Renault Kwid versus Hyundai Santro

Kwid vs. Santro Comparison

When it comes to choosing compact hatchbacks in the budget range, the Renault Kwid is a model that immediately comes to mind. Besides being available at a low starting price, the Kwid comes with delectable features that add to its overall desirability.

The Hyundai Santro has always maintained its appearance as a tallboy compact hatchback. The new version of the Santro carries forward this legacy and provides one of the sturdiest on-road performances among other hatchbacks in its segment.

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Exterior Looks

The Renault Kwid comes in attractive colors and a seamless design, with its headlamps placed at a comparatively lower height than other compact hatchbacks. The frontal fascia flanked by its LED DRLs and the black skirting that engulfs the entire bottom part of the vehicle makes for a striking look. In addition, the muscular wheel arches get the additional skirting to protect the vehicle from unnecessary scratches and accentuate its overall looks.

In contrast, the Hyundai Santro has headlamps placed at a comfortable height on the frontal fascia. This hatchback comes with a much-rounded body structure compared to the Kwid. The body-coloured bumpers and the muscular wheel arches add to its overall imposing personality. The raised rear lamps accentuate its tallboy looks. The new Santro looks more stylish than its earlier version and performs better too.

Interiors and Comfort

The Renault Kwid has a high ground clearance of 184mm to make it look like an SUV at times. It reflects in its interiors as it enhances the ease of alighting and boarding the vehicle. The high-quality upholstery welcomes you to enjoy the excellent internal ambience of the vehicle. The infotainment system is placed perfectly at the centre to allow the driver to use it for navigational and entertainment purposes with utmost ease. One of the positive aspects of the Kwid is the ample space available in the boot to place your luggage during your long trips.

The Santro has a reputation to maintain as one of the cosiest-looking cars from the interior. The Mirror Link and iBlue Smartphone app for the audio remote control distinguish it from its earlier version. However, the space offered inside the vehicle remains the same. The Santro has adjustable driver seats placed at the perfect height to give you an excellent view of the road ahead. The elephant-inspired unique centre fascia provides the ideal link between its modern looks and traditional appeal. The 6.3cm Advanced Cluster with MID provides the right information to the driver and enables a safe driving experience. In addition, Santro has revamped the entire AC mechanism to provide high-quality comfort to all the occupants.

Engine and Performance

The Kwid is available in three popular trims, STD, RXT(O), and Climber (O). The STD variant runs on a 0.8L SCe petrol engine to deliver a decent mileage of more than 21kmpl. Similarly, the RXT and Climber models run on 1L petrol engines to ensure excellent mileage performance. This innovative engine technology optimises performance and fuel efficiency by monitoring the air-to-fuel ratio accurately. The powerful petrol engine mate with a manual transmission or AMT system for easy manoeuvrability.

The Hyundai Santro runs on a BS6-compliant 1.1L Epsilon MPi Petrol engine to deliver high power of 69ps @ 5500rpm and 10.1kgm torque at 4500rpm. This engine pairs perfectly with a 5-speed manual transmission system that allows smooth gear shifting with less noise. In addition, the new Santro offers a smart Auto MT that takes out the trouble of managing the clutch and the gears simultaneously. Thus, it enhances the driver’s confidence to a new level.

Ride, Handling, and Safety

The Renault Kwid features the mandatory dual airbags for the front-seat passenger and the driver. A seatbelt reminder is an innovative option that allows the driver to maintain safety discipline. Reverse parking sensors help you park the Kwid properly without any damage. In addition, this vehicle comes with ABS and EBD to ensure a high-quality braking performance.

Hyundai has revamped the Santro design by including 63% AHSS 25HSS (High Strength Steel) structure to absorb the maximum impact in a collision. In addition, the reverse parking sensors are helpful driver aids that ensure safe parking. Besides, the Santro comes equipped with a reverse parking camera. Other safety features include a rear window defogger, impact-sensing door unlock, and seatbelt pretensioners.

CarBike360 Says

Pricing-wise, the Renault Kwid is a good option. Besides, it offers an SUV-kind of feel when you enter the vehicle. The pricing range starts from Rs 3.32 lakhs and extends to Rs 5.48 lakhs for the Climber (O) Easy-R variant.

When it comes to style and performance, the Santro should get the nod. Pricing-wise, it is a bit higher than the Kwid but is still affordable. The lower-priced model comes at Rs 4.77 lakhs, with the top-end variant available at Rs 6.45 lakhs.