Renault Kiger

The Renault Kiger is a sub-4-metre compact SUV built for buyers who want a tall, butch-looking car without stretching past the city-friendly price band. It offers two 1.0-litre petrol engines, a roomy cabin, and one of the largest boots in its class. Renault leans on aggressive pricing and a long feature list to win value-focused shoppers, though brand service reach and resale remain the usual question marks for many.

Visually, the Kiger punches well above its segment. The split-headlamp face, chunky cladding and 16-inch wheels give it real SUV stance, and the LED daytime-running signature looks smart at night. Inside, the cabin is functional rather than premium, with hard plastics dominating, but the layout is sensible and the 20.5-litre cooled glovebox and clever storage cubbies are genuinely useful for daily life. The 405-litre boot is among the biggest you will find under four metres.

The naturally aspirated 1.0-litre engine is adequate for city commuting but feels strained when fully loaded or climbing inclines, and it needs to be revved hard. The 1.0 turbo is the one to pick: 99 bhp and 160 Nm make it genuinely peppy, and the CVT version is smooth in traffic, even if it drones under hard acceleration. The five-speed manual is light and easy. Ride quality is absorbent over broken roads, though there is some body roll at speed.

On features, the Kiger is strong for the money. Top trims get a wireless-Apple-CarPlay/Android-Auto touchscreen, automatic climate control, a digital instrument cluster, PM2.5 filter and an Arkamys-tuned sound system. The big caveat is safety: the Kiger scored a modest result in Global NCAP's older protocol, and only the higher variants get four airbags, so safety-first buyers should choose carefully.

Where the Kiger asks for compromise is in perceived quality and after-sales confidence. Some plastics rattle over time, and Renault's service network is thinner than Maruti's or Hyundai's in smaller towns. Resale value also trails the segment leaders. None of this is a dealbreaker, but it should factor into the decision for buyers planning long ownership.