Another affordable Renault hits SA market

Alarge part of Renault’s focus over the last several years has been on providing SA buyers with affordable yet modern cars.

Just look at the Kwid, Captur, Sandero and Triber - good looking cars with plenty of modern features at reasonable prices.

There are thousands of them on the road, so the French brand has a winning recipe.

In the next week or so Renault will launch another affordable, yet smart set of wheels, this time in the form of the all-new Kiger crossover.

The Kiger’s official SA launch date is 8 September, but here’s an idea of what it will offer once on sale.

Triber platform

The Kiger is built on the Renault Triber platform which, size-wise, puts it above the Kwid hatch but below the Captur crossover.

As for the vehicle’s look, Renault knows how to make them pretty and the Kiger is no exception, having well-balanced crossover-type dimensions with modern lines and an attractive nose.

While Renault SA still has to convey the exact range specification, Autodealer can reveal that pricing will start in the R200K region, and from there head north to R289K. Entry level Kigers will be powered by a normally-aspirated 1.0-litre engine, developing 52kW and 96Nm channelled through a manual transmission or an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). Higher priced units will run on a turbo-charged version of that same 1.0-litre with outputs boosted to 74kW and 152Nm, while drive goes to the front wheels via a manual transmission or a CVT box.

Fuel economy figures have also yet to be relayed by Renault.

Plenty of tech

The Kiger will come loaded with smart, modern features, with top-spec models boasting the following:

An 8-inch colour display, steering wheel controls, automatic airconditioning, adjustable ambient lighting for the interior, wireless smartphone replication (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible), Arkway 3D sound system, a rear-view camera and park sensors.

The Kiger will also have ABS brakes with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), as well as four airbags.

That’s quite a lot of kit, especially in the R200-R300k price range, but just keep in mind that most features will probably be found higher up.

Renault also says the Kiger will be available in two-tone paint jobs typically with a black roof.

Aftersales

According to what Autodealer knows thus far, the Kiger in 52kW form will be sold with a two-year/30 000km service plan, while the turbo-charged 74kW version will be looked after by Renault for three years or 45 000km.

All Kiger crossovers will carry a five-year/150 000km manufacturer’s warranty.

As soon as the first units arrive at Tangawizi Motors, Autodealer will get behind the steering wheel of this new crossover, so keep a lookout for the test drive report.