Style over substance
Offering fashionable Suv-inspired looks and decent value for money, how has our Kiger long-termer held up after a half-year test?
+ Lengthy standard equipment list, space and bold design
- Lacks NVH refinement and lateral body control
Having been behind the wheel of the Kiger over the past six months and 8 814 km I’ve become accustomed to the unique characteristics of the threecylinder turbopetrol motor. The experience has turned out to be a mixed bag. It’s unfortunately not a sophisticated 1,0-litre turbocharged unit with a rough idle that sends noticeable
vibrations through the seat and steering wheel. There is something to be said for the fact that its key rivals are only naturally aspirated though. The turbo-triple does make up for of its lack of smoothness with a healthy dollop of oomph which I’ve enjoyed exploiting during my traffic-riddled daily commute. With 74 kw and 160 N.m on offer and just a little
over 1 000 kg of mass to move around, the Kiger is surprisingly spritely off the line and overtaking performance is effective for a vehicle of its size. The volume and the pitch of the sound that emanates from beneath the bonnet, however, is rough and this increases as revs rise. On a 400 km trip up the West Coast the combination of the engine roar
and wind noise that penetrated the cabin unfortunately made the trip more tiresome than necessary highlighting the fact that I best enjoy this crossover in its natural habitat around the city. With that said, the Kiger feels surprisingly settled on dirt roads where its soft suspension admirably soaks up the ruts and ripples. The ESC and traction control systems work
unobtrusively in the background too keeping you pointing in the right direction. The addition of this safety tech is what separates the Kiger from its competition and is something that should be a non-negotiable for inexperienced drivers.
If you’re planning on buying this for long-distance trips, however, my advice would be to think twice especially if you will have passengers with you for longer periods. Luggage capacity is not an issue nor is occupant space but a fully laden Kiger would offer poor performance which could result in unsatisfactory fuel consumption. Having driven mostly unladen I still struggled to get the overall fuel consumption down.
When it comes to dynamics, the Kiger fits in with the likes of its Triber and Kwid siblings. Despite a fairly tall ride, it’s quite wieldy thanks to a light electronically assisted steering setup. Body roll is noticeable though. With hardcompound CEAT Securadrive tyres equipped for low rolling resistance, there’s an occasional absence of grip. However, this is largely unnoticeable as the Kiger is seldom able to put a sufficient amount of power down on the tarmac to break traction when in the dry.
With a six-month test, it is challenging to comment on the long-term durability of the cabin but with the mileage I covered, I was quite impressed with how well the cabin held up. The interior predominately consists of plastic, yet, squeaks and rattles were notably absent.
It’s quite clear that where the interior is concerned, the Renault Kiger nails the crucial elements that an active-minded owner may require. Unfortunately, the fact that it’s rough around the edges detracts from this.
The Kiger in the context of the Renault Kwid owner is the obvious step up on the product ladder. Both are hindered by a harsh powertrain which ultimately limits overall refinement so if that’s your context you may not notice. The Kiger is a suitable car to use in the suburbs but once you get on the highway, refinement is disappointing.
The standard convenience features are a huge plus especially at around the R300 000 mark. The competition in this segment is rather aggressive with the likes of the Mahindra XUV300, Kia Sonet, Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Toyota Urban Cruiser twins. All of these options come with their pros and cons but in our experience the Kia is the most complete package. If you are a Renault fan and are already driving one of their products, I’d recommend considering a second-hand Captur as a Kiger alternative. The 0,9-litre engine is quieter however it’s only available with a manual transmission.