Renault Kwid AMT: 10 Important Things You Should Know

We recently drove the Renault Kwid AMT and just like the Duster, the Kwid in the automatic avatar, badged 'Easy-R' managed to impress us. It had already got a more powerful 1.0-litre petrol engine and now the addition of the AMT, it looks like Renault is starting to grab the pulse of the Indian car market. Here are 10 things you should know about the newly launched small car.

The Kwid automatic comes with Renault's Easy-R AMT unit

1. The Renault Kwid AMT or Easy-R comes with an automated manual transmission. This means that the car actually gets the same 5-speed manual gearbox that the standard car comes with but with the added Bosch AMT shifter module. The AMT in the Kwid is one of the best units we have driven so far.
2. The shifter on the Kwid Easy-R (AMT) is not a conventional gear shifter lever. Instead, Renault has placed a rotary knob on the dashboard that gets three drive options: R or reverse, N or neutral and D or drive. The driver can select these by turning the knob, which in a way is something similar to what Jaguar and Land Rover offer.
3. The gear selector has only three options but unlike most other AMT modules, the Kwid does not get a sport mode. This mainly means that one cannot hold the revs to a higher point for more spirited driving. The AMT also does not get a manual shift option either.
4. The Kwid AMT offers a standard 'brake hold' feature when the car is at a standstill and in 'Drive'. This means that the Kwid will not creep forward unless the driver uses the throttle pedal. The driver also does not physically need to hold the brake pedal down or shift to Neutral every time the car comes to a halt in order to keep the car from rolling ahead. This is a good feature especially for new drivers who are still getting used to the idea of an automatic gearbox.
5. The Kwid AMT is only available with the 1.0-litre engine and not the 0.8-litre engine. The engine makes 67bhp of peak power and 91Nm of peak torque.The power delivery, even with the AMT gearbox is smooth and very usable.
6. The AMT gearbox is smooth and although there is just a hint of jerkiness in the first and second gear, other gears are very smooth and offer a hassle free drive. We think many Kwid buyers will opt for this compared to the top of the line manual gearbox as the AMT offers a large degree of convenience to an everyday commute.
7. The AMT option will only be available in the top-of-the-line RXT variant. Renault will eventually launch a lower variant of the AMT depending on consumer demand. You can officially book one for Rs 10,000 right here at CarandBike.com by clicking here.
8. The Kwid AMT comes loaded with features and hence you get the touchscreen infotainment system with the inbuilt navigation setup. The class-leading interior space and large boot continue to remain as it along with even more space on the central console thanks to there being no gear lever.
9. In terms of overall design, the Kwid AMT remains identical to the 1.0-litre variant of the Kwid apart from the small Easy-R badging on the bootlid. The Kwid still does not get alloy wheels (although you could get a set from the dealer) but the 1.0-litre chequered flag decals that come on the manual version have been carried over to the AMT as well.
10. The new Kwid AMT will go head up against the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 AMT and the much cheaper Tata Nano AMT. The Kwid will also go up against the likes of other Maruti Suzuki products like the Wagon R AMT and the Celerio AMT - both of which offer similar performance and internal space but at a more expensive price tag. Priced at Rs. 4.25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) the Kwid AMT is cheaper than the Wagon R AMT and the Celerio AMT, but is more expensive than both the Alto K10 AMT and the Nano AMT. Read our review on Tata GenX Nano AMT vs Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 AMT