Call it sibling rivalry, two sides of the same coin, or whatever else that signifies two of a kind. It might not seem like it on the outset with the Datsun Redigo and the Renault Kwid looking so drastically different. But underneath, these are essentially the same car: same engine and gearbox, same platform and even the same suspension and tyres. The Kwid of course is better equipped but the Redigo is cheaper. So, if you wanted to spend less than Rs 5 lakh on the road for a reasonably well specced, citycentric car, which one should you go for?
The similarities between the two cars are difficult to spot, and that’s the right way forward for cars based on identical platforms but sold under different brands. The Datsun Redigo and the Renault Kwid use the same 3 cylinder, 799cc petrol engine. These have identical outputs too: the max power is rated at 53bhp and the peak torque is measured at 72Nm for both. There’s also no difference in the mapping or the way the power and torque is delivered.
But, on the road, the Kwid proves to be slightly quicker. It dispatches the 0-100kmph in 17.93 seconds against 19.01s taken by the Redigo. The two have similar top speeds though. Even in terms of driveability, the Renault proves to be slightly better. It is nearly a second quicker in the 20-80kmph run in 3rd gear and almost 4 seconds faster in the 40-100kmph run carried out in 4th gear. Under braking however, the Redigo posted a shorter stopping distance.
The Kwid, the more expensive of the two cars here, has better insulation on its side too. Now, in terms of engine refinement, there’s no difference between the two cars, but because the Redigo has skimped on sound deadening material compared to the Kwid, you can hear more of the engine, road and wind noise inside the cabin.
There’s, however, hardly any difference in the ride and handling of the two cars. Slow speed ride, especially over larger potholes and squarish bumps, is well rounded. And not once did we experience the suspension running out of travel or sending a rude jolt into the cabin on either car. There is a hint of jiggle to the ride over mildly broken surfaces, but nothing that will put you off. In fact, both these cars ride with the maturity one would otherwise associate with larger, heavier cars.
But, light and small they most definitely are. This becomes obvious at three digits speeds on the highway. The light steering on the Kwid and Redigo fails to give you the confidence to drive faster. They don’t feel very planted in a straight line either. But, around a set of tight twisties, the quick turn-in, the lift-off oversteer and the lack of momentum on both the Redigo and the Kwid, allow you to indulge in higher cornering speeds and fun than one would deem necessary for this class of cars. The Datsun is a hint more fun thanks to its quicker turn-in courtesy its smaller wheelbase.
So, if we had to pick between the Datsun Redigo and the Renault Kwid solely based on how they drove, it would be a difficult ask. But, in the end we’d take the Renault for it is slightly quicker but more importantly, it is quieter inside the cabin.
After the likes of the Micra and Pulse, the Sunny and the Scala, and the Duster and the Terrano, the Redigo and the Kwid come as a big relief. Not a single panel is shared between the cars. And to give the two a bigger differentiation, the two cars have different dimensions as well, down to the wheelbase.
The Kwid is longer and wider and it sits on a longer wheelbase, while the Redigo is taller and has higher ground clearance. The designs of the two cars follow different thought processes too. Renault has given the Kwid a mini-SUV stance and appeal, while Datsun or Nissan, has chosen to go for the ‘cross’ tag, even though the Redigo is definitely more of a modern-day, contemporary tall boy than an urban cross.
There’s another big difference: while the Kwid’s design has a more universal appeal, the Redigo with its over dramatic design is bound to polarise opinion. It might not be the best way forward given the lukewarm response to the Hyundai Eon, but at least, it has caught the Indian car buyer’s attention. And that to us, especially for a brand like Datsun, is half the battle won.
The two cars sport significantly different interiors as well. The newer Datsun has gone for lighter shades while the Kwid is a sea of black. Interestingly, the perceived quality between the cars remains identical. So, they don’t feel cheap but you know you are in a car with stiff cost targets. Between the Redigo and the Kwid, the Datsun is easier to get in and out of. It also has the better driving position. And the seats are nicer too in terms of design. But, the Redigo’s rear seat could have been firmer for better support.
The Kwid on the other hand is better loaded. It gets a touchscreen audio with Bluetooth telephony and satnav missing on the Redigo. It also gets central locking with keyless entry and two gloveboxes, again something the Datsun misses out on. What’s more, even though the Redigo and Kwid have equally comprehensive trip readouts including distance to empty, average fuel economy and gearshift indication, the Kwid setup looks chic while the Redigo’s borders at the boring. But then, the Redigo does get a tachometer missing on the Renault.
Now here’s the shocker: The Kwid might be bigger on the outside, but it’s the Redigo that offers more room! At the front, it’s close. The two have exactly the same head and kneeroom but the Redigo offers more shoulder and elbow room; meaning, it is wider on the inside compared to the Renault. At the rear too, the Datsun has more head and shoulder room, but thanks to the smaller wheelbase, it is short on kneeroom compared to the Kwid. The Kwid meanwhile also has a much bigger, usable boot.
Rank 2: Datsun Redigo S
Final Score: 330/600
Price: Rs 4.22 lakh, On the road, Mumbai
A close finish. But, then you’d expect that given the two cars are essentially the same, then be it performance, ride and handling or even quality for that matter. But, the Redigo finishes second mainly on account of having lesser equipment, poorer NVH and being a little slower off the line. Not that it doesn’t merit a purchase; on the contrary if you are looking for a car that has easier ingress/egress and a nicer driving position, not to mention lesser price, the Redigo is the car.
Rank 1: Renault Kwid RXT (O)
Final Score: 332/600
Price: Rs 4.65 lakh, On the road, Mumbai
The Renault Kwid wins this test even though it costs Rs 40,000 more. But then you can’t argue with that given it has a fancier audio system, satnav and Bluetooth, and central locking with keyless entry, all of which is missing on the Datsun. Plus, the NVH is a hint better adding to the slightly plusher image of the Kwid. As you can tell, when it comes to tangibles, the Renault has this in the bag.
Pictures by Kapil Angane
Click here to read our road test of the Datsun Redigo
Click here to read our comparison test of the Tata Tiago vs the Renault Kwid
Click here to read our comparison test of the Renault Kwid vs Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 vs Hyundai Eon
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