Kwid gets 20 aspects of refinement with facelift, but needs a heavy foot
There’s no change in the latest Kwid’s dimensions as it’s a facelift rather an all-new car, but with more than 20 aspects of refinement from the old car.
The important ones include a new digital cluster, a new steering wheel and a MediaNav multimedia system running through a larger 20.32cm touchscreen display. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available in the higher models, while ABS brakes and two airbags come standard.
The car has many storage nooks for loose oddments, as well as drinks holders, and the cubby is one of the biggest I’ve seen in any car. But one annoyance in the top-range Climber I drove is that the powered window buttons aren’t on the expected location on the doors but planted on the main dash area alongside other buttons.
Tall adults will find the Kwid suitably roomy as there’s enough head, leg and shoulder room. According to Renault, the boot capacity has marginally decreased to 279l from the 300l of the old car due to a newly designed rear axle.
Rear visibility is also good and the Kwid’s relatively square shape helps with ease of parking. Top models also get a rear parking camera and sensors. Only one engine is offered: a gruff sounding 1.0l, 3-cylinder which can be paired to either a five-speed manual or five-speed automated manual gearbox.
With 50kW and 91Nm available, performance is what I’d call a little underwhelming but suitable for the application.
You need to rev the engine and stoke that transmission to keep the revs high for a clean and speedy get away from traffic lights or to reach highway speeds. Once you venture out of town and onto highways, it sails sufficiently on steep descents but needs well-timed downchanges to maintain some momentum on inclines.
It brakes better too, thanks to ABS with EBD but, put simply, it’s nowhere near as lively or a refined drive as some rivals in its market.
The Kwid’s ride is mediocre, more than bad on potholed urban roads. The suspension doesn’t absorb fissures well enough. The steering feel is light enough for ease of quick Uturns
and parking in tight spots. A beefed-up rear axle and larger wheel size have boosted sturdiness on the move because things felt a lot better on the highways. It isn’t easily unsettled by lane changes at speed. It’ sa decent enough drive that may need you to crank up the audio volume to drown out the slightly lowered but still audible threecylinder engine thrum, rushing wind and road roar.
As with the majority of its peers, the new Kwid has a noble task of providing transportation for first-time buyers, budget seekers and perhaps even empty-nesters. Some failings of the old car have been ironed out and some of its better traits have been retained.
Renault openly admits it expects no change in its crash ratings of one-star, but it’s gone and fitted a safety-belt warning bong, just in case.
Despite this disappointment, the company remains confident the Kwid is still just the car that SA buyers need. It looks better, has jacked-up spec and, best of all for would-be buyers, overall it’s four grand cheaper than the outgoing model.
Prices
Renault Kwid Expression Sce — R144,900 Renault Kwid Expression AMT 1.0l Sce — R154,900 Renault Kwid Dynamique 1.0l Sce — R154,900 Renault Kwid Dynamique AMT 1.0l Sce — R164,900 Renault Kwid Climber 1.0l Sce — R164,900 Renault Kwid Climber AMT 1.0l Sce — R174,900
The new Kwid range is available with one-year comprehensive insurance cover, a twoyear service plan, and a fiveyear/150,000km mechanical warranty and a six-year anticorrosion warranty. Services take place at 15,000km. 1.0l