The Alto’s 796-cc unit, on the other hand, feels less lively and punchy. The refinement level and smoothness are decent, but the Renault’s feel is much better. And even though the torque difference is just three Nm, it’s not spread across the rev range in the Maruti, as you have to give it some gas before something substantial happens. The five-speed gearbox is good and shifts quite efficiently, though its taller ratios mean that you have to shift down constantly to work your way through slow-moving traffic.
Performance-wise, the Renault’s 65 kg less weight and better power and torque output mean that it is the obvious winner vis-à-vis the Alto when it comes to performance. Here are a few facts: the Kwid takes 18.97 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h whereas the Alto does the same in 19.38 seconds. The roll-on timings of the Kwid are also better as it goes from 40 to 120 km/h in 16.58 seconds. The Alto takes a few seconds more. This clearly portrays the positive side of less weight and more power.
After driving these two cars one after the other, I had no doubt about which handles the best. But before that, here is a bit about both the cars. The Maruti Alto’s suspension setup is slightly on the softer side which gives it good ride quality and bump-absorption, but it also means that the suspension cannot handle bumpy roads with grace. The steering also behaves vaguely and lacks proper feel and feedback. In corners, body-roll is present just like the brand in India and it can get bothersome quite easily. Stability at lower city speeds is not an issue in the Alto, but cross triple-digit speeds and you realise the need to slow down immediately.
The Renault Kwid, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of the Alto. Renault are known for their great handling and suspension combo and the Kwid is no exception. The setup reminded me of the Duster, because just like the Duster it went over most of the road undulations without a hitch. It felt as if the Kwid was swallowing bumps and potholes because I hardly felt any of them. In corners, body-roll did creep in, but it was manageable. Stability at high speed, however, can be bothersome. But I appreciate the fact that Renault did not compromise when it came to ride and handling as the Kwid is probably the best handling car in its segment with outstanding ride quality.
