2021 Renault Kiger SUV 1.0 Energy review, test drive

Earlier this calendar year, the Renault Kiger claimed the title of the most reasonably priced compact SUV in India, and the model that permits it to have this sort of a aggressive starting off price tag is its entry-degree motor – a 72hp, 999cc, a few-cylinder by natural means aspirated petrol. Although we have pushed the turbo-petrol variant ahead of, we have only just obtained our arms on this variant, and what we aim to come across out is no matter if it feels like a compromise, or is an all-round great price deal.

2021 Renault Kiger one. Vitality: layout

The by natural means aspirated (NA) Kiger one., regarded in the brochure as the ‘Energy’, is pretty much identical to its turbo-petrol counterpart on the outside the house, with the only differentiating aspect currently being the absence of the ‘Turbo’ badging. So, for your dollars, you however get the sporty and pretty much SUV-coupe-like styling, with its raked windscreen and tapered roof. At initially look, the entrance conclude is reminiscent of the Kwid, with its grille layout and break up headlights, which may possibly place off some possible customers. But, there are loads of distinctions like a far more muscular condition, far more expensive-wanting facts, a distinct spoiler and the sculpted C-shaped LED tail-lamps. The top-spec also sports an beautiful set of sixteen-inch diamond-minimize alloy wheels.

 

2021 Renault Kiger one. Vitality: inside and capabilities

Move within and you’ll see a neatly styled inside with premium wanting touches, like a uninteresting bronze complete on the dashboard, gloss black on the centre console and bits of chrome below and there. Although the cabin is very well laid out for the most part, there are a couple ergonomic concerns this sort of as the off-centre steering wheel, situation of the power window switches, entrance seatbelt buckles and the cupholders in the centre console, all of which are very fiddly to access. In the same way, nevertheless there are a lot of storage spaces, which includes two gloveboxes, they aren’t specifically roomy or virtually created. Keeping the Kiger’s price tag in mind, the healthy and complete as very well as high-quality of components is appropriate, nevertheless there is considerably way too considerably really hard, shiny black plastic around the cabin a bit far more visible aid would be welcome.

 

The driver’s seating situation in the Kiger is great and higher, and the entrance seats are very supportive and accommodating even for much larger drivers, if a bit on the company side. The rear seats way too offer remarkable quantities of kneeroom and headroom, despite the fact that the reduced-set seat, increasing window line and all-black color scheme can make you truly feel a tiny cooped up. The top-spec Kiger one. Vitality RxZ we drove arrived very well equipped, with capabilities like a responsive eight.-inch touchscreen with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Automobile, a slick seven.-inch electronic instrument cluster, a cooled glove box, automated local weather manage and driving modes. What’s far more, nevertheless our take a look at car does not have it, the Intelligent+ pack, for a small quantity far more, gets you capabilities like a wi-fi cellular phone charger, an air purifier, puddle lamps and entrance parking sensors.

 

2021 Renault Kiger one. Vitality: motor, trip and dealing with

The crux of this evaluate is the one.-litre, a few-cylinder by natural means aspirated petrol motor that lies underneath the hood. Related to what you’ll come across in a Renault Triber, it develops 72hp and 96Nm, which come in at 6,250rpm and three,500rpm, respectively.

As the power figures evidently express, this iteration of the Kiger does not deliver the robust performance of its turbocharged counterpart. That said, in most mundane driving scenarios, it will not disappoint. It feels very sprightly off the line, thanks in part to this car’s light, sub-just one-tonne kerb fat, and gets transferring smoothly, with no unexpected spike in power as you would get with a turbocharged motor. Drive it in a laid-back method and the Kiger Vitality provides ample performance in city use. Even so, the next you desire any urgency from it – for instance, to perform a swift overtake or near a limited hole – it leaves you seeking.

 

This motor has a discernible uninteresting-place in the middle of its rev range and you really have to do the job the 5-speed handbook gearbox to get the most out of this motor. This difficulty is even far more pronounced at highway speeds, but on the moreover side, the gearshift motion is very light. The clutch, nevertheless not way too significant, has a extensive journey and a sharp chunk stage, which requires a tiny getting utilised to. There is also a 5-speed AMT accessible that would make city driving easier.

It’s really remarkable that a car at this price tag stage has drive modes, and there is a notable variance from just one to the next, far more so than even the turbocharged versions, which are likely to truly feel the exact same once the enhance comes on. It defaults to Ordinary when you get started it up, and this is the manner most will come across by themselves making use of. Activity provides a bit far more urgency off the line and is the just one you’ll want to use if you are in a hurry or want to have a bit of entertaining. Eco, unfortunately, dulls responses so considerably and will make development so jerky, it’s superior dismissed entirely.

 

The trip is a contact on the company side, nevertheless the way the suspension is set up, it bargains with street imperfections pretty very well, with only some of the much larger potholes filtering by way of. The Kiger also feels really stable at highway speeds. Refinement, nonetheless, is an location the Kiger could increase on as street and motor sound are pretty audible in the cabin, especially as you establish speed.

Present the Kiger some corners and it will leave you amazed with the grip on offer and the extent to which the body roll is contained. The steering is very light at reduced speeds making it great around town, but it requires way too numerous turns, lock to lock, which indicates it falls shorter of currently being a entertaining dealing with package.

2021 Renault Kiger one. Vitality: should really you buy just one?

 

The by natural means aspirated Kiger is priced in between Rs 5.64 lakh-eight.eleven lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), which is on par with most premium hatchbacks. For this price tag, it provides pretty much every thing its far more expensive rivals do, with the only main caveats currently being performance and refinement. If you are on a finances and are wanting for a compact SUV that delivers a tonne of capabilities, loads of practicality, and will generally be utilised within the city, then the by natural means aspirated Kiger matches the invoice. Even so, if you plan of travelling extensive distances, or want something that delivers a far more thrilling driving practical experience, then you would be superior upgrading to the turbo-petrol variant.