Small cars have been ruling the roost when it comes to Indian roads and Indian buyers. They are popular because of their affordability and practicality but over the years as our country has evolved the average Indian buyer's mindset has also become more contemporary. Gone are the days when Maruti could just bring out a below average product and it would sell, now thanks for globalisation and fierce competition from the Nissan Renault Alliance, Maruti Suzuki has been forced to up its game when it comes to the entry level hatchback segment.
While Renault has given Maruti Suzuki a real run for its money with the Kwid, Datsun which falls under the Nissan umbrella also plans to bring out the Redi-GO soon with a price tag which might be even lower than the Kwid. All three of these hatchbacks are powered by a 0.8L petrol engine, however the motor in the Kwid and the RediGO puts out more power than the one in the Alto 800. To a layman the difference is almost negligible. However, the Datsun Redi-GO does have a quicker 0-100kmph time of 16 seconds while the Alto 800 take 19 seconds to get to that mark.
THE REDI-GO AND THE KWID BOTH HAVE A TOP SPEED OF 135KMPH BUT THE ALTO 800 CAN GO UPTO THE 140KMPH MARK MAKING IT THE FASTEST IN THE LOT.
In terms of fuel efficiency the Datsun Redi-GO and the Renault Kwid both boast a fuel average of 25.17kmpl. On the other hand, the Alto 800 petrol variant has a fuel average of 24.3kmpl but its CNG variant returns 34.4kms to a kilogram. The CNG variant of the Alto 800 is more expensive to buy and does not come at the same price point as the Kwid and the Redi-GO. In terms of build quality both the Kwid and the Redi-GO offer buyers exceptional build quality. But we found the Alto 800 had a better build quality than the Kwid and the Redi-GO. All three of these vehicles have been engineered in a frugal manner and distinguishing which one has a better build quality can be tricky.
WHEN IT COMES TO BUILD QUALITY, THE DIFFERENCE AMONG ALL THREE IS MARGINAL, WITH THE ALTO 800 AT THE TOP, THE KWID COMING SECOND AND THE SOON TO BE LAUNCHED DATSUN REDIGO AT THIRD.
In terms of driving and handling, the Datsun Redi-GO is the best of the lot, the vehicle provides drivers with a high POV of the road and is also the smallest in terms of dimensions thus being the easiest to maneuver through traffic and to park in tight spots. The Alto 800 however has the smallest turning radius of 4.6 meters but in terms of size the vehicle sits in between the Kwid and the Redi-GO. The Renault Kwid, however, has the longest wheelbase and thus offers the most amount of space out of all the entry level hatches in town, while the Redi-GO has the smallest wheelbase. The suspension setup in the Kwid and the Redi-GO are more or less the same and there is a marginally different setup in the rear suspension of the Alto 800. The ride of all three vehicles is solid over broken roads and smaller potholes. The deeper ones however can be a real bother. This is where the RediGO beats the lot with a jaw dropping ground clearance of 185mm.
IN TERMS OF FEATURES AND CONVENIENCE THE KWID TOPS THE LOT WITH A TOUCH SCREEN INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WHICH IS BLUETOOTH, AUX, USB ENABLED AND DOUBLES UP AS A NAVIGATION SYSTEM AS WELL.
The Alto and the Redi-GO only offer customers a simple audio system which is USB and AUX enabled. All three vehicles offer adequate amount of bottle holders and cubby holes for the front row occupants however there are not too many storage spaces available for the rear seat occupants on any of these vehicle. In terms of luggage space the Kwid tops the lot with an impressive 300 litres of boot space, while the RediGO offers only 220 litres and has a high loading lip. The Alto 800 scores poorly on this front with a meager 177 litres of boot space. We found the seating in the RediGO to be the most comfortable with enough headroom and shoulder room for all occupants. However in terms of leg room and knee room the Alto 800 has the best space on offer. These vehicle being compact in size can fit four large adults comfortably but five would be a squeeze.
In terms of design and styling each of these vehicles is unique in their own way but the Kwid and the Redi-GO have a more contemporary style than the Alto 800 which has received a facelift but the overall design philosophy remains the same. The Kwid boasts of chunky and macho SUV like looks while the Redi-GO has a more stylish and urban looks. The Alto 800 has simple smooth flowing lines which can be appealing to some.
WE FOUND THE ALTO 800 TO HOLD THE BEST OVERALL PACKAGE BUT THE KWID IS NOT FAR BEHIND IN OFFERING CUSTOMERS MORE THAN WHAT THE ALTO DOES. THE PRICE OF THE REDI-GO IS YET TO BE SEEN BUT IF IT COMES IN AT CLOSE TO RS. 2.3 LAKH IT WILL BE THE BEST OFFERING IN THE SEGMENT.
Energizer and Assurance Intl Limited have collaborated on a new line of automotive oil that will be sourced, manufactured, and distributed in India to complement the existing STP product portfolio in ...
The Uno Minda D-90 horn has a two-year manufacturing warranty and is competitively priced between Rs 295 and Rs 855. It can be conveniently purchased from a variety of top-tier online and offline reta...
A two-stage side airbag from ZF Lifetec uses the milliseconds before an unavoidable crash to build up valuable distance and better protect the occupants.