The Renault Kiger has been well received in India thanks to its competitive pricing and long list of features. In fact, it was designed and developed in India, and will now be exported to international markets from the RNAIPL plant outside Chennai, to countries like Indonesia, other parts of Africa and the SAARC region. While the Kiger was already being exported to Nepal, Renault has now commenced the first batch of exports to South Africa.
The Renault Kiger is one of the snazzier looking compact-SUVs on sale currently. Be it the flared wheel arches, or the LED headlamps on the top trims, you will not mistake it for anything else on the road. Even the standard 16-inch wheels look good and the generous use of cladding makes the Kiger look beefier than its cousin, the Nissan Magnite.
The Kiger is loaded with kit as well, offering an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on top-spec variants. The 7-inch digital cockpit is a nice touch, changing colours with the drive mode selected — Green in Eco, blue in Normal and red in Sport. The Kiger also gets a 8-speaker Arkamys 3D sound system.
The Kiger comes with a choice of two petrol engines. The 1-litre naturally aspirated mill (from the Kwid) makes 71bhp and can be had with a five-speed manual or an AMT. If you are an enthusiast, the 1-litre turbocharged petrol engine making nearly 99bhp would be our pick. The turbo-petrol comes paired with a five-speed manual or CVT.
Prices for the Kiger start at Rs 5.64 lakh for the entry-level manual, crossing a shade over Rs 10 lakh for the top-spec turbo-petrol model with the CVT. Though with its funky styling, aggressive pricing and a decent spread of features, the Renault Kiger does make an enticing case for itself when a buyer is making their decision.