These days, affordable new cars in the South African market are few and far between. Indeed, there isn’t much from which to choose below the R140 000 mark. The Renault Kwid, however, is a highly anticipated newcomer to the budget segment, thanks to its very competitive price and attractive list of standard features.
With an incredible starting price of R119 900, a five-year warranty, one year of comprehensive insurance and a list of equipment that includes electric power steering, electric front windows and Bluetooth audio, it beats most competitors on paper.
The Dynamique trim, which we sampled, adds even more to the equation for an extra R10 000. These additions include front fog-lamps, a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation and unique red-and-grey cloth upholstery.
This all sounds very promising, doesn’t it? But how does the Kwid – which shares its Renault-Nissan CMF-A platform with the Datsun Redi-GO – fare in the real world? Well, there are a few things working against it. For instance, it scored just one star in its (second) Global NCAP crash-test since it lacks ABS and has only one airbag.
Renault SA has hinted that the Kwid might be available with ABS at a later stage, but has not said when this will be. It does, however, promise that the Kwid will become safer and more refined though its lifespan.
A funky design
There’s no denying that for a simple budget car, the Kwid looks attractive. It gains the sort of design philosophy seen on the Duster and Sandero Stepway, including bold head- and tail-lamps, robust plastic cladding and lower door protection strips. It furthermore boasts ground clearance of 180 mm.
Both variants feature somewhat underwhelming 155/80 R13 steel wheels, covered by plastic hubcaps. The only exterior differences between the base Expression trim and the range-topping Dynamique model are the addition of front fog-lamps on the latter.
Compact interior
Again, as far as budget cars go, the interior is pleasing. The Dynamique model, with its touchscreen infotainment system and leather-wrapped steering wheel, looks relatively upmarket. It also has an appealing digital instrument cluster, which sadly lacks a rev counter, but clearly displays speed, fuel level and trip computer readouts.
Despite being filled with more toys than one might expect at this price-point, the interior packaging isn’t amazing. It has a generous 300-litre boot capacity, but this takes a fair bite out of rear legroom. Headroom is also not exactly liberal, while the steering column lacks any sort of adjustment. Another quirk is the omission of a foot-rest left of the clutch.
The driver and front passenger seats lack any meaningful contouring, which means that spending plenty of time on the road can be hard on one’s back. However, since this isn’t something many other cars in the segment get right either, it can be overlooked.
Thankfully, the Kwid features numerous storage compartments. Both driver and passenger gain very generous door trays as well as a few handy slots around the gear shifter. The Dynamique model also boasts two glove compartments, with a storage tray in-between.
A new engine
Powering the little Kwid is a new 1,0 SCe powertrain, which features aluminium components and a low-friction design that helps it churn out 50 kW and 91 N.m of torque. These figures, of course, aren’t too different to other naturally aspirated 1,0-litre engines in the segment.
This power is delivered to the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, but the Kwid doesn’t make use of electronic assists such as traction control. With a claimed mass of 1 105 kg, this gives it a power-to-weight ratio of around 45 kW/ton, a top speed of 152 km/h and a claimed consumption of 4,7 L/100 km.
How is it in practice?
Unfortunately, the Kwid gives itself away as a budget car as soon as you hit the road. While it offers a mostly comfortable ride thanks to its fair suspension travel and high-profile tyres, the short wheelbase seems to cause a bit of choppiness.
More concerning, however, is the electric power steering which, coupled with the small tyres, offers a very vague and unresponsive feeling. The faster you go, the more this becomes an issue – indeed, above 90 km/h things can become a little unsettled.
The tall design is also very susceptible to cross-winds, which means while fighting the forces of nature, the Kwid requires constant correction to the point it immediately becomes apparent that this little CUV is not equipped for highway speeds.
To add to this, the awkward transmission ratios, which include a short first, second and third and a long fourth and fifth, mean you’ll have to downshift (in some cases, twice) every time you encounter an incline or an overtaking opportunity. The sometimes clunky shifter doesn’t help matters, either.
Freeways jaunts, then, are a low-point for the Kwid. In urban driving environments, it feels far more at home; somewhat enjoyable, even. Having a short wheelbase and some short ratios, it’s a nippy little car. It’s quite tall, and lacks an anti-roll bar at the rear, so it can be lively in sharp corners, but it’s clear that the Kwid is designed for a particular environment and driving style.
Is it noisy?
NVH is better than most Indian cars, but wind noise around the mirrors is apparent. The three-cylinder petrol engine is quieter than I expected, even at higher revs. However, you can also hear a distinct whining sound, presumably from the driveshaft. Now and then, I also picked up a squeak or a rattle from the interior.
One-star NCAP
The Kwid initially scored zero stars in its Global NCAP crash-test, but after adding an airbag for the driver, it managed to improve to one star. We estimate that installing ABS would bump the price up by about R10 000, which is a relatively small price to pay and would still leave it competitively priced.
With road conditions and driving styles the way they are in South Africa, the benefit of safety features such as ABS should not be overlooked. Stopping in time (and staying in control) is, after all, crucial.
Summary
Renault should be applauded for creating a product that is this financially accessible and generously specced. However, the Kwid has too many flaws – chief among them the lack of ABS – to be recommended at first glance. In short-distance daily driving, the little Renault makes some sense, but it really doesn’t feel suited to highway driving.
It will be interesting to see how this model sells initially, given the fact it appears promising on paper. It will also be worth paying attention to how Renault further develops the safety of the Kwid, without bumping it up into a much higher price range.
Until then, approach the Kwid with caution. At first glance, it’s definitely a better package than the Datsun Go and it provides plenty of bang for buck. But this comes at a cost…
