- New design language emboldens kerb appeal while maintaining restraint
- Modern interior features contrast old-school design cues
- 180km range as per the Brazil INMETRO test cycle
Renault Kwid EV exterior design and dimensions
Renault's cheapest EV boasts a 290-litre boot.
The Renault Kwid EV measures 3,701mm in length, 1,767mm in width, 1,534mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,423mm; boot capacity is 290 litres despite its petite size. For reference, the wheelbase of India’s most affordable EV, the MG Comet, is 2,010mm. The Kwid EV facelift showcases Renault’s new design theme, and it utilises piano black and matte-finish trim at the front and rear.
Striking LED DRLs accentuate the bold look of this EV, while simultaneously helping it achieve an urbane demeanour. The protruding black bumpers and a sculpted bonnet add visual muscle to the Kwid EV’s exterior, though the conventional flap-like door handles and the now-outdated key-insert slot could have changed. Renault has retained the black plastic cladding for the doors and wheel arches.
Renault Kwid EV interior and features
Facelift introduces a new touchscreen and digital driver's display.
The interior of the Renault Kwid EV is a blend of old-school design choices and new-age technological updates. The upright dashboard and centre console is far from modern, while the scratchy plastic used around these areas appear low-rent and brittle. The manually adjustable climate control dials, though user friendly, are proof of cost cutting.
An interesting bit of design continuity in the cabin is the silver plastic garnish attached to the centre AC vents, which mimics the styling of the LED DRLs. There is also a flat-bottom steering wheel, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The latter allows users to mirror their smartphone screen via either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Renault Kwid EV safety features
ADAS tech is part of the update.
Enhancing the usability of the Renault Kwid EV facelift are its modern safety features, which include electronic stability control, front and rear parking sensors, and cruise control. There are up to 11 ADAS features that include tech such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist with lane-keep alert, and traffic-sign recognition with speeding alerts. Other nice-to-have safety gear include a reversing camera and hill-start assist.
Renault Kwid EV range and performance
A 26.8kWh battery pack offers 180km of range.
The updated Renault Kwid EV uses a single 48kW (65hp) electric motor that is powered by a 26.8kWh lithium-ion battery. It allows a top speed of 130kph, while 0-100kph takes a leisurely 14.6 seconds. The Kwid EV has a maximum range of only 180km, making road trips unfeasible.
The battery pack accepts AC charging of up to 7kW and DC fast-charging of up to 30kW. The chances of the Renault Kwid EV making it to India are slim.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Lenny D'sa
Saptarshi Mondal
