With purposeful SUV styling and modern features, the Renault Kwid seems like a good option for a city runabout, and a cost-effective way to transport your family. Is it a good choice, or should you look elsewhere?
The Renault Kwid is powered by a 999cc engine, capable of 50kW and 91Nm of torque. Up until recently, there were many Kwids in the local lineup, with prices ranging from R162 900 for the entry-level Life model at R174 400 to R205 400 for the Climber auto (when this article was first published in April 2021).
Fast forward to September 2023 and there are only two Kwids in the lineup: The Kwid 1.0 Climber manual (R209 999) and 1.0 Climber auto, R219 999.
So how does the Kwid fare in terms of the following?
Safety
The Kwid was met with criticism when it first launched (due to its lack of ABS brakes), but Renault soon pulled up their socks and quietly added two airbags on every model as well as ABS. If you’re going to buy a Kwid, make sure that your Kwid is equipped with ABS, or walk away from the sale.
If you’re buying used, it’s important to take note of the following: From Life derivatives upwards, a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay / Android Auto for hands-free motoring is standard, and the screen serves as the rear-view camera display. Bluetooth, central locking, LED daytime lamps and park distance control (in the rear) are standard across the board.
The Kwid has a two-star safety rating which is rather poor, but for folks who live in small towns and don’t do much highway/high-speed driving, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Be that as it may, crash tests are conducted at about 60 km per hour, so just be a defensive driver if you do plan on operating a vehicle that doesn’t have a great safety reputation.
Fuel Economy and general drivability
When it isn’t fully laden with passengers, the Kwid consumes about five to six litres per 100 km. Unfortunately, you have to work hard to keep the lukewarm, 3-cylinder engine on the boil, stirring that gearbox all too often. I certainly wouldn’t recommend the hesitant AMT transmission (automated manual transmission) at all — stick to the 5-speed manual models if you must buy a Kwid.
The Kwid is not what I would call fun to drive; there is a general lack of interior quality and plenty of vibration coming through the steering wheel and centre tunnel. The road/wind noise is rather irritating too. The Kwid itself doesn’t feel as stable as it should, either, hence my recommendation as a car for small-town life.
Let’s be honest, there’s plenty more out there that drives better and has better safety credentials, like the latest Suzuki Celerio which has stability control as standard.
Space
The Kwid is aimed at everyone from first-time car-buyers to the cash-strapped small family. If you have more than 2 kids, rather opt for something slightly larger and more sturdy, like the 7-seater Renault Triber.
The Kwid’s boot isn’t very spacious either, at 279 litres. But in this price range, this is what you get; don’t expect much more space from the Kwid’s opponents. At least the rear seat can be folded down to make more room if you require the odd trip to the nursery or you need to transport larger items.
Verdict
The handsome Kwid has its good points and its bad points, but being a mom, safety and decent interior quality are must-haves for me.
Still keen on a Renault? Rather opt for a second-hand Renault Sandero, which is a solid-feeling little car with traction control as a standard feature, and scored highly in GlobalANCAP’s crash tests. It consumes even less fuel than the Kwid.
Other cars (new and used) to consider include the new Toyota Vitz, Ford Figo, Toyota Yaris, Kia Picanto, Suzuki Celerio, Suzuki Swift, Suzuki Ignis, Toyota Aygo, Toyota Agya, Toyota Etios, Hyundai Grand i10, and Honda Brio.
Bigger used cars for the same price as the new Kwid?
May we suggest the Suzuki Baleno from the segment above? Spacious, nippy, low on petrol, and safer than the Kwid. Check out these deals on Balenos on AutoTrader, here.
And, don’t forget about the humble sedan. Look for used Polo Vivo sedans, Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze, Kia Rio sedans, and many more sedans from R100k to R200k here.
Keyword: Is the Renault Kwid good for families?