The sub-compact SUV game is to further spice up in the country
Renault will be launching their new sub-4-meter SUV, Kiger, in India in the first quarter of 2021. Sticking with the Renault-Nissan tradition, the Kiger will share its underpinnings with the newly launched Nissan Magnite. The new SUV will have a Renault way of styling but the platform, powertrains, etc will remain the same as those of the Magnite. The Kiger, once launched will be one of the most affordable compact SUVs in the country, and will be a game-changer for Renault in India.
The Kiger will be built on Renault-Nissan’s modular CMF-A+ platform, which underpins the Nissan Magnite and also the Renault Triber. The Kiger will be similar in size to the Magnite which has a length of 3994mm, a width of 1758mm, stands 1572mm tall, and wheelbase measures a good 2500mm. It has an impressive ground clearance of 205mm as well.
Although it is built on the same platform and share its powertrains with the Magnite, the Kiger will get a Renault standard design, similar to the Triber, Kwid and the Duster. Renault had revealed the concept model of the car last month (codenamed HBC) and they confirmed the production-spec model will retain 80 percent of styling and features of the concept car.
Going with the Renault fashion, the SUV will get a split-headlamp design and the company’s signature grille at the front. To enhance its SUV appeal, the Kiger will be equipped with front and rear skid plates as well as body cladding all round. As the features and equipment lists go, Kiger will come equipped with, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, LED projector headlamps, steering mounted audio and call controls, voice recognition tech, push-button start and stop, electrically adjustable ORVM and auto-climate control air-con.
Speaking of safety, the compact SUV will get two front airbags, ABS with EBD, 360 degree surround view camera, reverse parking sensors, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, tyre pressure monitoring system, etc.
The Kiger will be powered by either a 1.0L NA petrol producing 72hp and 96Nm of torque or a 1.0L turbocharged petrol putting out 100hp and 160Nm of torque. Both engines will come mated to a 5-seed manual gearbox as standard, though the turbo-petrol can be had with a CVT as well. Nissan Magnite currently retails at Rs. 4.99 lakh which will go up to Rs. 5.54 lakh post January 2021. Kiger once launched will undercut the Magnite by a fair margin, hinting that the prices could start from Rs. 5lakh.
Once launched, the Kiger will compete against the likes of the Nissan Magnite, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Ford EcoSport as well as the Mahindra XUV300.
