Renault Kiger: The Segment Buster

After reinventing the SUV and hatchback segments in India, Renault is now all set to change the dynamics of the compact SUV category with its new Kiger

Amid carmakers struggling to retain their market share, Renault has been successful in consolidating its position in the Indian market. As revealed by sales figures of 2019-20, the surge in the company’s growth has been led by the Duster, Kwid, and Triber. To keep this momentum intact, Renault has now launched the Kiger at a starting price of Rs 5.45 lakh (ex-showroom India). The production-spec Kiger was revealed a couple of days back and will compete in the compact SUV segment of the market. Designed and developed specifically for Indian buyers while keeping global standards of quality and performance in mind, here’s what makes the Renault Kiger a truly special machine.

Stunning Looks

Rarely do we witness a compact SUV that looks as stunning as the Kiger in flesh. Renault revealed the Kiger’s concept in November last year and as promised, the production-spec model of the SUV retains 80% of the concept form. Up front, the styling of Kiger is unique thanks to its winged chrome grille and three-part LED headlamps. The butch character of the SUV is accentuated by a sculpted bonnet, prominent air dam and flared wheel arches, while all-around black cladding brings an extra dose of ruggedness to the table. 

In profile, the 16-inch dual-tone alloys help the SUV float 205mm off the ground. The steeply raked roof merges with a blacked-out C-pillar and in the process lends the SUV a striking coupe-ish profile. At the back, Kiger is characterized by C-shaped LED tail lamps which not only look beautiful but also accentuate the width of the SUV. The integration of the rear skid plate further infuses masculinity to its overall stance.  

Renault Kiger will be available in a total of six shades: Ice Cool White, Planet Grey, Moonlight Grey, Mahogany Brown, Caspian Blue, and Radiant Red with Mystery Black Roof. To further dial up the excitement, customers can opt for dual-tone shade across the trim levels besides choosing from five different accessory packages for that exclusivity factor. 

Smart Interiors 

Focused on space and practicality, Kiger’s cabin comes wrapped in a dual-tone color scheme. The design of the dash is neat and its layered structure works amazingly well to maximize space efficiency for front occupants. Complementing its design is the floating 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and voice commands. Renault has placed the screen a bit higher on the dash to aid visibility and deliver a distraction-free driving experience.  

The centre console is finished in glossy black and its raised stance does help to access the features like wireless charging, USB ports, and knob-operated driving modes. Another highlight of the Kiger's cabin is its 7.0-inch reconfigurable TFT instrument cluster which allows customers to choose from different skin options. The Multi-sense feature available in higher trims lets the driver choose from Normal, Eco, and Sports mode--and according to the mode selected, the type of information and pattern of display (along with color) changes on the display screen. How cool is that! 

For audiophiles, the Arkamys Audio system (4-speaker and 4-tweeter) on higher variants of the Kiger is a real treat. Its immersive sound experience coupled with superior quality bass is good enough to give even higher class SUVs a run for their money. Another intuitive feature of the Kiger is its PM 2.5 air filter which works in conjunction with the SUV’s ventilation to offer pure breathing air for occupants. In addition, the Kiger offers automatic climate control, keyless entry, push-button engine start-stop system, and ambient lighting in its higher variants. 

Thanks to the versatility of the CMFA+ platform, the Renault Kiger offers best-in-class cabin volume - a 29-litre storage compartment space including bottle holders, cup holders, glove box, and centre armrest. The rear legroom (222mm) and elbow room (1431mm) are also class-leading and so is the space between the front passenger headrests (710mm). What's more, the Kiger boasts the largest-in-class 405-litre boot space that can be extended to a spacious 879 litres with the rear bench folded down.

Sporty Performance

The Renault Kiger employs a 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine to deliver the optimum combination of performance and fuel-efficiency. The engine churns out a motive force of 100PS along with 160Nm and the best thing is that the rotational force is available from as low as 3,200 rpm. Mated to this engine is the 5-speed manual transmission and to further enhance the convenience factor, the Kiger will also offer an X-TRONIC CVT gearbox option to prospective buyers. 

Kiger will also be available with a naturally aspirated state of the same 1.0-litre engine with an output of 72PS and 96Nm in lower-spec variants. Transmission options include both a 5-speed manual and EASY-R automated manual transmission (AMT), with the latter offering the convenience of clutchless driving. The AMT comes with the option of manual mode, which means you have the freedom to choose from a fully automatic or a sequential mode of drive. Further, with Kiger’s best-in-class torque/weight ratio and excellent power/weight ratio, you're sure to get the best combination of driving pleasure and fuel-efficiency.  

Conclusion

Renault’s Kiger has a lot going in its favor - stunning looks, smart interiors, and sporty performance. Further sweetening the deal is Kiger’s solid credentials on the space, practicality, and equipment list. To ensure a pleasant and fuss-free ownership experience, Kiger is backed by Renault’s robust dealership network across the country with 500 sales and more than 475 service touchpoints including 200+ workshops on wheels. All in all, with an ex-showroom starting price of Rs 5.45 lakh, the Kiger has all the essential ingredients to dominate its segment and will prove a runaway success for the company.