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The Renault Kwid is the carmaker’s most affordable offering in India, with an ex-showroom starting price of Rs 4.53 lakh. It just got a notable facelift in Brazil. The first pictures of the updated hatchback have now surfaced. They stay quite close to the renders that we had created previously. The facelift gets a major design makeover and a more upmarket cabin with revised feature list.

The exterior design of the new model has evolved significantly. It now aligns better with Renault’s global design direction which we saw with models like the Kardian and the Boreal. The bulk of these changes can be seen at the front. The new Kwid gets a completely redesigned front bumper. It now has prominent and voluminous contours. This approach makes the hatchback look wider and more modern.

The grille has also been redesigned. It now gets a glossy black finish and would remind you of the Kardian and Boreal. Renault’s latest logo sits at its centre. LED DRLs are now standard across the range. As we had seen with the previous model, the actual headlamps sit lower, forming a split-lighting arrangement. Slight changes can be seen in the design of their surrounds.

At the rear, the tail lamps now get a translucent treatment. The tailgate gets Renault’s new logo. The reversing camera is now integrated into this logo. In Brazil, the top-of-the line trim is called the Outsider. It looks even more rugged and adventurous. It comes with two-tone colour options and an exclusive lower-bumper applique. Furthermore, it gets a shark-fin antenna, and new 14-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels as differentiating elements. The new Kwid comes with a 290-litre boot and has a ground clearance of 185mm.

That sums up the design changes outside. The overall proportions and compact footprint of the Kwid have been retained on the facelift. The update is therefore more about bringing the design and technology up to date, than bringing about a radical change in the vehicle’s character.

The 2027 Kwid packs significant changes inside. The overall cabin quality has improved a lot. The dashboard has been redesigned completely. Previously, it used to look basic. Now, the design feels more modern and sophisticated. The steering wheel is now a new, chunky four-spoke unit which carries the company’s new visual identity.

The upholstery varies depending on the variant chosen. ‘Techno’ gets fabric seats with 3D blue pattern, Outsider gets synthetic upholstery with laser-engraved detailing. Don’t get muddled by these variant names. In India, the Kwid received an update in July this year. With that, the variant lineup has been simplified. The hatchback is now available in just two broad trims- Evolution and Climber. The Brazilian Kwid has three trims- Evolution, Techno and Outsider.

Circling back, the feature list has been revised on the new model. It gets a 7-inch digital display- more modern-looking than what’s seen on the outgoing car. Another big change is the central touchscreen. On the new Brazilian spec, it is a larger, 10.1-inch, floating-style display with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

There are no big changes in the engine. The 2027 model continues with the familiar 1.0-litre SCe three-cylinder petrol engine. It has an aluminium block and produces 71hp and 98Nm, on the Brazilian spec and when running on ethanol. (The India-spec’s 1.0L engine makes 68hp and 91Nm.) The focus continues to remain on ensuring maximum fuel efficiency than delivering outright performance. The update has also brought the Start-stop system to the entry-level Evolution trim.

On the safety front, the updated Kwid offers four airbags as standard across the range. Renault has also expanded the range of accessories for the Kwid, with the facelift. There’s even a ‘Kwid Pet kit’ on offer, for people who travel with animals. It includes a pet seat, seatbelt adapter and protective net.

It was only in July this year that Renault updated the Kwid here. It would thus be too soon to launch this model here. We expect Renault India to take a more balanced approach here. The outgoing model is based on the CMF-A platform. It will move to the localised RGEP platform in the near future. The revised exterior styling and updated feature list may reach our shores when this shift happens. Renault will then be able to deliver a completely fresh experience with the Kwid.

Source | Image Disclosure / Rodolfo Buhrer