2022 Renault Kiger Turbo CVT Review: Do The Updates Make It More Likeable?

Spoiler Alert! Most of these changes are just related to the turbo variants

The Renault Kiger is the most affordable subcompact SUV that you can buy right now. The carmaker has updated the SUV for the year 2022, giving it some visual exterior,interior changes and some feature additions for a minor price hike. 

Looks

The Kiger gets two new colours - Stealth Black and Metal Mustard (with a black roof), the latter borrowed from the Triber. The Kiger in the black shade looks particularly stylish and appealing. The front bumper gets a silver skid plate as standard on the turbo variants, which was earlier a part of the customization pack.

Move to the side, and there are two new elements with the top-spec engine which will make it easier to differentiate it from the naturally aspirated variants. Exclusive to the top-end turbo variant, are new sporty decals and red inserts on the 16-inch dual-tone alloys. At the back, the only change is the addition of a chrome strip on the tailgate as standard for the turbo variants, which again was a part of the optional pack. 

The Renault Kiger has always been a handsome looking SUV. With these changes, the turbo variant looks a bit more stylish and does more to have a unique identity. 

Interior

The Kiger Turbo’s cabin receives red stitching for the seat upholstery, steering wheel, and gear lever. The dashboard gets a fading red treatment, which makes it look a bit more premium. All these changes are again, exclusive to the turbo variant. Besides these new visual elements, the 2022 Kiger’s cabin remains unchanged. The interior continues with its simple and straightforward look. The plastic quality is acceptable and nothing more. 

Renault Kiger’s cabin is also very practical. You have ample storage spaces including two glove box compartments, a phone shelf below the touchscreen, a wireless charging pad, two cupholders in the centre console, storage under the front armrest, and 1-litre bottle holders in each door. 

Features

The Renault Kiger gets updated with cruise control (only for turbo), wireless phone charger, and PM 2.5 air filter. The latter two were part of the customization pack but are now standard.

In terms of features, it isn’t a standout but you do get some handy features that are more than enough for your daily needs. The Kiger’s highlights include LED headlamps, automatic AC, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a 7-inch fully digital driver’s display. 

Back Seat Experience

The Kiger is able to fit three people at the back, although the shoulder room is limited. And since the bench is flat, the comfort level for the middle passenger is better than many other cars who have a hump in the seat. There’s ample headroom and knee room on offer with good underthigh support. Overall, it’s a very comfortable and spacious cabin to be seated in. 

In terms of practicality, it gets two 1-litre bottle holders in each door, rear AC vents, a 12V socket, a rear armrest with two cupholders, and seat back pockets. 

Boot Space

Renault Kiger offers 405 litres worth of boot space, which as per our earlier conducted luggage tests, was able to fit three suitcases of different sizes and a duffle bag. While the boot is deep, the loading lip is narrow and placed higher. So, you’ll require a bit more effort to put your suitcases inside the boot. 

Safety

On the safety front, the Kiger remains unchanged and gets up to four airbags and a rear parking camera. It still misses out on ESP and hill hold assist. But, it’s also among the safest SUVs of India, securing a four-star safety rating in the global NCAP crash tests.  

Engine And Performance

We drove the Kiger’s 100PS 1-litre turbo-petrol engine with a CVT. The turbo engine feels peppy and effortless, right from the start. It picks up speed smoothly and doesn’t leave you wanting for more power. The CVT is well tuned with the engine and the typical rubber-band effect usually associated with CVTs, here, is minimal. So, the power delivery is more instantaneous here and overtakes and sudden accelerations are easier. Moreover, this combination is a good fit for your city runabouts as well as highway drives. 

Ride And Handling

Renault Kiger offers a comfortable ride quality be it during the city-drives or out on the highways. It tackles undulated roads and potholes easily. The thud sound can be heard while going over large potholes, but overall, the balanced suspension setup does make its ride and handling impressive. 

Verdict

Renault Kiger is a good looking, practical, and spacious subcompact SUV. Better fit and finish and more refinement would have made it more rounded off SUV. With these visual upgrades inside-out and new features, the turbo variants’ styling and convenience quotient have improved. While the changes are expectedly subtle, the Kiger still continues to be a sensible buy. ,