Introduction
SUVs and mid-sized cars may be ruling the roost in our car market but that doesn’t mean small cars have been forgotten or left behind. Flying the flag for the entry-level segment is the Renault Kwid now in a mildly updated avatar for the year 2024. Here are five things that we like about the Renault Kwid and two things that we think Renault can work on with the car in the future.
Pros
Big car styling for small car money
The Kwid was the car that started the ‘SUV’ styling in this part of the market. Whichever way you look at it, it shares a lot of styling elements with the much larger Kiger. Up front, this includes the low-set headlamps and the high single-slat Renault grille.
Over on the side, you can see the flared wheel arches sitting on these rather nice-looking 165/70 R14 wheels. At the rear, you get this squared-off stance for that SUV look while the taillamps retain the same shape from nearly a decade ago. One of the major value additions that Renault has incorporated into the Kwid is the option of five dual-tone paint schemes, the largest you can get in this part of the market. In fact, our car that you see in the video is a dual-tone model in a shade Renault calls ice cool white. It’s only available with the Climber trim and is priced Rs. 14,000 over the single-tone models.
Feature list
This fully loaded Kwid has what you would expect in this part of the market in terms of features. This list includes a digital instrument cluster, LED DRLs, dual-tone fabric seats, chrome inserts for the AC vents, power mirrors, power windows, USB fast charging, reverse camera and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system which is now available from the RX L (O) trim onwards.
Ride quality and ease of use
As a car to drive, thanks to its compact dimensions and light steering, the Kwid is a breeze to use especially, in the city. The steering is overly assisted but that’s a part of its charm, making parallel parking and U-turns a breeze to complete. The other place where it shines is in the ride quality department with the Kwid showing its French/Romanian roots. It has the ability to glide over anything without much of a struggle and thanks to its lightweight nature, it doesn’t bog down easily when the going gets rough.
Mileage
Renault officially claims a mileage of 22kmpl for this Kwid AMT. When we drove this hatchback on a predefined route for a fixed distance within the city, under ideal conditions, the Kwid AMT gave a real-world mileage of 16.83kmpl. On the other hand, when we took it on the highway on a predefined route for a fixed distance, it returned a real-world fuel efficiency of 21.06kmpl. This has given us an average mileage of 18kmpl. When combined with a 28-litre tank, we get a DTE of 504km.
Lowest priced AT available in the market
This is a game that Renault is winning by a slender margin but winning nonetheless. The lowest-priced Kwid AMT that you buy is the RX L (O) variant and it costs Rs. 5.45 lakh, while its nearest rival is the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 in the VXi AGS variant and that is priced at Rs. 5.56 lakh.
Cons
No manual intervention for AMT
There’s no manual intervention for the AMT, which is not a complaint per se but more of a ‘This is what you get if you choose this car’. It’s controlled by a dial on the centre console and once you put it into D, it’s pretty much like a clockwork toy. Just take your foot off the gas, it will hold, and then roll forward. If you are someone who likes to take control, even occasionally, or for that matter likes to have the option of using engine braking then you would probably have to think before going for a Kwid.
No option for six airbags even in the top-spec model
Renault has upped the game in the safety department offering TPMS, rear seatbelt reminder, ESP, traction control programme, and ABS with EBD across the table. Funnily enough, the most basic variant doesn’t have speed-sensing door locks, while the top two versions don’t get reverse parking sensors. However, even the top-spec model only gets dual-front airbags.
Photography : Kaustubh Gandhi
