The brand new Renault Kwid urban crossover model is generating a tremendous amount of excitement in the Indian market. Within just 2 weeks of its launch, Renault has already received 25,000 pre-orders for the Kwid from Indian consumers.
The appeal of this small-sized crossover for first-time car buyers lies in its sporty and versatile design, as well as its affordable price. In the Indian market, the Renault Kwid is priced between 256,968 and 353,000 Rupees, which is equivalent to 87 to 120 million Dong.
Renault also mentioned that the customers who pre-ordered the Kwid come from various backgrounds and regions in India. Specifically, nearly 40% of the pre-orders are from customers under the age of 28. This is not surprising considering that this age group typically consists of young customers who may not have the financial means to afford more expensive cars.
Furthermore, 15% of the pre-orders are from women. This can be attributed to the fact that the Renault Kwid has a small and attractive design, making it suitable for urban environments and appealing to women who prefer cute and compact cars.
In addition, almost 35% of the pre-orders are from smaller cities such as Rajkot, Nagpur, Nashik, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana. With its affordable price point, the Renault Kwid is undeniably a suitable choice for individuals with lower incomes in these smaller cities in India.
“The game has truly changed. The order numbers demonstrate that the Renault brand has gained recognition among many Indian consumers. The low fuel consumption and maintenance costs have excited and enticed consumers to choose the Renault Kwid,” stated Mr. Sumit Sawhney, CEO of Renault India, in an interview with The Economic Times.
The Renault Kwid is currently available at 175 authorized dealerships throughout India, with plans to increase the number of dealerships to 210 by the end of 2015. Additionally, Renault is also testing dedicated applications and virtual showrooms for the Kwid to reach customers in areas without physical dealerships. According to Renault, the Kwid app has been downloaded more than 230,000 times in India.
Built on the CMF-A platform, a collaboration between Renault and Nissan, the new Kwid offers compact dimensions, with an overall length of 3,679mm, width of 1,579mm, height of 1,478mm, and a wheelbase of 2,422mm. Furthermore, the Kwid has an impressive ground clearance of 180mm, making it suitable for the road conditions in India. The fuel tank has a capacity of 28 liters.
Under the hood, the Renault Kwid is equipped with a 3-cylinder, 0.8-liter petrol engine. The engine delivers a maximum power output of 54 horsepower at 5,678 RPM and a peak torque of 72 Nm at 4,368 RPM. A 5-speed manual gearbox transmits the power to the wheels. According to Renault, the Kwid has a fuel efficiency of 25.17 km/l, which is equivalent to 4 liters per 100 km, as tested by ARAI in India.
Additionally, Renault has announced plans to introduce a more powerful 1.0-liter petrol engine and an automatic transmission option for the Kwid in the near future.
The top-of-the-line variant of the Renault Kwid in the Indian market is equipped with power-assisted steering, air conditioning, power-adjustable front windows, fog lights, keyless entry, MediaNAV system with a 7-inch touch screen, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and AUX ports, and an optional driver-side airbag.