Dealers have started accepting bookings for the Kwid

When Renault said that the Kwid would be priced between Rs 3 to 4 lakh our respect for the brand suddenly escalated. For Kwid is no SUV but an entry level car from Renault, and very truly we tell you, this is the coolest and the best looking hatch in town.

After the car made a fabulous cameo in the latest Renault’s TVC starring Ranbir Kapoor, the anticipation has gone much higher.Renault is expected to launch the Kwid hatchback during the 2015 festive season. While the company has not made an official announcement, certain dealers have started accepting bookings for the car at a sum of Rs. 25,000.

The Kwid will be powered by an 800cc, three-cylinder petrol engine that puts out 57 BHP. A 1.0-litre petrol engine is likely to be available later as well. Developed on Renault-Nissan alliance’s global CMF-A platform, Renault Group Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn said, “It was a combined effort from engineers in France, Japan and India.

The car will have 98 per cent localization,” adding that it could be exported to neighbouring countries only as shipping it to other emerging markets like Latin America will not be cost-effective. The small sized hatch segment lack in looks field as Alto K10 and Wagon R are not good lookers, yes they could be better than their previous generations but when compared to Kwid or Eon they fall short on looks.

Eon is a good looking car, but the crossover-like resemblance makes the Kwid a better and more stylish vehicle than the competition. And as we Indians have an affinity towards SUVs, this upcoming Renault’s offspring will work for many of us. The major design highlights include pronounced wheel arches, all-around body cladding, flickered bonnet, an incredibly placed nose flanked by blacked out headlamps, imposing fog lamp housing and a classy rear.

All of that is seldom seen in the class it belongs to. “The Kwid will be a game changer and it will be at the entry-level segment that accounts for 25 per cent of the Indian car market today,” Ghosn said after unveiling the car. Renault has also set a target of cornering five per cent market share in India and the new car will play a big role in it.

There are reasons why we have started liking the Kwid. The presence of a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system is quite impressive. The screen supports all the crucial media functions such as Audio, Bluetooth, USB and AUX connectivity as well as module for Sat-nav Technology.

The finishing around the touch-screen is in piano black, known for being a fingerprint magnet. The screen has been seen previously on Renault’s expensive models such as Duster and Lodgy. In this price bracket, the touchscreen infotainment will be a surprise package. The second most impressive feature of Kwid is its digital instrument cluster.

The digital cluster features a large readout for speedometer complete with a digital fuel gauge on the right. The cluster has been given a futuristic look with its orange back– lighting and a thin LCD strip at the base that acts as MID.

By:Augustin Kurian