Renault Kiger Facelift Unveiled: The world of cars has given in to a tectonic shift with the grand reveal of the Renault Kiger Facelift, a car that is all set to redraw the lines in the sub-compact SUV segment, featuring daring design language and ground-breaking technology.
The French automaker is definitely gunning for the hearts and wallets of tech-savvy urban explorers in need of a vehicle that perfectly mixes style, performance and innovation.
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Commanding road presence: exterior design overhaul
New Kiger lacks nothing in the design, the moment you look at this car, you realise that Renault was not lazy in designing a car with a vision.
The redesigned grille, which is now chrome studded, seamlessly flows into the sharper, more angular LED headlamps of the vehicle.
These aren’t your average headlights, and with built-in dynamic sequential turn indicators, they feature a premium functionality that was once exclusive to high end of the market.
The hood is sculpted with lines that are intended to not only improve aerodynamics, but also make the Kiger look more muscular. Through these combination, the aggressive nature of the car is further accentuated.
The new bumper that hosts the fog lamps are confined in a C-shaped chrome descending on the periphery of the lamps, giving a look of increased width for the vehicle.
On the side profile, the Kiger Facelift retains its coupe-like roofline, but it now features newly-designed 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels that enhance its premium appeal.
The floating roof effect is kicked up a notch with contrast paint options and the body cladding is increased to give it full SUV credentials.
The rear receives a similar thorough refresh, with new LED taillights linked together by a chrome strip that sports the Renault logo. The rear bumper is adorned with a faux skid plate, reflectors and a touch of a diffuser which plays towards the car’s dynamic ambitions.
Arguably the most discussed exterior detail is the two-tone color scheme that arrives in a rainbow of shades, such as the attention-grabbing “Sunset Copper” that changes color depending on the light conditions – making it a segment-first.
Luxury-Level Interior: Where Comfort Gets Charged
The cabin of the new Kiger is where French design philosophy seamlessly blends with modern technology. The dashboard gets a complete overhaul that features a more pronounced sense of space with horizontal lines.
Aesthetic Touches Soft-touch materials have been applied to optimal touchpoints, offering premium feel and look, more than ever before.
The cabin centrepiece is, unquestionably, the new 10.1-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Impressive resolution & response The screen is of high resolution & quick display! Optimized interface for easy navigation.
Adding to this is a 7-inch all-digital instrument display which can adjust and change the information displayed in accordance with driving modes and personal preference.
Renault has also focused its attention on the comfort of the seats, which have been redesigned with enhanced side supports and lumbar also giving a good hugging seat and good comfort.
While there’s cloth upholstery at the base of the range, premium fabric is standard issue, while those moving up further the range also have free access to leatherette with contrast stitching.
Time has also had its way with the driver’s seat, with top-spec derivatives now being offered with 6-way power adjustment, plugging one of the glaring holes in the old model’s spec sheet.
The climate control has also been improved to full-automatic dual-zone, quite a rarity in this class. Ambient lighting with eight colour options sets the mood, and a segment-first panoramic sunroof allows natural light into the cabin whenever you want.
Rear seat riders too have been shown some love as legroom has been increased on sculpted front seatbacks, their own AC vents, USB-C charging ports and adjustable headrests. 60:40 spit rear seats are foldable to increase the already spacious 405-litre boot when required.
Performance Reimagined: Powertrains Choice is a wonderful thing, and that’s why the Camaro offers two different available powertrains.
Mechanically, the Kiger Facelift is powered by the same 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine which churns out 72 PS and 96 Nm of torque, which comes mated to a 5-speed manual and an AMT gearbox.
This base engine is great for city driving, with a nice blend of power and fuel efficiency.
The real star of the show, however, is the excellent 1.0-liter turbocharged petrol motor, which now pushes out 120 PS (from 100 PS) and 160 Nm of torque (from 113 Nm) as a result of revised ECU mapping and the turbocharger being made more efficient.
This energetic engine can be coupled with a responsive 6-speed manual gearbox, or Renault’s latest generation X-Tronic automatic transmission, which features optimised shift logic to deliver even smoother gear changes and improved fuel efficiency compared to the previous generation.
Renault has also focussed on the NVH levels of the car with more sound insulation material used along with new engine mounts that itself minimises the vibrations filtering through to the cabin. The suspension has been tuned for improved ride and handling.
The Eco, Normal and Sport multi-drive modes have been carried over, with the new version offering slightly more variation in throttle response and steering weight.
Wet Mode is a new addition, whereby the TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) is adapted to suit a wet road surface, so slipping and skidding in wet monsoons are things of the past.
Keeping with the Times: Features of a New Generation
The jump in technology in the Kiger Facelift is incredible. Wi-Fi smartphone connectivity is more than infotainment; it includes wireless charging with a cooling function to prevent device overheating.
The new Renault Connect telematics system hosts more than 80 connected car offerings, these comprises geofencing, remote engine start/stop, climate pre-conditioning, vehicle health tracking and more, along with OTA (over-the-air) updates for system enhancements.
Voice support has been greatly improved with Indian accented and local dialect understanding natural language processing. The system is used to operate your navigation, make calls and adjust climate settings and to tilt and retract the sunroof.
The camera system is one star technology feature offering is the 360-degree with moving object detection, giving you a clear surround view for maneuvering around in parking.
It’s presented on the infotainment system’s main screen with moveable guidelines that swivel with steering input.
If you are a true audiophile, Renault collaborates with a premium sound system maker to provide an 8-speaker setup with its own amplifier and subwoofer to get the kind of sonic experience not often found in this class of car.
Safety Must for You: Full Protection
It’s also clear safety has been a major concern for Renault with this upgrade. Other underpinning is the stronger chassis which is tuned to crumple and distribute crash force more effectively.
Other safety features available in all variants are two airbags upfront, parking sensors, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution and ISOFIX child seat anchors.
The high variants receives a set of six airbags electronic stability control hill start assist traction control tyre pressure monitoring system and the 360 degree camera.
The Kiger also debuts advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) with the inclusion of automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and high beam assist – features not seen before in this price category.
This new range of ADAS functionalities offered by Renault is the brand’s demonstration on how essential life-saving technologies belong in every type of vehicles and it could become a benchmark for its rivals to match.
Market Position and Pricing Strategy
With this extensive make-over, its obvious that Renault has established the Kiger Facelift as a premium product in the segment of subcompact SUVs.
Official prices haven’t been released as of writing, but industry sources say that it will be only a small price hike over the outgoing version to keep it competitive against rivals such as the Nissan Magnite, Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue.
Renault seems to be relying on providing segment-above kit vis-a-vis focusing on value proposition – a very balancing act that might just work in cost-driven India market.
The automaker is also likely to offer a subscription-based ownership along with the existing purchase model, doing so to accommodate the taste of the new age buyers, who could favour a flexible ownership vis-a-vis long term commitments.
Environmental Awareness
Consistent with the global trend, the Kiger Facelift reflects Renault’s long-term commitment towards lowering carbon-footprints.
The enhanced engines comply with the latest emission standards with reduced CO2 emissions. Admirable recycled materials have been used inside and out, with minimal carbon-footprint-creating manufacturing processes.
Renault has also suggested a hybrid version is likely coming soon – potentially with the group’s E-Tech hybrid offering. This would mean the Kiger becomes one of the first models in its category to offer actual hybrid tech, strengthening its case amongst eco-conscious customers.
A Game-Changer in the Works?
The Renault Kiger Facelift is anything but a mid-life facelift – it’s a total reimagination of what a sub-compact SUV should be
. It’s a package that goes above and beyond the call of duty in the tradition of Renault, marrying head-turning design, luxurious appointment, and exhilarating performance with the very latest in vehicle-technology and safety.
Only time will tell if this aggressive play will affect actual sales, but there’s no question that the new Kiger has set a new benchmark and established a new yardstick that should place competitors on notice and even accelerate the maturing of this popular category.
This translates to better products, more features, better overall value for the consumer – exactly the sort of creative disruption the market needs. The Renault Kiger Facelift isn’t simply a refresh; it’s a preview of the future of affordable mobility.
