The compact crossover segment is currently dominated by the likes of the Toyota Urban Cruiser and its mechanical twin the Suzuki Vitara Brezza, however, products such as the Renault Kiger and the Nissan Magnite are also options at this price list. We will be comparing the Kiger with these key rivals to determine which is best.
Related: Everything you need to know about the Renault Kiger
Renault Kiger 1.0 Turbo Zen
Powertrain and fuel consumption
Powering the Kiger is a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine that produces 74kW and 160Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the front wheels, allowing for a 0-100km/h time of 11.4 seconds and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 5.0 L/100km.
Standard equipment
The Kiger, in Zen specification, gets 16-inch alloy wheels, 4 airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, airconditioning, a multifunction steering wheel, an infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, multiple USB ports, front and rear electric windows, keyless entry/start, cloth-covered seats and a rearview camera with rear PDC.
Safety
The Kiger was crash tested by the Global NCAP assessment programme in 2021 where it achieved a 4-Star rating, with a score of 12.34 out of 17.00 points for adult safety and a concerning score for child occupancy safety, with just 21.05 out of 49.00 points
Practicality
The Caddy's strong point is practicality, with many interior storage areas and a boot that varies from 446, 1 720, 1 045 and even 3 105-litres of space, depending on the configuration selected.
Price and value proposition
The Kiger certainly offers a good amount of specification for the asking price of R279 999.
The competition
Suzuki Vitara Brezza 1.5 GL auto
The Vitara Brezza has 77kW and 138Nm from a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a 4-speed automatic gearbox, allowing for a 12.0 second 0-100km/h time and a claimed consumption figure of 6.2 L/100km
The Vitara Brezza is not quite as well specified as the Kiger, with just two airbags, airconditioning, front electric windows, an infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, cloth-covered seats and rear PDC with a reverse camera. The Brezza was crash-tested by the Global NCAP assessment programme in 2018, scoring a 4-Star rating, and, like the Kiger, a 2-Star rating for child occupant safety.
The Vitara Brezza, despite being bigger than both the Renault and Nissan, has the smallest boot at 328-litres, however, its specification, after-sales service and warranty package and solid reputation make the Brezza a solid product in its segment.
Nissan Magnite 1.0 Turbo Acenta
The Magnite is near identical to the Kiger in terms of underpinnings, with the same 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine that produces 74kW and 160Nm. The engine is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the front wheels. It consumes fuel at a claimed rate of 5.3 L/100km and it will sprint to 100km/h in a claimed 11.7 seconds.
The Nissan and Renault trade blows in the specification department, being nearly the same aside from the Magnite featuring just two airbags, but getting cruise control and front LED fog lamps as standard. The ASEAN NCAP crash test safety programme rated the Magnite as a 4-Star car back in 2020, making it similar to its competitors.
Facts and figures:
|
|
Renault Kiger 1.0 Turbo Zen |
Suzuki Vitara Brezza 1.5 GL auto |
Nissan Magnite 1.0 Turbo Acenta |
|
Engine size (cyl/size) |
3-cyl, 1.0-litre turbo petrol |
4-cyl, 1.5-litre petrol |
3-cyl, 1.0-litre turbo petrol |
|
Power/Torque |
74 kW/160 Nm |
77 kW/138 Nm |
74 kW/160 Nm |
|
CO2 emissions |
119 g/km |
145 g/km |
125 g/km |
|
Service plan |
3 yr / 45 000km |
4 yr/ 60 000km |
3 yr/30 000km |
|
Airbag count |
4 |
2 |
2 |
|
Warranty |
5 yr/150 000km |
5 yr/200 000 km |
6 yr/150 000km |
|
Fuel tank capacity |
40 litres |
48 litres |
40 litres |
|
Ave Consumption * |
5.0 L/100 km |
6.2 L/100 km |
5.3 L/100 km |
|
Driven wheels |
Front |
Front |
Front |
|
Boot volume |
405-litres |
328-litres |
336-litres |
|
Price |
R279 999 |
R275 900 |
R290 500 |
* Manufacturer's claimed figures.
Pricing was all-inclusive at the time of writing but may change without prior notice.
Verdict
Having looked at the figures, and having driven all three of these products, we would recommend the Suzuki Vitara Brezza, as it offers a better after-sales service and warranty package, better perceived quality and the benefit of being both the cheapest product in this particular comparison while also featuring an automatic gearbox.
