Renault Kiger, Track Test

From the Duster (when it first came in) to the smaller Kwid, Renault products have always offered phenomenal bang for your buck. And now, the Kiger is also continuing the trend – it’s available in an attractive price range of ₹5.64 lakh – ₹10.09 lakh. Despite being more affordable than most of its sub-4 metre SUV rivals, it comes loaded with tech.

The Kiger features an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a fully-digital instrument cluster, button start, driving modes, and more. In fact, even in the safety department, the Kiger gets four airbags and has secured a respectable 4-star rating in the Global NCAP crash tests. While the feature list is long, the materials used inside could have been better and may not age very gracefully. The interior, however, does score well in terms of comfort, space, and practicality. The space in the cabin is sufficient, and the seats are comfortable. The Kiger also has storage options for bottles and some other knick-knacks.

The car we tested was the 1.0-litre turbo petrol variant of the Kiger, with the manual transmission. With 100bhp and 160Nm on tap, its performance is par for the course. With the exception of the initial turbo lag, the motor feels quite linear. The sweet spot of the motor lies between 1,800 and 5,000rpm, post which it loses steam. Also, the three-cylinder thrum and gruffness are quite evident from the very beginning. It isn’t the most refined 1.0 turbo unit, especially in comparison to its rivals.

Although the Kiger isn’t the best in terms of ride and handling, it does manage to find a reasonable balance between the two. The ride quality, just like most other Renault cars, is quite absorbent. While pushing the Kiger hard, it does understeer quite a bit, and you have to fight hard to maintain a clean line. The uncommunicative steering doesn’t help the cause either. That said, the compact SUV has reasonable levels of grip and good body control.

Is the Kiger a good purchase then? Only if you are on a tight budget and want a spacious, comfortable, and feature-rich compact SUV. In every other aspect, it is outperformed by its rivals.

Best of 2021 << BACKNEXT >> BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé, Track Test