First Impressions

While we all look out for the big things, it is the little things that actually make the difference. So while we enjoy the big fat SUVs in our garage, I decided to take on the little quarterback – the Renault Kwid.

First things first, in spite of its petite dimensions, the Renault Kwid does look its part as a mini-compact SUV thanks to its carefully carved proportions. At about 3800mm, it is as big as the Alto but its height makes all the difference. The tall stance, flared wheel arches and the two-part front fascia give the Kwid a visual brawn.

On the inside, the high window line and dash are also SUV-style, and the all-black interior does give it a premium look. It makes a nice first impression, especially with the touchscreen display on the top-spec RXT trim that we have along with the digital motor-bike like console.

The thick-grain hard plastics will certainly not fade for the next 20 years but will surely give you bumps on your forehead if you do not wear seatbelts. The 1.0-litre engine seems potent – it has a zing to it as compared to the 800cc mill. The gearing seems to be a tad tall, but that might be because I am used to the torquey old-school motors that died a decade-and-a-half ago.

Overall, it does make a good first impression and now it makes sense why the Kwid has been the only sub-compact hatch that has been able to make inroads into the Maruti Suzuki Alto territory and hold its ground as well. That is because it offers something different and of course, bigger than the Alto and the Eon models (bigger the better).

So in the three months that I will be spending with the Kwid, I will try and find if my first impressions stay true and what it’s like to do the 54 km long daily commute to work in the Renault Kwid 1.0-litre manual transmission car. Also marked on the cards is a 1500km trip to Konkan and of course, the multitude of unplanned ones.

Vehicle Stats

Variant – 1.0 RXT

Odometer reading – 5,800

Positives of the report – Big car looks, funky interior

Negatives of the report – N/A

Fuel Efficiency – N/A

Pictures by Kapil Angane