2017 Renault Kwid 1.0 long term review, first report

As for the rest of the car, I like how absorbent the suspension is, but I don’t like the steering that feels a bit light at high speeds. The Kwid 1.0 is priced a paltry Rs 24,000 more than the 0.8, but the fact is that this extra money is largely for the engine. My transition from the old Kwid to the new was fairly uneventful as there aren’t any major changes in the cabin. But this means you also get the same cool digital instruments and the all-important touchscreen. The sat-nav works as it should and the maps are mostly accurate; let’s not forget this is the same system offered as standard on the Duster and the Lodgy, both which cost twice as much as the Kwid. 

What this also means is that I still find the control stalks a bit too flimsy, as you often end up switching off the headlight when you toggle the stalk to switch on the right turn indicator. I would also have appreciated a rear wash/wipe function on this more expensive Kwid. Shockingly, it’s not even an option on the top-spec car. Also, there is only a single front wiper being offered on a car that costs almost Rs 5 lakh and that’s not good. If Tata can offer all these features in the similarly priced Tiago, why can’t Renault?

The Kwid 1.0 is still quite new to our fleet, so I’ll have to drive it around for some more time to get an accurate idea of the impact this larger engine has on my running expenses. But, so far, it points to a fuel economy similar to the 0.8 Kwid. In either case, the extra 200cc has enhanced my drive home by a massive margin. As a former Kwid 0.8 user, I will stick my neck out to tell you that the Kwid 1.0 is definitely worth the extra money.