Feature-wise, the Renault gets further points for being offered with keyless entry and remote central locking whereas the Alto is not offered with these premium features despite being similarly priced. It is not only the features where the Kwid is ahead. Although this Renault is just slightly larger than the Alto, it excels when it comes to comfort and space. Appropriately contoured front seats provide just the right amount of overall support and generous amount of leg-, knee- and head-room in the cabin, all of which make the Kwid a more comfortable car to be in. The Alto has good room at the front but it can clearly do with more space at the back. Moreover, a 177-litre boot is no match for the Kwid’s 300-litre volume.
So far as quality is concerned, I would say that both the cars feature decent build quality and fit-and-finish; expecting anything more either from Maruti or Renault for this price would be asking for too much.
We now come to the mechanicals. Similar in nature, both the cars feature a 0.8-litre four-valve, three-pot petrol motor mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. But that is where the similarity ends. The Renault’s 799-cc engine produces 54 PS and 72 Nm whereas the Alto’s 796-cc engine’s output is rated at 48 PS and 69 Nm. The Alto also weighs a full 65 kilos more than the Kwid which tops the weighing scale at 660 kilos for the model we tested. So the white sheet clearly suggests that the Kwid has a better power-to-weight ratio.
In terms of engine character, the Kwid again seems to surpass the Alto. Refinement levels, smoothness and linearity are the strong points of the newly-developed three-pot motor. The 72 Nm of strong turning force is so well distributed across the rev range that you hardly feel the need to rev the engine unnecessarily. The slick five-speed gearbox is also quite good with precise and positive shifts. The smoothness of this engine is commendable. You can drive the Kwid in city traffic in the third or even fourth gear and it never hesitates to lunge forward. Its lively nature truly puts a smile on your face despite just having 54 horses.
