Jul 09, 2016 03:26 PM
14508783 Views
(Updated Nov 02, 2016 08:55 PM)
This is not just a car. It is a complete package! Yes there are a few omissions but the accessions far outweigh them! As you read this review, notice the expressions beside the headers!
Design:-D
Need I mention it? It's awesome! I was very proud to see people stare at my car. It was even better when they asked me about it! Renault has brought the best design that India has ever known! Looks muscular and premium, especially the Outback Bronze color. The black plastics blend beautifully with this color. Paint quality is good. In a sentence, the existing competition can't beat it on the design front!
Features:-)
Plenty! I was always resigned to the impression that small cars would never offer all those useful features found in those so called premium cars. Kwid has changed that! The digital speedometer coupled with a touch screen navigation and multimedia makes it look futuristic! A first in A-segment cars! You also get the mist option on the stalk of the steering wheel. The interiors and seats are all acceptable and roomy. Kwid excels very well in the space department for a small car! A 5'10 feet person can comfortably sit behind a 6 feet driver(vice versa too)! Not to forget the 300 Liters boot space which is the second best among hatchbacks(Honda Jazz has 354 Liters)! Finally you can personalize the Kwid with a wide array of accessories.
Performance:-]
Performance is perfectly adequate. It's tuned for city commuting. Engine noise on the outside sounds like diesel but it's reasonably quiet within the car's cabin. Initial throttle response is immediate and responsive. Maneuverability and handling are neutral which is excellent. It responds to slightest steering movement and thus makes me feel in complete control of the car. This is perfect for first timers! Brakes are adequate but do lock up easily on hard braking. Certain steep inclines will require the 1st gear unlike some cars which can handle the same in the 2nd gear. It wasn't an issue for me and as I said it happens only on certain inclines. It isn't peppy like the Swift but it's perfectly adequate to drive this car. Gear ratios are excellent and they are easy to slot in. They are just a bit rubbery. And need I mention Renault's famed ride quality! It's the best man, period! The car is comfortable and it dismisses most potholes easily. Highway performance is good as long as the car's speed is below the 100 KM mark. Top speed is 132 KM. Overall mileage with AC on is 14 KMPL(my regular route always has heavy traffic). Though a peppy performance is preferable, I liked the overall performance of the Kwid.
Affordability:-)
"How the hell did Renault do that!". That's what Maruti - Suzuki and Hyundai are now wondering! They are now in their drawing rooms and preparing a strategy. And you know what? They are 2 years behind Renault in the small car department! That's how complacent they've become! God bless competition. The customers are the beneficiaries. At the price, Renault is offering the Kwid, it's a steal! I've bought the RXT model in April 2016(Rs. 3.73 Lakhs). My total investment amounted to Rs. 4.80 Lakhs! Never did I imagine getting this whole package within Rs. 5.00 Lakhs! Like I said the Kwid's design, performance, features and affordability makes it a steal!
Omissions:-(
Had Renault added certain features, it would have been the perfect affordable small car launched in India! Perhaps even in the world! By India's standards, I'm not surprised to see how the Kwid fared in the crash tests. Zero ratings! The Alto is even worse! But I am really disappointed that even the top RXT variant lacks ABS! That is the basic safety I was expecting! Customers like me are even willing to pay extra for it! No internally adjustable ORVMs. It's annoying that Renault has made it an issue. Next. It's an eyesore and an inconvenience to see and wear those non retractable seat belts on the rear seat. And finally there is no rear wiper. It's the one thing I can live without! I don't think it was a big deal for Renault to add all these features at least to the top RXT variant.
The only reason I see is that, Renault has another small car in it's stable; the Pulse! How it would've been totally ignored if the Kwid had all these features! Get my drift?
Additional Information:-]
Air Conditioning is alright and just enough to keep the cabin cool. Touchscreen experience is good but isn't perfect. The speakers are at best average necessitating a decent upgrade. You can add the internally adjustable ORVMs, retractable rear seat belts and even the rear power windows to the Kwid. Renault is offering the rear power windows as an accessory! However the others are offered only by third parties. Renault is also offering the latest Maps for free that's valid for a limited period of time starting from the date of purchase.
Cars in the A-Segment are flimsy! So it isn't surprising that the Kwid, Alto and the Eon etc. are all flimsy. These cars aren't safe. Accidents must be avoided at any cost because they can be fatal to drivers of these cars. I have driven the Kwid for about 500+ KM till date and so far I haven't faced any reliability issues. However I've heard that other Kwid owners have had some reliability issues. I surmise that the initial batches of Kwid had some manufacturing defects that were perfected in the subsequent batches. Renault must have addressed these issues through continuous feedback. My Kwid belongs to the 6th batch. Perhaps that's why I haven't had any issues so far. So if the car is non-defective you will like the Kwid!
Ownership experience is as important as the product itself! I don't know and cannot predict how good Renault will be on the ownership front but if I go by the reports, Renault is very serious about everything at least for now!
Conclusion:-D
Renault has got most of the things right with the Kwid. It has succeeded in the looks, space and price departments. The mileage aspect is a bit of an enigma! A number of factors ranging from driving styles to traffic can affect it. Only time will prove Renault's mileage claims. Renault did well to equip the Kwid with a first in its class features making it highly desirable. But it has erred in the area of safety by excluding the ABS at least as an option! Considering the Kwid's price, safety is one big compromise we've to live with!
The 1000CC / AMT Kwid will be out soon. It will address all the issues I've pointed out. The price will probably be a little over a lakh more than this 800 CC Kwid but then it's the price to pay for safety, power and superior quality! It is recommended to wait and go for it. But if you are price conscious, the current RXT Kwid is an excellent option! To conclude, the Kwid is a value for money package with a great promise!
Update as on 02/11/2016:-D
Well, I had earlier had some reservations about the Kwid's mileage. All those concerns have now been allayed! As you probably heard, Renault has recalled the Kwids manufactured till 18th May 2016 for a faulty fuel hose and system. I have sent my Kwid as it was made in March 2016. Upon inspection, my car's fuel system was found to be faulty. That was the reason my overall mileage was 14 Kmpl. The engine was reprogrammed after the fuel system rectification. All this was done at no additional cost. As a result the mileage has improved so much that it's now around 18 - 20 Kmpl. The highway mileage is about 21 - 22 Kmpl. The service as well as the staff behaviour has improved as well. This shows how much Renault is focusing on the customers! In all, I'm happy to have bought the Kwid!
