loud and there’s no missing that a few-cylinder thrum both. The turbo-petrol Kiger responds keenly to swift faucets on the accelerator, which helps make for effortless overtaking or speedily filling gaps in visitors. It has respectable low-vary grunt also, but like other small capacity turbo-petrol motor-powered automobiles you are going to need to be mindful to be in the ideal equipment on climbs. On the matter, the Kiger’s five-velocity manual gearbox has extended throws and can take a bit of effort to slot into the gates but, it is exact sufficient. The clutch pedal even so, is mild and effortless to modulate. 

Rotary dial, to toggle by the drive modes.

A major chatting stage on the Kiger is the inclusion of a few driving modes – Normal, Eco and Athletics. These modes are managed by means of a rotary dial on the centre console and they alter the Kiger’s throttle response and steering. These modes do make a visible distinction to the Kiger’s performance, with the vehicle feeling most responsive in Athletics method. The digital dashboard also displays cool graphics when in Athletics, these as electrical power and torque utilization and even a G-meter. Normal method place the emphasis on the velocity exhibit while Eco highlights the rpm band for most effective driving.

Goa’s winding and twisty roads also gave us a prospect to test out the Kiger’s dealing with capabilities. The Kiger has very good human body control and there’s a very good total of grip on present also, generating it quite able in the bends. The Renault turns with self-assurance and the Sport method that adds visible excess weight to the steering only helps the expertise. The steering is also mild at low speeds but it needs one also several twirls lock-to-lock, which is anything you are going to notice when parking. That remaining explained, the Kiger is an effortless vehicle to area and feels at house in restricted city confines. In terms of braking, there’s a lack of an initial chunk following which the Kiger decelerates in linear and progressive method. 

Also spectacular is the Kiger’s experience top quality. There is an underlying firmness to the experience but it’s not to the stage of remaining jarring, and on seriously negative patches, it essentially feels quite tightly screwed jointly, virtually like a mini-Duster. The massive surprise is how the Kiger feels at cruising speeds. Body actions are nicely contained and it feels additional surefooted than its 1 tonne excess weight would suggest. It drives like a bigger and heavier vehicle and which is a massive compliment to the Renault. Exactly where the Kiger feels quite ordinary is in refinement stages. There is loads of highway, tyre and wind sound in the cabin at significant speeds and you can even listen to the suspension tough at operate.  

Ought to I obtain one? 

Priced from Rs five.forty five lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India), the Kiger formally gets the most reasonably priced compact SUV, just about undercutting its Nissan sibling, the Magnite. While Nissan could have had the first mover gain inside the Alliance with the Magnite by getting a number of months for a longer time, Renault appeared to have produced the Kiger a additional rounded package. 

What you get for your income is a cozy compact SUV which is great to glance at, very good to drive and decently outfitted with attributes as nicely. Sure, the Kiger does pass up out on some attributes that are now typical in its course, like a sunroof, cruise control and connected vehicle technological innovation and Renault has also visibly saved charges in destinations, but aspect in its price, Rs eight.fifty five lakh for the major-spec RXZ turbo-petrol manual that we drove, and you can seriously see the benefit in this proposition. 

The Kiger will come across as a great benefit-for-income package.

Not only does it undercut the entire compact SUV section and virtually generate a sub-section, the Renault Kiger in this major-spec form is additional reasonably priced than even some top quality hatchbacks like the new Hyundai i20. If the desire for the Magnite is anything at all to go by, which garnered 32,000 bookings inside a thirty day period from its start, and contemplating the benefit-for-income it delivers customers, the Renault Kiger could just come to be the following massive detail in the compact SUV section. 

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