Renault, the French automaker, seems to have got firmly in its grasp the pulse of Indian auto lovers for the second time in just a short span of three years with an obsession with style, quality to survive the numerous tests and value for money.
The launch of Renault Kwid, heralded as an entry-level car, has set tongues wagging with its chic and sporty styling. True to its words, the company, which re-defined the SUV segment in the market with Duster, stalks the small car segment that boasts of Maruti's Alto, Hyundai' Eon and below the pecking order, Datsun's Go with an SUV inspired design that packs many punches.
For the discerning, Renault Kwid has the complete package, styling and features with stunning festive price tag starting at a jaw-dropping Rs 2.56 lakh, ex-showroom.
These and many other features make Kwid potent to take on its other competitors and ensconce itself in its own space.
And here is why. The Indian motor enthusiasts' quest for fuel efficiency is legendary, captured aptly by the famed lines, "KitnaMilega?" (What is the mileage?).
Mileage
To begin with, Renault with its new Kwid hatchback claims to offer a mileage of 25.17kmpl, which is not just the best-in-class compared to Maruti Alto and Hyundai Eon, but also the best fuel-efficient car in the country as of now in the petrol segment.
First pseudo-SUV styling, value for money
With the Kwid, Renault has forayed into a new segment. When the definition of the crossover segment is changing every day, Renault has tried to mash-up a hatchback with an SUV and the outcome seems promising.
Another talking point is contemporary design, new technology yet high on value; Kwid hatchback comes with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, another first in this segment. It comprises USB, Bluetooth, music, AC, power steering, air bags, GPS navigation on the high- end variants, features usually associate with cars in the premium segment.
Boot space
At 300 litres, Renault Kwid once again takes the lead in its segment. The Kwid also has the best-in-class length at 3,679mm and width at 1,579 mm, which means better interior space, legroom, and headroom.
Ground clearance
If you are looking for a small car, which can take on the potholed, rough roads that we associate with the country, Kwid is the best choice with a class-leading ground clearance of 180mm. While Maruti Alto's ground clearance is a mere 160mm, Hyundai Eon stands slightly better at 170mm of ground clearance.
Pricing
And this is the best of the lot. At a time, when auto corridors were speculating a price tag in the range of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, Renault surprised the industry with an aggressive price tag starting at Rs 2.26 lakh. Renault Kwid is priced in the range of Rs 2.56 to Rs 3.53 lakh. And this also tells us that how the localisations of the models help the automakers to strike the right chord with the buyers in India.
When we add the timing of launch, you may say, well here, we have it. Another game changing moment by Renault!
