Renault Kiger hits SA, priced from R200 000

THIS has been the year of the affordable SUV. The Suzuki Vitara Brezza kicked things off, followed closely by its Toyota Urban Cruiser twin as well as the Kia Sonet and Nissan Magnite.

Now Renault is getting in on the action with its new Kiger compact SUV. Hailing from India, the Renault Kiger shares its CMFA+ platform with the aforementioned Nissan, although the Indo-French offering has a distinct design that won’t result in any confusion in the parking lot. We’re looking at you, Toyozuki.

But the Renault’s biggest USP is its starting price just shy of R200 000 (see full price list below). In fact, this price positioning is so competitive that Renault believes it can sway many buyers who were in the market for a budget hatchback. Because, let’s face it, everyone wants an SUV these days.

There is one catch, however, and it comes in the form of a normally aspirated 1.0-litre engine that powers the base models. This engine, which is also found in the Renault Triber that the Kiger shares its platform with, produces a mere 52kW and 96Nm.

Thankfully Renault also offers a 1.0-litre turbopetrol unit (as per the Magnite) with 74kW and a more wholesome 160kW on offer. But this comes at a premium, with the turbo model starting at R249 900 and topping out at R289 900 – which is still very competitive in today’s market. What’s it like to drive?

We got to experience the new Renault Kiger on country roads near Pretoria this week, and thankfully we were able to sample both engine types.

First up was the normally aspirated 1.0 Zen manual model, which performed a little better than its meagre outputs had led me to expect – largely thanks to the vehicle’s kerb weight of just 900kg. It’s got enough oomph to keep up with urban traffic, and it can also cruise reasonably well on the open road, although you will have to work the engine hard and stir the gearbox when you want to overtake.

Unfortunately stirring said gear stick is not the most pleasant experience, it feels a bit notchy. The engine is also a bit noisy when accelerating.

The 1.0 Turbo model that I tried next, also in manual guise, provided a significantly enhanced driving experience. The gearbox felt better, the engine was quieter and, most importantly, performance was impressive. It doesn’t lag on pull-off and the vehicle picks up speed very quickly.

At the end of the day, you get what you pay for with the Renault Kiger. Spec-for-spec, the turbo engine commands a price premium of R35 000 and if regular long-distance driving is on your agenda then it’s well worth the extra outlay. The range-topping turbo model is also available with a CVT gearbox.

The Kiger’s ride quality was reasonably comfortable and roadholding was adequate, but it can be noisy at times and all considered, it’s not the most refined SUV, but this has to be balanced against its relatively low price.

What’s it like inside?

The interior is best described as sensible. Most of the textures and surfaces correlate with the car’s affordable price tag and there’s little in the way of cabin glamour.

However, we were impressed by the practicality on offer. There’s plenty of leg-stretching space for rear occupants and the deep-set boot swallows 405 litres, impressive in the compact class.

Renault Kiger prices (2021)

1.0L Life manual – R199 900

1.0L Zen manual – R214 900

1.0L Zen AMT – R224 900

1.0L Turbo Zen manual – R249 900 1.0L Turbo Intens manual – R269 900

1.0L Turbo Intens CVT – R289 900