2018 Renault Kwid Review
Car Tested: 2018 Renault Kwid; Road Test No. 974
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 3.32 – 5.45 lakhs
The 2018 Renault Kwid comes with more features than before but still no ABS
When Renault launched the Kwid in India few years back, not many people knew that this small car with SUVish styling elements will turn out to be a fairly successful model for the French automaker. The Kwid has gained a lot of popularity in the Indian market and it draws sales thanks to the package that it offers. Now, the automaker has launched the 2018 Kwid which is nothing but a mid-life refresh where the interiors get more equipment while the outside makes do with minor tweaks.
Minor changes are seen only on having a close look at the exterior
Exteriors – There are no noticeable changes to the exteriors apart from the revised front grille. The headlamps, bumpers and other body panels carry similar styling as before. Our test car was the Climber Edition which gets wheel caps that look like alloy wheels. This shade of blue looks very funky and there are some catchy elements like the bumper skid plates with a silver finish and some orange accents. Overall, the Kwid looks pleasing and is also the best looking car in its segment.
The cabin gets orange touches to give it a youthful appeal
Interiors – The interior layout continues to remain the same. The dashboard gets a black colour theme and along with that, there are various orange touches on the seat covers, dashboard and gear lever. The instrument cluster gets a digital display which looks quite cool. The front seats aren’t very large and support is average. Space at the rear is very limited if you push the front seats all the way back but otherwise it is pretty decent. The Kwid also comes with a reverse camera now while the rear seat gets a centre armrest. The touchscreen infotainment system is the same as before though, producing decent sound quality. The hatchback also comes with central & remote locking and a driver side airbag. The boot has a cargo capacity of 300-litres while there’s also a 12V charging socket installed at the rear now.
The Kwid comes with a choice of 2 petrol engines
Performance – No changes have been made under the hood of the Renault Kwid. There is a 799cc petrol engine that produces 53 HP and 72 Nm. This 3-cylinder unit offers decent performance in the city but feels underpowered when you try to pick up speeds on the highway. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox which offers light shifts and the clutch is equally light too. On the fuel efficiency front, this engine delivers anywhere between 17-21 km/l. This engine isn’t offered with an AMT gearbox.
Both the engines on the Kwid are fuel efficient
The Renault Kwid AMT makes for a good proposition for convenience seekers
The other engine on the Kwid is a 999cc petrol unit and this is also a 3-cylinder engine. This churns out 67 HP and 91 Nm. In comparison to the smaller engine, this one feels peppier and livelier. In city driving, the performance increment is instantly noticeable and the Kwid feels responsive. On the highways, the car has enough grunt to reach 100 km/hr but if you intend to do very high speeds, the engine may not feel up to the mark. The Kwid 1.0 is also very fuel efficient giving out 16-20 km/l. The 1.0-litre engine gets a 5-speed AMT too which increases the convenience quotient by a huge extent and even though the shifts aren’t exactly lag-free, you can’t expect much at this price.
The ride is very good but the steering is totally lifeless
Driving Dynamics – The Kwid has very good ride quality like other Renault cars and doesn’t disappoint on the comfort front. The suspension feels good enough to cope up with our roads. The 13-inch tyres are just enough to do their job but grip levels aren’t very good. The brakes however are fairly decent but the Kwid still misses out on ABS. The steering lacks any sort of feel or feedback and the driving experience is unexciting. NVH levels in the Kwid leave a lot to be desired because even though the engines are silent at idle, they get noisy at speeds and the sound insulation in the Kwid does little to filter out outside noises and disturbances.
The Kwid is good but spending a bit more can get you better cars
Verdict – The Renault Kwid is a good package and is a popular choice among people who want to buy their first ever car by upgrading from a 2-wheeler. However, the car lacks in the safety department and it scored 0 stars in the NCAP crash tests and it still misses out on ABS and a passenger side airbag. If you’re on a really tight budget and cannot stretch further, go for the Kwid 1.0 but if you think you can spend around Rs. 1-1.5 lakh more, we’d totally recommend getting the Tata Tiago which not only is slightly bigger, but also offers more features, better safety and feels like a well-rounded car.
The rear armrest is a useful addition
What’s Cool
* Styling is very good
* Interiors feel fresh and get good features
* 2 engines on offer, 1 with an AMT too
* Ride quality is very likeable
What’s Not So Cool
* Steering wheel lacks feel and feedback
* Poor safety, just like every car in this segment
Alternatives: Maruti Alto, Datsun redi-GO, Datsun GO, Hyundai Eon
Will you buy the Renault Kwid over its rivals?
Further Reading –
2018 Renault Kwid Video Review
Renault Kwid AMT Video Review
2017 Renault Kwid AMT Review
2016 Renault Kwid 1.0 Video Review
2016 Renault Kwid 1.0 Review
Renault Kwid 800cc Review
Maruti Alto 800 vs Renault Kwid vs Hyundai Eon
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