KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Renault Kiger was updated earlier this year with new features
- We've driven out long-termer Kiger over 1,000 km in a month
Renault India updated its entire lineup earlier this year with new features, variants, and color options. Among these updated models, the current flagship of Renault India, the Kiger has also received some new features. However, the brand has not updated the cosmetics of the SUV; on the inside, it has some changes in features and seat covers. We had the 2024 Renault Kiger for a month with us and I've driven the SUV over 1,100 km over this period. The Kiger has proved to be a good companion for my daily city run and here's the first 1,100 km report. Find out more details below and join our 91Wheels WhatsApp Community to stay versed on the latest automotive news.
Also Read: Tata Safari, Harrier Gets New ADAS Features; Colour Options Rejigged
Comfort & Convenience
The Kiger has been my ride for a month and I took it for my daily runs to the market, and office, and used it for every outing. The Kiger offers a good stance on the road, and the aggressive front fascia with a bold grille, and low-mounted LED headlamps offer a premium look to the SUV. The front fascia gives it a big SUV look and it looks more appealing. The low-mounted headlamps offer good through and light up the road efficiently. The rear profile also looks appealing with a wraparound LED taillamp and a muscular bumper.
The high-sitting position inside the cabin gives you a commanding view of the road. If you are shifting from a hatchback to an SUV, the Kiger will keep you happy with its commanding position. The cabin is spacious for a sub-4 meter SUV and it can easily fit 5 adults with ease. The seats are well-cushioned, but the front seats can feel a bit narrow during long trips. Moreover, the cabin offers good practical storage spaces as well, all doors can easily fit in 1-litre water bottle, and the dashboard comes with an upper and a lower glovebox with a good amount of space. The front center console area also gets a large storage bin integrated with the center armrest storage.
If we talk about the boot, the Kiger comes with a 405-litre boot space which is one of the biggest in the segment. The boot easily fits 3-4 medium-sized suitcases.
On the features front, the 7-inch touchscreen is quick to respond, it connects seamlessly with wireless Apple CarPlay every time you switch on the ignition. The digital instrument console offers a plethora of information and readings. Moreover, the climate control unit is efficient and offers good cooling inside the cabin. For the convenience of both front and rear-seat passengers, the Kiger offers multiple charging points and a wireless charging pad for front-seat passengers. Cherry on the top is the new frameless auto-dimming IRVM which offers a good view of the rear and now you don't have to switch it manually.
What Is It Like To Drive?
On the driving front, the Kiger MT offers a good driving experience, the steering is light, the car feels solid, and offers good stability. The version I have with me is the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The engine is noisy and it starts to feel a bit annoying on long journeys. However, it is a quick motor and offers quick acceleration, it misses out on initial torque and you need to tap the accelerator paddle to get the torque kick in.
The good thing about the Kiger is that it offers drive modes with both manual and CVT transmission options with the turbo petrol engine. It comes with Eco, Normal, and Sports mode. The Eco mode is only recommended if you are on a tight budget and don't want to spend much on fuel. In the city, the Kiger offers a good performance in Normal mode and this is the mode that I use for my daily drives. The Sports offers a bit of enthusiastic performance but don't expect efficiency if you are using this mode.
If we talk about efficiency, the Kiger will give you decent mileage with its manual transmission if you are a light foot driver. In my city runs, it was delivering a decent mileage of 13-14 kmpl in light traffic but it dips to 11-12 kmpl when you are driving it in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Also Read: Renault Kiger: 5 Pros and 3 Cons You Should Know Before Buying
Verdict
The Renault Kiger is a value for money sub-4 meter SUV available in the Indian market. However, the Kiger is long due for an update and with the new update the brand might enhance the premium appeal inside the cabin and imrove the NVH of the SUV. The first-month report on the Kiger focuses on the driving experience and convenience aspects of our ownership. A complete ownership report will follow soon as we spend more time with the Renault Kiger.
