2025 Renault Kiger Facelift First Drive Review – Best Case Scenario

The Renault Kiger has been around since 2021 and has established itself as one of the most stylish and value-driven compact SUVs in the market. But with rivals like the Nexon, Fronx, and Exter raising the stakes, Renault desperately needed to refresh its contender. The 2025 Kiger facelift is exactly that. While it doesn’t reinvent the formula, it nevertheless gets a sharper design, new features, and improved safety – all at a competitive price point. In short, the new Kiger facelift offers a more appealing package than ever.

2025 Renault Kiger Design - Face Value

The new Kiger retains the same overall silhouette, but as they say, ‘The devil is in the details.’ And that’s where the difference lies. It now features slimmer DRLs, a sharper grille, and a bumper that flows more confidently into the nose – all of which add to the Kiger’s muscular stance. The three-pod LED headlamps now sit within chrome surrounds, while the new set of alloy wheels round out its refreshed design.

Renault has also switched to a flatter 2D-style logo, which seems neatly integrated, even though it lacks the boldness of the old badge. From the front quarter, the car looks more planted, while the dual-tone paint scheme adds a premium edge. At the rear, clear-lens C-shaped LED taillamps and broader haunches help it stand out. Most importantly, it no longer carries the ‘big Kwid’ resemblance that deterred a few buyers in the past.

2025 Renault Kiger Interior - Room to Breathe

Step inside, and you’ll immediately notice the biggest change – the dual-tone cabin theme. It makes the interior feel more airy and spacious, compared to the previous all-black colour scheme. The quality of materials used inside has not drastically improved, but the lighter theme gives an overall impression of improved quality.

The new leatherette upholstery and ventilated front seats – both rare features at this price point – enhance the cabin’s appeal. The 8-inch infotainment screen remains unchanged but now supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There is also a clear digital instrument cluster, which offers different layouts for different drive modes, blending functionality with flair.

2025 Renault Kiger Space - Everyday Logic

The Kiger hasn’t grown in terms of dimension, but it’s still one of the more practical choices in the segment. The 405-litre boot is generous, although the high loading lip makes loading and unloading heavy bags a chore. Rear passengers benefit from 222mm of kneeroom, and Renault has sensibly added a three-point seatbelt for the middle occupant.

There is a total of 29 litres of storage space in the cabin, spread across dual gloveboxes, door bins, and a deep central tunnel with a sliding cover. The wireless charging pad has an off switch to prevent overheating, while the shelf below the infotainment screen provides extra space for small items. Some details feel unfinished. For instance, the armrest is held down by strong magnets, and lifting it takes effort and produces a loud pop, which makes the centre console shift slightly. The oddly placed ambient-lighting button is another such feature. That said, neither is a deal-breaker.

2025 Renault Kiger Safety Features

The biggest update is that the new Kiger now comes with six airbags as standard across the range, joining stability control and hill-start assist.

Renault has also added a multi-view camera system. Instead of a grainy 360-degree feed, it offers sharp individual views from the front, rear, and sides, making it more useful in tight spots than the setups found in cars that are twice as expensive. Together, these updates give the Kiger a clear edge in terms of safety – an area where buyers have begun to pay more attention than ever.

2025 Renault Kiger Turbo CVT - Heart of the Matter

Mechanically, little has changed. The Kiger is still powered by the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 98.6bhp and 152Nm when paired with the CVT. Renault claims to have added extra sound deadening, although we couldn’t judge its effectiveness on the smooth, controlled iCAT test track – where we drove the car – without a back-to-back comparison.

The Kiger facelift offers a familiar driving experience. The manual gearbox gives you control but lacks refinement, while the CVT is smoother and easier to live with, despite a slight lag under heavy throttle. Still, among petrol-CVT setups in this class, it’s definitely one of the best.

In terms of fuel efficiency, Renault claims 17.6km/l, but real-world numbers are likely to be closer to 14km/l. The upside is that the turbo motor feels less strained than the naturally aspirated unit, which struggles when fully loaded. For most buyers, the turbo-CVT would be the best option, striking a great balance between ease, performance, and economy.

2025 Renault Kiger Comfort and Handling - Road Manners

The Kiger rides with confidence, absorbing large bumps and speed breakers with ease, although smaller imperfections do make their way into the cabin – a typical issue for hatchback-based SUVs. That said, the suspension is well-tuned and works quietly, without any unpleasant noises.

Steering weight varies with the drive modes. During the drive, I found the steering to be unnecessarily heavy while tackling gymkhana and moose tests. Still, I was impressed by the Kiger’s agility – it even stayed composed during a sudden lane change at 70km/h. On the high-speed loop, it held its line with confidence and remained stable. It was unsettled only by the expansion joints on the banked corners – an issue unlikely to matter in everyday driving.

2025 Renault Kiger Turbo CVT Review Conclusion - Case Closed

The facelift hasn’t drastically transformed the Kiger, but then, it didn’t need to. The update has given the SUV a sharper design, a better cabin, and an improved safety package, making it a great value-for-money offering. The naturally aspirated version with CNG will be the pick for those chasing maximum savings, but for everyone else, the Turbo-CVT will hit the sweet spot.

We’ve long considered this combination one of the most balanced in the compact SUV class, and the facelift only reinforces that belief. Stylish, practical, and better equipped, the new Renault Kiger deserves to be high on the list of anyone looking for a car in this segment.