A week of absolute recalibration, but in a good sense. Having just hopped out of a car worth north of 1.7 million rand and into a Renault Kiger , it was time to challenge just how much of a journalist I really am. The first mistake anyone would make is to compare the two like for like, but instead I thought, "Why is this considered to be the pick of the bunch in the budget B-SUV segment? " A week is all I had to find out why.
Understand that the Kiger is a top-selling compact SUV in South Africa, with over 28,000 units sold since its September 2021 launch. It is popular for its competitive, low-cost pricing (starting under R220,000 in 2025), spacious cabin, and 4-star safety rating. But is it truly any good to live with?
This being the facelift means they lifted the face ; jokes aside, a change in appearance has occurred by giving the car a new look that features a redesigned front with cleaner light placement, DRLs on top, and headlights lower down. Of course, you have that new design Renault badge taking center stage. The lower bumper gets a change in design too and can have fog lamps, which were previously not available in the Kiger lineup.
Caspian Blue is the color of choice on my unit, making the new body lines pop that much more. The side profile now features these semi-closed-off 16-inch dual-tone flex wheels, electronically adjustable mirrors, blacked-out door handles, keyless entry, and keeps its signature roof rails. The rear gets redesigned lights and a spacious 405L boot. The Kiger measures a length of 3,990mm, a width of 1,605mm, an overall height of 1,605mm , and a ground clearance of 205mm.
The interior - you have dual-tone cloth seats with an odd choice of cream and black. I say odd because the average customer of such a vehicle would ideally be either a family person or a frequent driver, meaning that these would, and do, stain quite easily. But nonetheless, it's comfy seating, with the downside that the seats themselves feel quite high, almost as if you're on top and not inside.
There are scratchy plastics covering the entire interior, but remember, budget-friendly means durable materials that should last long and shouldn't be overly complex to replace should something go south. The dashboard features a dual tone of cream and black shades; it also has ample storage space with a twin-deck glovebox, leaving quite the impression on me. It allowed my mom to fit her big bag in it, leaving her lap free and leg room untouched. Another thing I didn't quite get along with was the lack of steering reach adjustability ; it felt like I was overstretching my arms during drives , and you really feel like you're not in control when you have to pull out the old full swing to maneuver out of a tight spot.
For infotainment, one is afforded a small but clear-to-understand 8-inch screen that has all the menus displayed on screen and some touch-sensitive buttons to control the volume and/or change frequency. No wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay here, you have to use a cord, and make that a type A cord at that. Still, you could just connect through Bluetooth if you really want to avoid the fuss. The driver, meanwhile, has this 3.5-inch TFT digital setup to view that consists of your revs, speed, and a smaller screen in there displaying fuel range and suggested gear changes.
The car is safe as well because it boasts 4 airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, front seatbelt pretensioners, and a reverse camera that actually has decent quality. Well done, Renault.
This car is the definition of back to basics. There aren't any fiddly haptics or electronically operated anything except the windows all around. Instead, there is a sense of elbow grease and DIY needed to get something done, quite different from what we are used to nowadays. It is also a good reminder that we can really go over the top with things. In a sense, there is peace in just how simply the interior is laid out and operated.
The vehicle is driven by a 1.0L naturally aspirated engine with a 40L fuel tank capacity. This engine in my unit was paired with a 5-speed manual, altogether driving the front wheels. Power outputs of the vehicle are 53 kW and 160 Nm of torque. The drive was quite forgiving and not as noisy as I thought it would be. Yes, the engine is a bit shouty and whiny, especially because the clutch control needs to be on point, otherwise, you might stall in front of the ladies and lose 1,000 aura points . Other than that , the car does feel quite solid and calm on the roads.
Steering input can be a bit twitchy, like many "tall" cars, but it's okay. My biggest gripe would be the fact that this engine does feel very much underpowered, to the point where overtaking or merging into a busy lane requires intense calculations. Yes, it was better that I was in manual mode because you can just drop a gear to get some more power, but it did feel out of breath a majority of the time. It isn't really a big problem because, soon, Renault is launching the turbocharged variant of the vehicle, which should take away that shortness of breath to provide a more vigorous takeoff and inspire confidence when overtaking.
Not all frowns, though, because the car excels in giving one world-class fuel economy with a claimed figure of 5.3 L per 100 km, which was not shorter than the 5.5 L per 100 km I was able to achieve. It meant more trips on the roads and fewer trips to the petrol station, and that my friends, is why this car and its smaller sibling, the Kwid, are always a talking point for the people of Mzansi when asked about the budget leaders in the segment against models like the Nissan Magnite and Suzuki Swift.
So then, for the real commuter who makes an honest living on the verge of success, this car might be for you for someone who is a freshman at life and now is ready to take on the benefits of mobility for those who want nothing but a loyal chariot that will take not only you but also your loved ones places at your own convenience - here is a low-budget, easy-to-maintain, and somewhat value-holding vehicle to own. It may not be everyone's cup of coffee, but you should definitely give it a try.
Priced at R 329 329 and could cost you just R 3 399 in installments - Purchase comes with a a 5-year/150,000km warranty, and a 2-year/30,000km service plan. Check it out on their official website