For a carmaker that effectively kick-started the compact-SUV segment (with the Duster), Renault India’s current range of offerings seems surprisingly thin. The entry-level Kwid hatchback takes care of the economy-conscious buyer’s needs, the Triber is an affordable seven seater, whereas the Kiger caters to the sub-four-metre SUV buyer. The Kiger, which was introduced in 2021, has ensured that Renault stays relevant in the Indian market. We drove the recently refreshed compact SUV to understand what makes it a worthy choice in the highly competitive segment.
Even before the refresh, the Kiger looked better than many of its rivals, and its stance and proportions felt spot-on. With the facelift, Renault hasn’t messed with that. Sure, there’s the new bumper, the DRLs now stretch into the slim grille, and the sculpted details make the design look fresh, but it’s still instantly recognisable as a Kiger. The muscular bonnet bulge and tri-projector headlamps have been carried over, and not without reason. The 16-inch wheels are new, but the roof rails and taillights are unchanged.
style cues
The Kiger facelift continues with a largely unchanged interior. The layout is identical as before, although the new dual-tone theme is borrowed from the recently updated Triber, and looks good. Six airbags are now the standard, and the equipment list (variant-dependent) includes leatherette upholstery, steering-mounted controls, a 360-degree camera, front ventilated seats, and a freestanding 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. What many may not notice just from the pictures is Renault’s improved sound-deadening for the Kiger, achieved by using thicker carpets and improved insulation. In practice, it’s great at low, city speeds, but it’s not as effective at higher speeds when both tyre and engine noise creep into the cabin.
The equipment list (variant-dependent) includes leatherette upholstery, steering-mounted controls, a 360-degree camera, front ventilated seats, and a freestanding 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Photo Credit: Amit Naik
This is a facelift, and we weren’t exactly expecting Renault to change much with the mechanicals. As was the case earlier, the Kiger is available with a choice between two engines: a 1-litre naturally aspirated unit and a 1-litre turbo. The latter, which we tested, produces 99 bhp and 15.5 kg-m, and comes with an optional CVT automatic gearbox. The three-cylinder engine feels eager, especially once the turbo spools up, and delivers adequate performance for everyday driving. Switching to Sport mode further amplifies its eagerness, while Normal is the intermediate mode, and Eco is the go-to if you want to maximise fuel economy. The Kiger feels light and keen to respond to driver inputs, and the CVT automatic gearbox hides turbo-lag well. The engine tends to get vocal, especially as you push it harder, noticeable even though the company claims to have improved the insulation, as mentioned above.
smooth operator
While handling isn’t its strongest point, especially if you’re looking for a spirited driving experience, this Renault impresses with its ride quality. Plus, with 205 mm of ground clearance, it’s clear that even the nastiest of urban potholes can be dealt with quite easily in the Kiger. Whatever we threw at it, be it broken roads, speed breakers, or potholes, it just absorbed everything with ease. It didn’t scrape its underside ever, the low-speed ride was quite exemplary, and the light steering seemed promising too. The driving position is set high, ensuring that the driver doesn’t struggle with visibility ever. To round it up, I must say that the Kiger feels its best when driven in a calm manner, it has a fair bit of driver reassurance and confidence to offer, and the supreme ride quality ensures that nobody in the cabin complains.
The subtle updates added to the Kiger, along with the refreshed styling, make it an even stronger proposition than earlier. Prices start at ₹6.29 lakh while the top-spec version is available for ₹11.30 lakh, both ex-showroom. Renault might’ve taken a while to update its sole SUV (which isn’t actually a full-blown SUV), but now that it’s here, the Kiger facelift offers a great mix of practicality, everyday usability, new-age features, superb ride comfort, and ample performance for everyday use.
Having spent a fair bit of time with the pre-facelift Kiger, I can confirm that, as a package, the car managed to wow me quite often. The facelift does that, too; it has enough to ensure Renault customers are happy, and that Renault can continue in this extremely competitive market segment for longer.
© Motoring World
Published on September 5, 2025