Currently reading: New Renault Kwid hatchback tested by Autocar India
A-segment hatchback will be offered in India in the second half of this year, and could find its way to other emerging markets

Renault revealed a new A-segment hatchback dubbed Kwid earlier this year, which will be launched in India before the end of 2015.

Based on the KWID concept of 2014, the new hatchback is described as “eminently modern” and comes with “unprecedented features for its segment”.

Now, Autocar India has tested the new model in the video below.

The Kwid is based on the new CMF-A platform - part of the Common Module Family architecture produced by the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Designed to be as versatile as the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, the CMF architecture represents significant cost savings for Renault-Nissan.

The new hatchback features SUV-inspired styling, including plastic body cladding around its lower edges and a bold, aggressive front bumper. It’s also raised up, with 180mm of ground clearance.

Inside, the five-door Kwid gets a digital instrument cluster and a 7.0in central infotainment screen.

Interior dimensions haven’t yet been specified, but Renault says the Kwid will offer Indian customers best-in-class boot and interior space.

Renault has only released details of one engine which will be offered in the Kwid, a new 0.8-litre petrol unit which will be "extremely well positioned in terms of fuel consumption." A new five-speed manual transmission will also be offered.

The company currently offers its Pulse hatchback in India with 1.5-litre diesel and 1.2-litre petrol engines.

Renault refers to the hatchback as a global model, suggesting it could find its way to other emerging markets and countries - such as Russia, Brazil and China -  in the future. The company has confirmed there are no plans to bring the Kwid to Europe.

Currently, 46% of Renault’s sales come from outside Europe, compared to 37% in 2010. With national sales increasing, India stands to be the world’s third-largest market by 2020. A-segment cars currently account for 30% of the country’s retail sales.

The French firm says it plans to increase its share in the growing Indian market from 2% to 5% in the medium term.

Renault first entered the Indian market as an independent brand in 2010, and has its own design centres in Mumbai and Chennai. It had 157 dealers across the country in 2014, a figure expected to increase to 205 dealerships by the end of this year.

Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn said: “The Kwid will enable Renault to continue its expansion and address the needs of customers who want a vehicle that is stylish, robust and easy to use.”

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Renault says the Kwid will be launched in India with a price tag of between 3 and 4 lakh rupees, which equates to roughly £3000-£4000.

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JIMBOB 17 September 2015

Come on Renault, it's surely a no brainer

Bring this over to the UK (either as a Dacia or preferably Renault) for about £6750, and put a better engine/setup in the Twingo so it is a proper warm/hot hatch for £9k, instead of an understeering cramped portaloo. What's really stopping this?
Adrian987 26 May 2015

One Twingo

I've seen one Twingo, parked up in a side street. Oddly tall looking. Maybe that puts people off. The Kwid looks much better from the pics.
AndyT 20 May 2015

I like the name Kwid and the

I like the name Kwid and the car. I agree that you don't see any new Twingos in the UK. Every time I think I might be seeing one it turns out to be the post-facelift previous generation.
LP in Brighton 20 May 2015

Yes indeed, what's happened to the new Twingo?

It would be good to see some actual sales figures because I have yet to see any new Twingos on the road (or for that matter any of its Smart sisters). As far as I remember it went on sale at about the same time as the Citroen C1 / Peugeot 108 / Aygo, and there are loads of these around - and I've even seen a couple of Suzuki Celerios. Could it be that people are not prepared to pay a premium for a Renault or do they loose interest when they discover it's a rear engine car like a Beetle, Hillman Imp or old Skoda?
androo 26 May 2015

I haven't seen a new Twingo or Smart yet either

It is odd that new Twingos and Smarts are so rare (as in non-existent) even now.