Renault Kwid facelift

After one year, we bid adieu to one of our most easy-to-use long termers

GENERALLY, PEOPLE ASSOCIATE cars from the entry-level small car segment with boring designs and utilitarian intentions but the Renault Kwid facelift is uncharacteristically attractive. Especially after switching from the off-beat S-Presso, the Kwid felt more pleasing to the eye every time I approached it in my garage.

A key USP of the Kwid is its compact footprint. Grocery runs in the congested old town, dropping Mom off at the physio clinic and visiting nearby friends are places where I normally ride a scooter. Thanks to the petite Renault, I was ticking off the domestic checklist without worrying about space, comfort and exposure to the rampant dust and pollution.

The perfect city car isn’t quite confidence inspiring outside the city though. The 1-litre BS6 engine could be punchier and despite the Climber moniker on this range-topping variant, the Kwid doesn’t exactly climb steep hairpins easily. With four adults on board, you have to plan ahead and ensure ample momentum is carried. However, the flipside to this is good fuel economy and you could always have a proud answer to the common ‘kitna deti hai?’ question.

If you’re looking for a stylish and comfortable city car, the Kwid certainly is worth considering. Meanwhile, yours truly isn’t particularly dewy-eyed thanks to a spanking new Vitara Brezza that awaits chugging some long miles. ⌧

After switching over from the off-beat S-Presso, the Renault Kwid felt more pleasing to the eye

Date acquired February 2020 Total mileage 5158km Mileage this month 640km Costs this month Nil Overall kmpl 15.7