2018 Renault Kwid hatchback launched in India

Renault has just launched the 2018 model-year Kwid hatchback in the Indian market. There’s no price change, and the Kwid range continues to start from Rs. 2.67 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi. The top-end Climber AMT model is priced at Rs. 4.6 lakhs. There are no mechanical changes on the 2018 Kwid range but there are a bunch of cosmetic changes.

Among the prominent changes are – dual-tone speedster graphics that are present on the hood, roof and doors. Multiple colour accents are also offered to suit light and dark coloured models of the car. To sum it up, the cosmetic changes on the Kwid are limited to new graphics at multiple points on the exterior body.

The Kwid continues with 2 petrol engines, both 3 cylinder options. The 800cc engine makes 53 Bhp-72 Nm and the 1 liter engine makes 67 Bhp-91 Nm. Both engines get 5 speed manual gearboxes. The bigger engine gets a 5 speed AMT option. Good fuel efficiency are the high points of both engines.

The 800cc MT variants get an ARAI certified mileage of 25.17 Kmpl. The 1 liter motor delivers 23.01 Kmpl while the AMT version of this engine surprisingly does better, with a 24.17 Kmpl mileage figure. The Kwid is the lightest Renault car sold in India, with the base variant weighing just 699 Kgs.

Renault does not offer ABS on the Kwid, even as an option. However, a driver airbag is offered on the higher variants. The Kwid is the French automaker’s best selling car, and is based on the low cost CMF-A platform that the automaker has developed for emerging markets such as India and Brazil.

In the future, Renault will use this platform to launch a Kwid-based compact sedan and an MPV. The MPV is expected to be launched in India as early as next year, and will have 7 seats and a sub-4 meter form factor. Renault-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn recently revealed that the Kwid sold in India will also get an electric variant by 2020.