Renault announced the production-spec model of its urban crossover Kiger in India, available with 1.0-liter naturally-aspirated and turbocharged engines.
The French brand first introduced the Kiger concept last year, looking quite similar to the final model. Indeed, the production Kiger shares 80% of the parts with the concept vehicle. The Kiger will be Renault’s entry in the sub-four-meter crossover/SUV segment in India and will compete with the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, and Mahindra KUV300, just to name a few.
The Kiger is quite a looker thanks to an aggressive styling and muscular aesthetics. The crossover’s split LED headlamps, flared wheel arches, Kwid-inspired bold front grille with LED DRLs, C-shaped taillights, and dual-tone paint schemes make it stand apart in style. Other body tweaks include 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a slightly arched roofline with grey roof rails, faux-aluminum skid plates, and black plastic door cladding and wheel arches.
Furthermore, Kiger’s interior comprises a multi-functional steering wheel, a dual-tone dashboard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the center with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, an additional 7-inch digital instrument cluster, Arkamys 8-speaker sound system, and air-conditioning system with a PM2.5 air filter.
Other features include automatic climate control, wireless charging pads, Bluetooth, ambient lighting, and keyless entry. The boot compartment is highly spacious at 405 liters, which can be extended to 879 liters. Moreover, there are 29 liters of cabin storage space for smaller items. The SUV stands 250 mm high from the ground, which might prove useful for light off-roading.
Coming to the technical aspects, the Kiger is based on Renault’s CMFA+ platform, also shared by its twin crossover Triber and sports the same engine as the recently launched Nissan Magnite, a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 98bhp and 160nm of torque. There’s also an option for a 72bhp, 1.0-liter naturally-aspirated engine churning 96nm of torque. Renault paired both engines with a 5-speed gearbox as standard. However, the entry-level engine has an AMT transmission option, while the turbocharged engine can be equipped with a CVT.
The Kiger will be available for purchase later this year, but Renault still hasn’t announced pricing details. Regardless, Renault has to be very aggressive to get an edge over the Nissan Magnite, which currently starts from 6.47 lakhs (~ $7,500) and has recorded large bookings since its launch. More details on prices and variants to follow.
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