Faceoff: Renault Kwid 1.0 AMT Vs Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 AMT Comparison

Maruti Suzuki's Alto has been the mainstay of the auto manufacturer and is the best selling car in India, selling nearly 3 million units from the time it was launched. Now, to shake up the topper is the Renault's Kwid, which is one of the best-selling small cars currently.

Also Read: Renault Kwid First Drive Impression

At the recently held Auto Expo 2016, Renault unveiled the Kwid 1.0 litre AMT (Automatic Manual Transmission) spicing up the war in the small car segment. Will the SUV-inspired small car - Kwid, take the cake and eat it too? Let's take a comparison route to find out.

Design

The Renault Kwid 1.0 litre AMT carries the same design from its sibling, the Kwid 800cc. However, the Kwid AMT will sport chequered graphics on the side panels, and 1.0 litre badging and, of course, the Easy-R badging signifying the easy shift automatic gear knob.

The Easy-R dial is placed right under the 4.1 touchscreen infotainment system and can be put to neutral, drive and reverse with the turn of the dial.

The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 AMT design is a lot sharper than its predecessor, the headlamps are bolder and imposing, the air dam is sporty and aggressive, and Maruti has increased the wheel size to 13-inch. The car is marginally roomier compared to the previous Alto.

The AGS gear knob is the conventional stick with the option to shift to neutral, drive and reverse.

Overall Design Rating

• Renault Kwid AMT 8/10
• Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 7.5/10

Engine Specifications & Gearbox

The Renault Kwid AMT will be powered by 1.0-litre SCe (Smart Control efficiency) engine with dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. This will be mated to a 5-speed automatic gearbox. Renault claims the gearbox was developed in-house with the help of their Formula One experts.

The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 AGS is powered by 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, K-Next engine boasting higher compression ratio. This is mated to 5-speed automatic gearbox punching out 67bhp and 90Nm of torque.

Overall Engine Rating

• Renault Kwid AMT 8/10
• Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 7.5/10

Features

The Renault Kwid AMT is a complete rip off from the 800cc of the Kwid, including digital instrument cluster, chrome finished air vents, first in segment 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with the navigation system, and class best of 300-litres of boot space.

The Maruti Suzuki Alto AGS VXi variant does not come with airbags, however, Maruti has been offering dual airbags and ABS with EBD in its present launches, as the safety norm requires all cars in the country to provide this feature by 2017. The company could probably bring these features in the Alto too. Apart from these, there will be a gear shift digital display.

Overall Features Rating

• Renault Kwid AMT 8/10
• Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 7.5/10

Safety

As India moves to making it mandatory to fit cars with dual airbags, and ABS with EBS by 2017, all manufacturers will be making necessary updates to their cars.

The Alto K10 does not have all of these features, however, Maruti will be looking to upgrade this and offer it to customers.

The Renault Kwid 800cc comes with driver side airbags and no ABS or EBD. The Kwid AMT will mostly get all these features as standard.

Overall Safety Rating

• Renault Kwid 8/10
• Maruti Suzuki Alto 7.5/10

Pricing

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 AGS (Automatic Gear Shift): Rs. 4.06 lakh

Renault Kwid 1.0 AMT (Automatic Manual Transmission): Rs. 3.10 to 3.90 lakh

*All prices ex-showroom (Delhi)

The Renault Kwid AMT is expected to be launched later this year.

Verdict

The Renault Kwid AMT will be a great competition and could threaten to shake up the market leader, the Maruti Suzuki Alto. However, the humble Alto is still the most preferred car for the Indian customers and Maruti's post sales service is at its best. The Renault Kwid AMT is capturing the imagination of the youth and is indeed a good looking car.

YouTube Video: Renault Kwid Racer & Climber (Concept) Unveiled