The Renault Kwid is one of the most affordable vehicles in the entry-level segment. The small car offers plenty, and earlier this year Renault SA expanded its range by adding an automatic transmission to the line-up.

Read up on the latest Clio RS model to be launched in SA at this link.

We recently spent a week in the company of a test unit and came away with the following impressions.

Here are five things you should know about the Renault KWID AMT:

  1. Like many entry-level cars offered in South Africa (Toyota Etios, Honda Brio, Hyundai i10, etc), the Renault Kwid is manufactured in India. Many cars sold locally in this segment are sourced from India because, like us, this former colony also drives on the left-hand-side of the road… mostly. An added benefit of the source country is that its poor road system means the Kwid has 180 mm of ground clearance (comparable with most SUVs) and good ride quality.
  2. The Kwid AMT offers a best-in-class MediaNav navigation/multimedia system. The unit features a 7-inch colour, touchscreen interface. Functionality includes Bluetooth telephone connectivity with audio streaming, built-in navigation, USB and AUX-input ports as well as speed sensing volume control. The Bluetooth alone is still not a standard feature on all premium cars, let alone the navigation. Other standard features include electric front windows and keyless entry.
  3. It is an absolute lightweight. At 698 kg the Kwid is, incredibly, lighter than a modern F1 car. That low mass means that the little car can make do with just 50 kW of power and 91 N.m of torque from its inline, three-cylinder motor. Speaking of which…
  4. That engine configuration makes it sound like half a Porsche 911 (now there’s a car you probably didn’t think you’d see referenced in a Kwid review). Porsche’s iconic sportscar has a flat six engine, which is essentially two inline three-pots joined at the hip,… err, crank, hence the familiar soundtrack.
  5. You shouldn’t buy one. That is a bold statement, but hear me out. AMT stands for Automated Manual Transmission. This means that the Kwid has a manual gearbox with a regular clutch unit, but no clutch pedal. Shifting duties are handled by an electronic control unit. In theory that sounds fine, but the reality is quite different.
    • Firstly, the transmission requires some input from the gas pedal to engage the clutch, which means that on all inclines you either need to drive with both feet or use the handbrake (as with a normal manual car).
    • Secondly, the transmission takes an age to swap cogs. Not only is it slow, but it’s not smooth, which leaves all occupants bobbing their heads in unison at each shift. You can alleviate this sensation by lifting off the gas pedal just before you think it’s going to shift gears.. again, like you would in a regular manual car.
    • And lastly, when trying to zip into a gap the transmission lurches as it attempts to select a lower gear. In that process valuable time is lost making overtaking, and the likes, a nerve-wracking affair.

Read our Renault Duster 4×4 review here.

Summary

As the Renault Kwid AMT is aimed at novice/rookie drivers, the traits mentioned in relation to the transmission make it an unsuitable option. If you have to treat the driving process as though it is a manual car, you may as well just drive a manual car. In my opinion, you should save R10 000 and choose the manual Dynamique Kwid. That way you can enjoy all the highlights of the Kwid with none of the drawbacks of that, frankly, woeful transmission.

QUICK FACTS

Price: R146 900

Engine: 1,0-litre, inline three

Transmission: 5-speed automatic

Power: 50 kW

Torque: 91 N.m

Top speed: 152 km/h

0-100 km/h: n/a

Fuel consumption: 4,4 L/100 km