Renault Kwid review, test drive

Here too, the design is really impressive. The dashboard looks contemporary, as does the chunky three-spoke steering wheel. There’s a nice, glossy black, chrome-lined central console that looks good too, and the instrument cluster uses a large, sporty digital speedo; there’s no tachometer though. On the storage front, you get a pair of big door bins at the front to hold bottles, two glove boxes and a large recess between them. There are cupholders and a cubbyhole between the seats, but they feel a tad too shallow for all practical purposes. The AC vents also have chrome accents and can, rather neatly, be clicked shut, but they do feel a touch flimsy. And like with the exterior, you will start to see a few cost-cutting signs if you look hard enough, but they’re really no better or worse than other cars in this class. Things like exposed screws, centre-mounted window switches at the front, no power windows at the rear, and non retracting seatbelts at the back either – you have to adjust the length manually every time you buckle up. A lot of this is par for the segment, but since the Kwid looks so upmarket, you have to remind yourself about which segment it is in.

On that note, it’s interesting to see the way Renault has chosen the equipment here. It’s a budget car, so you don’t expect a lot, so things like the big multifunction touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, fog lamps, the optional airbag and navigation are incredible features for a car at this price. Renault has been clever to give customers desirable features like this, while saving costs in areas less consequential to the average budget car buyer.

It’s got the basics right, and a very big one is space. There’s no doubt that it’s the most spacious car in the segment, what with its class-leading dimensions that include a 2,422mm wheelbase. The front seats are just superb, especially with regards to the lateral support they offer, and the view out is of a long flat bonnet, just like in an SUV. Rear passengers are also well catered to on space, with a good amount of head, knee and shoulder room for two, and three in a pinch. The seat back angle is well judged too, but the bench is placed a bit low, so thigh support is only average. The 300-litre boot is big enough for cars two segments above, though at 28 litres, the petrol tank could have been bigger.