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Renault bets big on the new Kwid, takes on top players

LifestyleRenault bets big on the new Kwid, takes on top players

Few cars have managed to challenge the might of Maruti Suzuki when it comes to small cars in India. The Kwid in its yearlong presence in India has done that. It’s given Renault a much needed boost in a very competitive and unforgiving market. The shortcomings that came with the 800 cc variant were made up with a more powerful 1.0 variant and what remained has been done now with this new avatar. Renault first showed the Kwid AMT at the Auto Expo earlier this year and since then the wait has been on to see how this automated manual transmission model performs. AMTs have been received very well in India as they offer convenience of an automatic along with affordability and maintenance of a manual gearbox and it precisely this reason why the French car maker is betting big on the Kwid AMT.

Looks

The Kwid without any doubt is the best looking small car in India. Looks have played a huge role in how the car has fared in India. It sporty dimensions add a lot of character to the car and in a segment where looks really matter a good looking car that starts at  under 3 lakh rupees is bound to be well accepted. The bold and imposing looks cater to the demands of the buyer and look at it from any angle the car looks attractive. The high ground clearance of 180 mm, the rear spoiler and the tall stance add muscle to the shape which makes the car look akin to an SUV. Of course the plastic cladding all over as well as the signature front grille add their own bit. The only distinction on the exterior when compared to the manual 1.0 liter Kwid  is the Easy-R badge seen on the rear of the hatch. 

Interiors

Apart from the rotary dial and of course the missing clutch, nothing else changes on the inside. For the time being Kwid AMT is being offered only with the top RXT variant which means the touch screen navigation system is there. The dial only has 3 options which are Neutral, Drive and reverse and there’s no option of driving the car manually as is the case with the WagonR Auto gear shift. If you already own a Kwid you know by now it’s a practical car to be in and the absence of a conventional gear lever only makes it better. Another highlight is the boot which at 300 litres is the best in class. The power window switches are placed in the middle of the dash while the second row misses out on power windows altogether.

Engine & gearbox

The 1.0 liter 67 PS engine is the best thing to have happened to the Kwid. On this first drive of ours on the outskirts of Mumbai we didn’t get too much traffic which is the ideal breeding ground for AMTs. But a few hours with the car gave us a sense of how this Easy R variant performs, as Renault like to call it. And what we can safely tell you is apart from the initial lag that you feel between the first two cars the Kwid AMT surpasses the expectations you associate with an AMT.  The 5-speed gearbox is paired to a four cylinder Smart Control Efficiency or SCE motor. The 5-speed AMT has been developed in-house by Renault with the assistance of Bosch. The company says that the software in the system helps in faster commands which results in prompt gear shifts. The downshifts are a breeze and there’s hardly anything to complain about. The 91 Nm of peak torque really comes in handy in gearshift situations.

The Kwid without any doubt is the best looking small car in India. Looks have played a huge role in how the car has fared in India. Looks have played a huge role in how the car has fared in India.

Ride & handling

Apart from the looks there’s one more thing for which the Kwid can be termed as the best in segment and that is ride quality. The story continues on the AMT as well. Conventionally automatics have been far less fuel efficient than manuals. The story with AMTs has changed and how. In fact some give even better mileage than manuals and that exactly is the story with this Kwid AMT which at 24 kmpl is more fuel-efficient than the manual variant.  You can’t expect a car in this segment to be really safe and while driver airbag is an option what’s missing on the Kwid AMT is ABS which means the car is suited more to the slow moving city traffic.

Another highlight is the boot, which, at 300 litre, is the best in class.

Verdict

Renault would not like to repeat the recall story that happened with the Kwid 0.8L variant to do a “pre-emptive and voluntary inspection” of the fuel system and to add a hose clip. It’s been an ominous start with the hatch nearing 1 lakh sales all in a year which a huge testimony to the car and the AMT surely has in it to take the success story forward. What also may tilt the story in Renault’s favour is the that Kwid AMT is priced at 4.25 lakh rupees (ex-showroom, Delhi) that only about 30,000 rupees more than the manual variant and more importantly almost a lakh rupees cheaper than its prominent AMT rivals from Maruti, the Celerio and WagonR. It’s already commanding a decent waiting period so there you have it. 

Shams Naqvi  is an anchor/producer  for the News X motor show Living  Cars

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