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Socialised Climber: 2020 Renault Kwid 1.0 Climber m/t

Better but not perfect

Main pics by Quickpic
Rearview by author
Posted: February 19, 2020

The numbers
Price: R164 900
Engine: 999 cc, three-cylinder, DOHC 12-valve, naturally aspirated
Power: 50 kW at 5500 rpm
Torque: 91 Nm at 4250 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 13.8 seconds
Maximum speed: 152 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 6.1 l/100 km
Tank: 28 litres
Luggage: 279 – 620 litres
Standard tyre size: 165/70R14
Spare: Full size
Ground clearance: 180 mm
Tow rating: Nil
Warranty: 5 years / 150 000 km
Service plan: 2 years / 30 000 km, at 15 000 km intervals

There are two kinds of people in South Africa: Those who side with the 1000-plus who vote with their wallets each month for affordable and well equipped new Kwids offering independent mobility, pride of ownership and freedom from the tyranny of the taxi industry. Then there are nay-sayers who insist that they’re unstable death traps.  

Renault’s entry-level hatchback has attracted some criticism for, mainly, a shortage of standard safety equipment. In 2016, when first introduced here, Kwid had only one airbag and no ABS but, like its Datsun GO cousin, people bought them in impressive numbers because they were all that regular working folk could afford.

A further criticism was that Kwid felt loose and wobbly at freeway speeds; especially in strong crosswinds.

To counter these objections, Renault introduced safety improvements as time went by; all models now have ABS brakes with EBD, and two airbags. Handling was addressed too.  Skinny 13-inch rims with 155/80 rubberware made way for 14” wheels offering a broader footprint on lower profile, 165/70 tyres.

Then, in a bid to reduce bounciness, Renault engineers fitted a new twist-beam rear axle that’s 14.64 percent stiffer than the old one. Ride quality and road holding improved noticeably although the car still tends to feel light at speeds over about 110 km/h and in crosswinds. It’s better but not yet perfect.

But let’s not forget that this is still, with one exception and in one model offering, South Africa’s least expensive car. And that its natural habitat is city streets.

Devilishly attractive for its intended public, young first-time buyers with limited budgets, its price includes a year’s-worth of comprehensive insurance, a two-year service plan and a five-year warranty.

Sweetening the deal, all versions now have rearward parking sensors while Dynamique and Climber add powered back windows and a reversing camera with guide lines. These models also score an enlarged, now eight-inch, touchscreen with satnav and phone mirroring.

External changes for 2020 include a bolder front face with revised grille and lower air intake and redesigned head- and fog lamps. Instruments and vents were updated too. The rev counter adopts new “fan-blade” graduations that count off engine speed in 500-rpm increments rather than the 200-rpm markings of previous editions. We aren’t thrilled with the change but it possibly appeals to a less “technical” kind of buyer.

But there must be some bad news, right? Correct, Gaston. New Kwid’s upgrades and improvements added 63 kilograms of body mass, pushing its tare up from 695 kg to 758; still light and lissom, only now a bit less so. But safer and more comfortable.

For those who are intrigued, Climbers are mid-range Dynamiques with more to show and tell; roof rails, grey wheels, orange highlights - on seats, door pads, gear knob, steering wheel, dash and around the front lights – and special skid plate markers. These add R10 000 to the vehicle’s price so whether you need them is up to you. 

If we were equipping this car, we’d fit a bigger fuel tank because its present range is limited and then lower its suspension an inch or so to render it less wobbly. The present 180 mm of ground clearance may be good for gravel roads but one doesn’t need quite that much in the car’s natural habitat.

If the budget allowed, we’d add height adjustment to the driver’s chair because the present eye-level is too high, and headroom restricted, for tall drivers. An adjustable steering wheel would be nice too.

Despite these thoughts, new Kwid remains a well-presented little car that brings independence and pride of ownership to over a thousand new owners each month. The kicker is that it’s now safer, more stable and better socialised.

Test unit from Renault SA press fleet

We have driven Kwids a few times before:

Kwid AMT launch report in 2018

Kwid 1.0 Dynamique review in 2017

Kwid AMT review in 2018

Kwid (ABS) update in 2019



What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well.

As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.
I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

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