UPDATE: Renault Kwid facelift interior revealed ahead of launch
Renault India has released a first image of the updated Kwid, confirming a number of details we had seen from spy shots of the SUV-styled hatchback. As we had reported earlier, the refreshed Kwid borrows quite a few design cues from Renault’s City K-ZE – an all-electric budget hatchback for the Chinese market – which means that the most prominent change is the split headlight setup.
Like quite a few SUVs on sale in India – like the Hyundai Venue, MG Hector, Kia Seltos and Tata Harrier, for example – the upper section houses LED DRLs, while the main headlight unit is located lower on the bumper in a recess. A slim chrome bar stretches from the DRLs to Renault’s ‘lozenge’ logo. The current Kwid’s hexagonal radiator grille has been replaced with one that has horizontal slats. The new rear bumper – which gets reflectors on the sides – and LED elements in the tail-lights add a bit more flair to the rear.
The images also show that this is the higher-spec Climber model – the orange highlights around the headlights and on the wing mirror covers confirm this fact.
In order to give the new Kwid an edge over the soon-to-arrive Maruti Suzuki S-Presso, Renault will equip the facelift’s top-spec variant with features like a digital instrument cluster (with a tachometer), an 8.0-inch touchscreen (replacing the older 7.0-inch unit) with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. These bits, along with a new steering wheel unit, are expected to be shared with the Renault Triber.
When it arrives early next month, the Renault Kwid facelift will come with BS4 engine options – the same 54hp, 0.8-litre and 68hp, 1.0-litre petrol – though these will be upgraded to BS6-spec closer to the April 2020 deadline. As before, 5-speed manual and AMT gearbox choices will also be on offer.
Considering its main rival (in what is now becoming the micro-SUV segment), the Maruti’s S-Presso, is expected to be priced in the Rs 3.3-4.5 lakh (ex-showroom) bracket, the Kwid facelift will cost a small premium over the current model’s Rs 2.76-4.76 lakh price tag; it will be interesting to see if Renault manages to hold onto its share in this arena.
Click here for Renault India models, prices, reviews, images, videos and more
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
