Remember the famous words of Carlos Ghosn, the bossman of Renault and Nissan? “This is a car for conquest”, he said in Chennai in the summer of 2015 when the Kwid was launched in its 800cc avatar. It has since conquered a lot for the company in terms of sales. Renault has now introduced the Kwid with a new heart, a one litre (999cc) three cylinder engine. The Kwid was always a bold looking vehicle; it’s now got a stronger heart.
Except for the heart transplant, there is nothing substantially different compared to its 800cc sibling. The 1 litre engine option will only be offered in the RXT variant of the model. The remaining three variants STD, RXE and RXL will only have an 800cc engine. The only two additional features that the 1 litre RXT model will have are the two-tone gloss grey Outside Rear View Mirrors and the speed-sport designer decals on the doors which are quite prominent. As for the rest,, Renault India would have felt that the existing features are good enough and need not be tinkered with at all. We fully agree to that because the car has been offering a lot of comfort, great storage spaces and good ride and handling.
Coming to the engine, it’s definitely a new one, but kind of carved out from the existing 800cc one, for the additional 200cc capacity. The engine produces a peak power of 67 hp at around 5500rpm and a peak torque of 91 Nm at 4250rpm. So do the Alto K10 and the Eon 1 litre have competition and will there be a bit of cannibalisation in its own territory with the Kwid 800 and the Redi-GO from the Nissan stable? Yes, definitely yes.
Now that Kwid 800 is a hit among the masses, those keen to have a bit more power and torque will definitely opt for the 1 litre one. The Kwid 1.0 returns a fuel efficiency figure of 23.01 kmpl. In the real world that could come down to 15 or 16 kmpl but then even that is good enough for the aam janta. The 3 port engine sounds a wee bit harsh but overall the motor is not at all loud while accelerating. The cabin is relatively quiet too and the engine picks up speed almost instantly and effortlessly. The engine is mated to a five-speed transmission. Zero to 100km per hour comes in a jiffy and the braking is also satisfactory though an ABS option should have been offered in this 1 litre model. An Automated Manual Transmission offering would have been an icing on the cake. Maybe we can expect one at a later stage.
The Renault Kwid 1 litre simply carries forward the good features of the 800cc sibling. The bold structured front grille, the c-Shapes signature headlamps, body coloured bumpers, wheel arch cladding and the side indicators on them, the fog lamps, the multi spoke wheel cover and of course the integrated roof spoiler, add to the good looks of the Kwid.
Step inside and you get to see a dual-tone dashboard sporty steering wheel, premium contoured seats and foldable back seats that increase the boot space to 1115cc from the existing 300 litres when the back seats are upright. There is adequate storage with an upper and a lower glove box. The upper one comes with a smart lid. Storage space for a 1 litre bottle is available on all the door interior panels.
This model comes with a touchscreen MediaNAV, USB port, Aux in port, front speakers and a 12V power socket. There is a driver side airbag that is also being offered in the 1 litre. While the Kwid has been a major hit among the masses with its bold stance and its several comfort features, now with a new 1 litre engine, they shall simply be attracting those who are looking for a bit more power in their cars. Stylish and stronger, that’s what the new Kwid is all about.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF RENAULT KWID 1.0 LITRE
Length X Width X Height (mm)
3679 x 1579 x 1478
Wheelbase (mm)
2422
Kerb weight (kg)
699
Engine
Petrol 999cc, 3 cylinders, DOHC 4-valves per cylinder
Transmission
5 speed + 1 reverse
Max Power
67hp@5500rpm
Max torque
91Nm @ 4250 rpm
Fuel efficiency
23 kmpl
Tyres
Radial tubeless / 155/ 80 R13
Front suspension
Mac Pherson strut with lower transverse link
Rear suspension
Twist beam suspension with coil spring
Boot volume
300 litres / 1115 litres when rear seats folded
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