Bucket Seat: Renault Kiger 1.0L Turbo Iconic CVT

Renault's Kiger recently got an additional engine to it's line up, a 1.0L Turbo Petrol engine that gives the car more life. It's something that in my opinion the car needed as it's a decent affordable offering from the French manufacturer but the 1.5L naturally aspirated motor seemed a bit flat when I drove it earlier this year. The Kiger Turbo doesn't just stop at the engine upgrade but the interior has also been given some upgrades with the likes of ventilated front seats, combination of leathers and coloured stitching to name a few. I spent a week with the Kiger Turbo and here are my thoughts.

 DESIGN

The Renault Kiger has always been one of the more distinctive compact SUVs in the South African market, and the 2026 Turbo model continues to build on that formula. While the overall shape remains familiar, the Kiger still manages to stand out with its bold front-end styling, muscular wheel arches and raised ride height that gives it genuine SUV appeal. The front grille and lighting signature give the vehicle a modern appearance, while the sporty stance adds a touch of character that many rivals in this segment often lack. Inside, Renault has made noticeable improvements to the cabin. One of the biggest highlights is the upgraded interior quality. The materials used throughout the cabin feel more premium than before, helping the Kiger move a step closer to more expensive competitors. The different textures used on the seats add a welcome sense of sophistication and break away from the plain finishes commonly found in this segment. The result is a cabin that feels more inviting and modern, while still maintaining the practicality that buyers in this class expect.

PERFORMANCE

The biggest improvement to the 2026 Renault Kiger comes from its turbocharged engine. Compared to the naturally aspirated alternative, the turbo unit delivers noticeably better performance, making the vehicle feel far more responsive in everyday driving conditions. Whether pulling away from traffic lights, overtaking on the highway or climbing inclines, the extra power and torque provide a more confident driving experience. The turbocharged engine feels well suited to South African driving conditions, particularly for motorists who frequently travel on open roads where overtaking performance is important. Despite the improved performance, the engine remains relatively efficient, striking a good balance between fuel economy and power. The Kiger may not be the quickest vehicle in the segment, but it offers enough punch to make daily driving enjoyable without sacrificing affordability.

COMFORT

Comfort has also seen meaningful improvements. The upgraded seat materials not only enhance the overall look of the cabin but also contribute to a more pleasant driving experience. The seats provide adequate support for both short city commutes and longer journeys, while the elevated seating position gives drivers excellent visibility of the road ahead. Technology is another area where the Kiger impresses. The addition of wireless smartphone connectivity is a feature that many South African buyers will appreciate. Being able to connect a smartphone without cables adds convenience to everyday use and helps keep the cabin free from clutter. The infotainment system is intuitive to operate, while the spacious cabin and practical luggage area ensure that the Kiger remains a strong family-friendly option. Road and wind noise are reasonably controlled for a vehicle in this price category, and the suspension does a commendable job of absorbing imperfections commonly found on South African roads. This results in a comfortable and relaxed driving experience for both driver and passengers.

VERDICT

The 2026 Renault Kiger Turbo represents a meaningful step forward for Renault's compact SUV. The improved turbocharged engine brings a welcome boost in performance, the upgraded interior materials create a more premium feel, and the addition of wireless phone connectivity adds a level of convenience that modern buyers expect. For South African consumers looking for an affordable compact SUV that offers attractive styling, practical space, improved refinement and enjoyable performance, the Kiger Turbo makes a compelling case for itself. While competition in this segment remains fierce, Renault has addressed some of the key areas that needed improvement, resulting in a vehicle that feels more complete than ever before. Overall, the 2026 Renault Kiger Turbo is a well-rounded package that combines value, practicality and modern features, making it one of the more appealing options for buyers seeking a compact SUV without stretching their budget.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.0-liter Turbo
Gear Box	X-tronic CVT
Power	74kW
Torque	160Nm
Fuel Economy	6.0L per 100km
Price	R329,999

Bucket Seat: Renault Kiger

Renault has refresh the looks on their Kiger and was launched late last year, like the Triber, the differences are just cosmetic with the underpinnings and power plant remaining the same as the previous model. The Crossover Coupe styling has always been a favourite of mine, with it sharing the same platform as the Nissan Magnite, I found that the Renault version just looked better on the road. The design changes of the new model give the Kiger a more streamline and mature. The interior remains virtually the same and unfortunately so does the build quality. Here are my thoughts on it after spending a week with the Kiger. 

DESIGN

The updated Renault Kiger doesn’t reinvent itself, but it certainly refines what was already a distinctive design. Compared to the outgoing model, the front end feels more assertive, with a revised grille and updated Renault badging that give it a cleaner, more modern identity. The LED lighting signature looks sharper and more premium than before, while subtle bumper revisions add visual width. It still carries that high-riding, compact SUV stance that South Africans love, but now it does so with a bit more polish. Down the sides, the familiar sculpted body lines remain, yet new wheel designs help freshen up the look. The rear styling benefits from cleaner detailing, and overall the Kiger now feels less like a budget-focused crossover and more like a properly resolved compact SUV. It still turns heads for its coupe-inspired roofline and contrasting roof options, but the facelift gives it just enough visual maturity to stay competitive in a very crowded segment.

PERFORMANCE

Under the bonnet, the Kiger manual continues with the naturally aspirated 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. On paper, outputs remain modest, and that translates directly into the driving experience. Around town, however, the engine feels perfectly adequate. It’s light on fuel, easy to manage, and well suited to daily commuting. The throttle response is predictable, and in urban conditions the Kiger feels nimble and unintimidating. Once you venture onto the highway, though, you become more aware of its limitations. Overtaking requires planning, and you’ll need to work through the gears to extract the most from the small engine. It’s not slow in a dangerous way, but it’s certainly not eager. This is a vehicle designed for efficiency and affordability rather than performance. The five-speed manual gearbox complements the engine’s character. The clutch is light enough for daily traffic, and the shift action is straightforward and easy to get used to. It isn’t particularly slick or sporty, and at times the shift feel can be slightly notchy, but for the target market it does the job without fuss. For buyers who still prefer the engagement and control of a manual transmission, especially at this price point, it remains a sensible and cost-effective choice.

COMFORT

Step inside and you’ll immediately notice that Renault has worked to make the cabin feel more refined than before. The updated trim finishes and dual-tone interior give it a fresher, more upmarket ambience. While hard plastics are still present, as expected in this segment, the overall layout feels neat and modern rather than cheap. Seat comfort is commendable for a vehicle in this class. The front seats offer decent support for longer journeys, and the elevated seating position gives you that SUV-like sense of command over the road. Rear passengers benefit from surprisingly good space, especially considering the Kiger’s compact footprint. For young families or small households, it strikes a practical balance between size and comfort. Noise insulation also feels improved compared to earlier versions. Engine noise is noticeable under hard acceleration, which is typical of a three-cylinder motor, but at cruising speeds the cabin remains reasonably composed. The infotainment system, centred around an 8-inch touchscreen on higher trims, adds a layer of modern connectivity with smartphone integration, making the Kiger feel current and competitive in daily use. One of the Kiger’s strongest attributes has always been practicality, and that continues with this updated model. The boot space is genuinely impressive for the segment, offering around 405 litres of luggage capacity. That figure places it among the leaders in the compact SUV category in South Africa. Whether it’s weekly groceries, school bags, or weekend luggage, the Kiger handles it with ease. The rear seats fold down to expand cargo capacity further, making it surprisingly versatile for road trips or larger loads. Cabin storage is also well thought out, with multiple compartments and cup holders adding everyday convenience. For buyers who need maximum practicality in a compact footprint, the Kiger delivers far more space than its exterior dimensions suggest.

VERDICT

In the context of the South African market, where affordability, fuel efficiency and practicality remain key decision factors, the Renault Kiger manual makes a compelling case for itself. It doesn’t pretend to be sporty or premium, but it offers honest value. The design updates keep it looking fresh, the interior improvements enhance daily comfort, and the generous boot space makes it especially appealing for families. The naturally aspirated engine paired with the manual gearbox is best suited to urban and suburban life rather than high-speed highway driving. Buyers who prioritise spirited performance may find it lacking, but those looking for a reliable, economical and well-packaged compact SUV will appreciate what it offers. Ultimately, the Renault Kiger manual remains one of the most sensible and practical entry points into the compact SUV segment in South Africa. It’s not about excitement — it’s about smart ownership, everyday usability and strong value for money.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1L N/A 3 cylinder
Gear Box	5-Speed Manual
Power	53kW
Torque	96Nm
Average Fuel Consumption	6.5L per 100km (as tested)
Price	R329,329

Bucket Seat: Hyundai Kona N Line

The Hyundai Kona was always a car that left a question mark hovering over my head, from its inception in the market I could never figure out where it fits in. While it was an attractive looking car, boasts a great deal of options that you'd expect from a car in this price bracket I could never put my finger on it and say, that's a great hatchback or great crossover. So one would think after spending some time with the face-lift model in the N Line guise, I would have a better understanding of this car and could nail down where it sits in terms of segments in the motoring world. The answer is no, but in saying that, as you read through my review, you would find that it does have a purpose in the market and will have appeal to certain buyers. 

DESIGN

The styling on the Kona is quite different in the sense that it comes across more like a hatchback than SUV, which is where my confusion starts. It has a low stance with quite a bit of bulk which comes from bold wheel arches and a slightly raised ride height. This one being the N Line version has the full on sports treatment with lowered front splitters, a more aggressive grill and rear difusser as well as large multi-spoke rims. There are extra fins and details to add to the N appeal making this look like a proper racer, dare I say it, even a hot hatch.  The styling makes it evident that this model is more aligned to the SUV range of the Hyundai stable with the signature split head lamps featuring the LED daytime running lights on the top with the main headlamps below, this is also mirrored at the back with the tail lights being split. Its a refreshing look to what we're normally used to and adds character as such to the car. 

PERFORMANCE

The N Line model has the 1.6T motor, which produces 146kW with 265Nm of torque. That power output is startling to say the least with it being 40kW more than the NA 2.0 engine that is also offered in the Kona range but not with the N Line. The engine was very responsive and coupled with the 7-speed DCT gearbox proved to be a lot of fun to drive. I did find the gearbox to be twitchy on the lower gears, especially changing from first to second at low speeds, it gave the feel of it slipping and made the car jerk which wasn't very pleasant to say the least. This could have been an issue with this particular unit and not a common problem faced by the car, so will report in on that when I have further info on it. Other than that, it was a brilliant driving experience given from the car .The ride quality was quite superb and with the gusty engine just made you feel like you were behind the wheel of a sporty hatch rather than a crossover SUV., I would have liked paddle shifters on the steering to echo that feel and also could have minimized that issue I had with gear changes.  

COMFORT

Taking a look at the interior of the Kona N, it would give some of the Europeans some stiff competition not only form the styling but also levels of comfort and choice of materials used in the cabin. It was obviously sporty being kitting out with the N Line package, that including sports seats, red stitching , sports style steering with the N badge prominent on the wheel and gear selector. What intrigued me a lot was the tech loaded in this car, from a full digital dash which had quite amazing graphics and animations when toggled through the driving modes, even the infotainment screen was very intuitive and easy to use. This came preloaded with mobile apps for use of use when driving. The front passenger and driver enjoyed climate control,  the car had two power outlets as well as USB connection for driver and front passenger. The Kona also had hill descent control should you find your self in tricky situations with it. Other note worthy features on the Kona were lane keep assist, active cruise control with collision warning and electric seats for the driver. 

VERDICT

While Hyundai maintain this car is a crossover/ SUV I don't blame people for thinking its more of a hatch more so with the N Line kit on it. It even feels like a hatch when driving but with the added extras that you would find on a crossover, that would be a bonus to anyone. I can probably sit here and nit pick minor details about this car but truth be told the week spent with it was very enjoyable, while there isn't any direct competition for it in the market, well none that I can think of anyway, I feel there is a need for this type of vehicle as you will get those buyers whom aren't really sure if they want to make that transition into the SUV lifestyle but want something thats practical and small. This would be the ideal car for those and like I said, while it might have the off-road capabilities, it doesn't give off that big bulky vibe you'd usually expect from an SUV/ Crossover, so now you understand why I am still confused about its segment rating. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.6T Petrol
Gear Box	7-Speed DCT
Torque	265Nm
Power	146kW
Fuel Economy	7.5 per 100L
Price	R579,900

 

Bucket Seat: BMW 118i

So couple weeks ago I got to spend some time with BMW's all-new 1 Series, when it was first launched I didn't like the look of the car. It seemed like a reconfigured X2. The sharp nose, large grille and the slanted front headlights did nothing to woo my enthusiasm over the new design. The press pictures did little to flatter me, nor did any of the M Performance parts which you could decorate the car with did any convincing. As always I tend to reserve judgement until I see it in the metal, so when the 118i in the M Sports guise came rolling in, it took me just a couple of seconds to respect what BMW did with the design of the car. Yes, I know how can you change your mind so quickly? Well, to use an old cliche,  you have to see it to believe it is all I can add. With COVID-19 still having a firm grip on the country, time with the 118i was less than normal with a test car so I had to make the most of it. With it having the smallest engine in the line-up, it was obvious that the motor was made for economy on mind, so the only real thing for me to test was performance, could this baby still give an enthralling drive like we're so used to with all BMW's? Well read on and find out.

DESIGN

Like I said in the intro, in pictures the 1 Series isn't the easiest on the eye but in the metal, once you take a closer look at the detail in the design, the folds, the curves, the angles as well as the materials, you'll realise very quickly that there is a lot to like and appreciate about the new 1 Series. This being fitted with the M Sport kit has all the necessary bulk to make it look as good as a genuine M model. From the front, the aggressiveness is apparent with it's wide diffuser and the sculptured edges to push the airflow into the intakes either side which cool the wheels and brakes. The side profile maintains this sporty look and while the kit has no prominence apart from the bottom sill it does give a nice blend to the body. The rear of the car has that wide stance and blacked diffuser which is finished in high gloss plastic, this really is great which even for the bottom entry models to have this sort of materials in the finishes gives the car a premium look. The air vents on the back are sadly fake but not a major issue as it's more there for looks than any functionality. Stepping inside the 1 Series, most of it is very similar to the new generation BMW look, with the new M Sport steering wheel and instrument cluster, which is slightly smaller than the other models.

PERFORMANCE

The 118i has BMW's smallest engine in their line-up, it's powered by the 1.5L TwinPower Turbo, an engine you can find in the Mini Cooper, not very exciting right? But believe it or not its also the same combustion engine in the BMW i8 so it has some cred to it. Given that the 1 Series is bigger and heavier than the Mini, this engine does seem a lot more pluck in the 118i, delivering 103kW and 220Nm of torque is rather impressive from a 3 cylinder motor while achieving a 0-100kph time of just 8.5 seconds. The car itself feels pretty solid on the road and picks up speed well, coasting is a charm in this car, one slight gripe I may have with it is with it being front wheel drive, the car does tend to jump on take off, so keep those hands firm on the wheel. The 1 Series comes with BMWs standard cruise control, it is pretty simple to use and set but does have the auto braking feature. The car is very nimble and easy to navigate through tight spots, so parking in a congested parking garage is enough for everyone. Parking not your thing? You can just opt for parking assist option which will do the tough work for you.

COMFORT

While the 1 Series is the baby in the line-up, it is a decent size when compared to the hatchbacks, the cabin is spacious and very roomy, the seats are lower than usual but gives you a nice view of the cockpit from the drivers perspective. As mentioned its pretty much what you would expect in a new BMW with a similar set up, albeit a bit scaled down. The car has dual zone climate control for the driver and the passenger as well as a single zone system for the passengers at the back. The red leather "Dakota" interior really was a great contrast to the Alpine white exterior and the choice for colours and materials from BMW is quite vast for you to chose from, while you could have a similar spec to someone else, there are details in which you can change, from the stitching to the types of textures you want on the dash and doors. The 1 Series has its ambient lighting built-in to the dash where as the likes of the 3 Series have it underside the beading. Boot space is decent, it can fit my golf clubs so that is all that matters to me!

VERDICT

Overall, I was left pretty impressed with the 118i, look I know it's the smallest engine in the BMW stable so for me seeing if it was economical wasn't on the top of my agenda, seeing if it could still deliver the performance we know and love from the German manufacturer was and it delivered with a charm. While my foot was pretty heavy with it, the fuel usage wasn't too bad if I have to say so myself. Base price on this model is a tough one to swallow but if you look at what you getting and there is zero compromise on luxury, I say its worth it given that that the competitors use inferior materials and line up similarly in costs so the value is there.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.5L Twin Power Turbo
Gear Box	Automatic Steptronic
Torque	220Nm
Power	103kW
Consumption	5.9L/100km
Price	R619,800*

*Base Price

Bucket Set: Ford Figo Freestyle

Yesterday Ford South Africa hosted their first online local launch, and it's quite a vehicle that had this unique introduction to the local market. It's the all-new Figo Freestyle which essentially is a crossover version of the much loved Figo. Ford felt the need to strengthen it's presence in the rapidly growing sub-B compact utility vehicle segment and what better way to do it than to introduce something that's familiar with market. The Figo Freestyle joins the likes of the EcoSport and and Kuga in their lifestyle orientated models along with the Everest which is the biggest in the range. 

"The all-new Figo Freestyle build's on Ford' reputation as one of the pioneers of the utility vehicle segment, with SUV-derived design cues, robust stand with increased groud clearance and commanding seating position, it has the credentials of an SUV in a compact package that is ideally suited to city driving during the week and escaping to the countryside on weekends." - Doreen Mashinini, General Manager Marketing at FMCSA.

The Figo Freestyle brings a much needed affordable option to those wanting something more robust but to suit their pockets. It will be offered in two models, with the Trend package and headliner Titanium series, both models are powered by Ford's eager 1.5L 3 cylinder Ti-VCT engine which powers the current Figo range. It's an impressive little motor punching out 91kW and 150Nm controlled by a five-speed manual gearbox.  Design on the Figo Freestyle is pretty funky, overall form is that of the Figo hatch but with higher ground clearance and the additions of some robust plastic accents around the wheel arches and front and back bumpers.  The interior is pretty much the same with all the bells and whistles with the Titanium model receiving a 6.5" floating dock with SYNC3 system. 

Pricing for the Figo Freestyle is as follows. 

Figo Freestyle 1.5 Trend Hatch R226 700

Figo Feestyle 1.5 Titanium R247 500