16 – AUTONEWS - AA CLUB OF KENYA MAGAZINE
NEW VEHICLE
REVIEW
Renault Kwid: Is this the
solution to used vehicles?
We spent a little time with Kenya’s most affordable new passenger car
and Trevor Lamenya shares his opinion.
U
nemployment
in Kenya was at
17.3% in 2015,
the highest in the
region. Entrepreneurship is
one way to alleviate the youth
from joblessness. Today I
review a car most suited for
the urban private transport
business. The past two years
has seen a steady rise in
taxi-hailing apps that have
revolutionized the sector by
incorporating technology into
the business.
This has provided opportuni-
ties for the youth as it empow-
ers them to become entrepre-
neurs. Normally one would
look for a fuel-efficient vehi-
cle with an engine capacity
ranging between 1000-1500cc.
It would need to be easy to
maintain and comfortable
enough for the customer. Top
of mind would be a Toyota
Belta, Nissan Tiida or Honda
Fit. It is important to note that
these 7-year old grey imports
do not have warranties and are
not built for our local condi-
tions.
Luckily Renault Kenya has
an interesting proposition, the
Renault Kwid. This vehicle is
good looking and its SUV-
inspired style is part of Re-
nault’s new design language.
Sharp creases on the bonnet
and bulging fenders give it an
aggressive stance.
Interior
The first impression when
you enter the Kwid is that it
doesn’t feel like an entry-level
compact vehicle. Renault used
quality plastics all through the
cabin. One thing that makes
the car stand out is its interior
features that no other car in
the segment offers - a mul-
timedia system with satnav,
Bluetooth and USB connectiv-
ity, on-board trip computer
and a gear shift indicator.
In relation to space utiliza-
tion, the engineers got it right.
Being a rather bulky person I
do appreciate the fact that the
front seats are pretty comfort-
able and there’s ample leg
space at the rear. The rear
seats are not sufficiently bol-
stered but is as comfortable as
the Mazda Demio. Young la-
dies adore these sub-compacts
due ease of maneuverability
and boot space. With 300
litres at the back, it’s the big-
gest amongst all small cars. In
fact, it even has more luggage
space than the Toyota Vitz.
Engine
Renault developed two ef-
ficient engines specifically for
the Kwid. One is the 3-cyl-
inder 795cc unit churning
40kW and mated to a 5-speed
manual gearbox, the other
is a 999cc engine that deliv-
ers 51kW with an automatic
gerbox. These figures may
look measly on paper but with
the vehicle weighing only
660 KG, its power-to-weight-
ratio is impressive. Power is
delivered to the front wheels
courtesy of a close ratio
5-speed manual or automatic
gearbox that allows you to
exploit the full potential of the
engine. You will experience
average fuel economy figures
of 25 kilometers per litre for
both models.
The Drive
Driving the Kwid is the best
part of the review. If you think
795cc is not sufficient, think
again as the Kwid blew my
mind away. There’s adequate
power delivery through the
gears especially if you short-
shift, it makes things sweeter
while driving in the city.
Renault has taken into account
Kenyan road conditions and
set up the car rather well.
Potholes are tackled with ease