Renault's Auto Expo 2014 star, the Kwid, may look like a piece of static art, but, as we found out, it can be driven. And so we did.
So, finally, what was the Kwid like to drive? Under the skin, it’s an amalgamation of components borrowed from existing Renault products and some custom-made bits. The 1.2-litre turbocharged, direct-injection motor is mated to a dual-clutch automatic gearbox, a setup which is already seen on the Euro-market Clio hatchback. This engine's 120bhp rating is ample for the two-wheel-drive duty that the Kwid is offering up for now. On our drive, which by any yardstick was very brief, the Kwid felt hugely exciting. Which is saying a lot when you consider that we rarely exceeded 15kph. The wraparound windscreen and the low roof encapsulates you in an environment that we imagine is what fighter pilots are accustomed to.
But what made the Kwid truly thrilling were its concept-car origins. The Kwid felt fantastic, in the true sense of the word. The creaks and groans from the body were plenty, compliance from the suspension was non-existent, and when combined with the funky-pattern for the tyres, it meant going above 15kph would be like hitting a self-destruct switch, especially on the broken concrete we were driving on. Normally, concept cars are life-size carefully shaved clay-models or wood mock-ups. So the fact that the Kwid can actually be driven is an achievement in itself. Back to serious reviewing mode, the electric steering was effortless and the direct-injection turbo engine eager. Basically, driving the Kwid told us little, but we are glad we did, because there’s no two ways about it, the future of Renault’s compact SUV is being shaped here.