2022 Renault Kiger review: New smart driving features enough to keep competition at bay?

If you are someone looking for your first car or planning to graduate from your generic hatchback to a sub-compact SUV, then you are quite literally spoiled for choice in 2022. Today, we have both indigenous and global brands offering exciting options in this space and among them is Renault’s offering the Kiger SUV, which has got a number of updates for 2022.

We recently drove the 2022 Renault Kiger sub-compact SUV in Kerala and here are our impressions.

Exterior & Upgrades:
The Kiger was a good-looking product from the beginning when it launched back in February 2021, with sharp creases and proportionate dimensions. Renault reports that it has produced over 50,000 Kiger compact SUVs since its launch in 2021.
For the 2022 update, Renault has added some tidbits to amp it up. Like the turbo decal stretching across the door panels, a red Renault badge in the centre of the 16-inch machined alloy wheels and an all-new stealth black body colour. The Kiger now also gets a skid plate on the front and a chrome strip on the tailgate for 2022, while the door handles and ORVMs get a blacked-out treatment that gives good contrast.

On the inside not much has changed visually but there are noteworthy upgrades. The Kiger now gets a wireless charger as standard, across all variants. The grey plastic insert that ran through the middle of the dash now features a sporty red theme. The blacked-out fabric seats feature red stitching as well for 2022 and the quilted texture also looks and feels nice. But the major upgrade in 2022 for the Kiger is the addition of Cruise Control for comfortable highway rides.

Engine & Transmission options:

The 3-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine is offered in three different states of tune out of which two are turbocharged and the top of the line even offers a CVT gearbox and for the budget conscious there is also an AMT transmission on offer. Overall, the Kiger offers 20 variants spread between the Rs 6 to 10.6 lakh band that are intended to suit a wide spectrum of buyers. The Kiger is available in two engine options, a 1.0L Energy Engine with MT or EASY-R AMT transmission and a 1.0L Turbo with MT or the X-TRONIC CVT transmission that we drove.

Amidst the fierce competition, the Kiger is relying on its modern styling and European design characteristics to woo buyers. But what about its driving and handling characteristics? Do they live up to the standards that we have come to expect from a Renault SUV since the Duster?

Performance & handling:
The 1.0-litre turbocharged engine produces 99 PS of power and 152 Nm of torque with manual transmission and 160 Nm of torque with the X-Tronic CVT. Whereas, the 1 litre Energy engine produces 72 PS of power and 96 Nm of torque. The turbocharged version that we drove, felt peppy and did not feel out of breath under any circumstance. However, you can notice the typical rubber band effect of the CVT transmission. But it is nothing that one cannot get used to. Renault also claims that the Kiger offers fuel efficiency of 20.5 km to the litre, however during our test ride we were able to churn out a little over 18 kmpl as per the onboard calculator.

The Kiger offers three driving modes: eco, normal and sport. While the eco and normal modes are distinct in their own right it is the sport mode where the Kiger really comes alive and performs noticeably well. Even the CVT's response becomes much quicker than it does in normal or eco mode. In the backwaters of Kerala, we also took the Kiger over some rough rural patches and the compact SUV easily tackled bad roads and narrow streets thanks to its modest dimensions and the McPherson strut suspension set-up on the front. However, when going over potholes the suspension does get quite vocal, to the point where passengers could get uncomfortable. Overall, for a car that weighs under 1,500 kilograms, the Kiger is both capable and fun to drive and a lot of the fun factor can be attributed to its turbocharged engine.

Interior:
We would like to make a special mention of the all-black interior theme which was a personal favourite. As it gives the cabin a sporty appeal and will be easy to maintain in the long run. The digital instrument cluster hosts a lot of information and even changes its configuration depending upon the driving mode that has been selected. The central 8-inch infotainment touchscreen has a simple UI and is fairly easy to operate. It is not going to wow you but it will not even disappoint. The audio quality from the 8-speaker system is sufficient and the wireless charger works even with your phone cover on. At the rear, the Kiger offers 405-litre of boot space that easily accommodated our production equipment and several bags. In simple terms, two large bags or three medium sized bags would fit flush inside the boot.

However no car is perfect and the Kiger is no exception, while technically it is a five-seater, during long drives, only 4 adults will feel comfortable sitting at the back. Those who appreciate a good fit and finish might end up feeling underwhelmed as there is a noticeable lack of finish in some areas of the interior packaging. And the jerky nature of the three-cylinder at crawling speeds can take away from the whole experience. For a product that will cost over Rs 11 lakh on road in its top trim, small shortcomings like these can have an adverse effect on its reputation. Something that matters a lot to buyers of the segment.

Pricing:
The updated 2022 Renaul Kiger has a wide price band. The RXE 1.0L ENERGY MT variant prices start from Rs 5,99,000 (ex-showroom) and go up to Rs 10,62,400 (ex-showroom) for the RXZ X-TRONIC (CVT) 1.0L Turbo Dual Tone variant.

Overall, the Kiger is well appointed to gain some serious consideration from buyers in this space. It features ample tech, a sporty design and frugal characteristics. Between the 20 variants on offer, there is one for everyone but that has not stopped its joint venture sibling, the Nissan Magnite from shadowing the Kiger in sales numbers over the past one year. What remains to be seen, is if the 2022 Kiger will be able to make a comeback with its new updated features and continue its stint in the sub-compact SUV segment in the years to come. What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments section below.