What’s in a name? Renault’s Kiger SUV promises striking style and savings
One of the most intriguing aspects of seeing a new car arriving on the scene is the marketers’ name assigned to the new model. Increasingly, these have become more interesting and harder to figure out. Take the newly announced Renault Kiger, for example.
Due to arrive in local showrooms much later this year, the new Renault offering promises to be a popular budget SUV choice. It is also probably going to give the Hyundai Venue (see what I mean about names?) and Honda WR-V (“Winsome Runabout Vehicle”, would you believe) a run for its fair share of consumers’ hard-earned bucks.
The ponytail who thought up “winsome” (“attractive and charming”) must have been having a real nice, sunshiny day when he/she put the name up for consideration. On the other hand, the Kiger marketing wunderkind probably didn’t realise that (according to Wikipedia) the American meaning of “Kiger” is a “party animal doubled as a flank, a seducer without a future, a drinker without moderation or a miser”.
Renault Kiger sure to score points in SA
Anyway, whether you prefer to be driving a ‘charming’ compact SUV or a more rugged “drinker without moderation” vehicle (much easier for us tough South Africans to identify with, I would hazard to guess), the Renault is sure to score points with the locals. Many will welcome it when it arrives around October.
The Kiger is Renault’s smallest SUV/crossover model and was designed jointly by the corporate French and the Renault India teams. The front-wheel-drive vehicle, running on 19-inch alloy wheels on the concept car with a ground clearance of 210mm will be launched in India and then the rest of the world.
Although only a concept vehicle has been unveiled at this stage, potential buyers have been assured that the Kiger will retain about 80% of the concept car’s design.
Some of the Renault Kiger features are:
- Tapered wing mirrors reminiscent of aircraft wings
- A double central exhaust system and double C-shaped tail-lights
- Roof with integrated spoiler and a sharply sloping rear windscreen
- Split headlights with LED daytime running lights above the main headlights
- C-shaped tail-lights
- Winged grille with two horizontal slates
- Underpinnings shared with Renault’s seven-seater Triber and the recently launched Nissan Magnite crossover
Nothing has been revealed about the interior, but the speculation is that it will be “Renault Tiber-like” with additions such as a steering mounted controls.
Internationally, the Kiger will be available as a five-speed manual with either a normally-aspirated 1.0-litre three-cylinder 52kW petrol engine or a newly developed 1.0-litre 75kW turbocharged version. No hint has been given about the engine choices for SA, but Renault should probably look to the American definition of Kiger before making a decision…
Prices will be announced closer to the launch date.
Renault has confirmed that it will launch its Kiger in SA later this year to compete in SA’s subcompact SUV market wars.
Set to arrive on SA shores in third quarter of 2021
Designed to appeal to younger first-time buyers, the budget-focused Kiger will arrive here in the third quarter of 2021 to take on rivals like the Hyundai Venue, Honda WR-V and the soon-to-be-launched Suzuki Vitara Brezza.
Due to be launched in India before being rolled out to other markets, the Kiger will be Renault’s smallest SUV/crossover model, and at 3.994mm in length, it’s shorter than both the Captur (4.122mm) and Sandero Stepway (4.072mm).
Renault Triber, Nissan Magnite underpinnings
The front-wheel drive vehicle shares its underpinnings with Renault’s seven-seater Triber and the recently launched Nissan Magnite crossover – the latter is also being launched here this year.
Having been presented as a concept model in 2020, the Kiger will be unveiled in final production guise on January 28.
It’s expected to retain about 80% of the concept car’s design, including the split headlights which feature LED daytime running lights above the main headlight units, and C-shaped tail-lights. Being a budget-focused car, it is however unlikely to retain the concept’s 19-inch alloy wheels.
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