Extra Dollops of Fun

Encouraged by the success of the 800-cc Kwid, Renaul have launched its 1,000-cc sibling. We drove this car from Chennai to Mahabalipuram and back.

- Aspi Bhathena

IT may be recalled that it was in May last year that Renault unveiled the Kwid and launched it a few months later SUV-esque small car has been a hit with Indian buyers in the entry-level segment Kwid set quite a few benchmarks in the segment. Besides, for the first time the In buyer had the option of buying another brand apart from Maruti.

Its muscular SUV look and a lot of interior space with a large boot puts the Kwid in the next segment for with a large boot puts the Kwid in the next segment for the space inside. It was the first car in the entry-level segment to have a full digital meter console and GPS navigation. The quality of plastic is also very good and the fabric seats are very comfortable and well-finished.

The car was launched with an 800-cc three-cylinder engine that gave good bottom-end and mid-range performance. Instead of sitting back and enjoying the Kwid’s success, Renault have now upped the game by increasing the engine capacity from 800 cubic centimetres to 1,000.