Renault Kwid AMT Vs Maruti Suzuki Celerio AMT: Specification Comparison

The Kwid AMT was always on Renault's drawing board, seeing the acceptance of automatic transmission on small cars and Renault combined the best of both worlds with Kwid's SUV-esque design and the affordability of a hatchback. In the last one year or so, it has become one of the most popular cars in India and continues to ring the cash registers of Renault.

It was Maruti Suzuki though, which was the first ever manufacturer to bring automatic transmission to small cars with the Celerio AMT in 2014. Yes, it was just two years ago. Just to refresh your understanding about AMT or 'automated manual transmission', it is a simple electro-hydraulic system that makes use of an electronic control unit and a hydraulic system which allows the driver to shift gears without actually using the clutch. The driver can either shift gears sequentially, akin to a manual transmission or it can be fully automatic as well. You would be surprised to learn that the first time an AMT unit was introduced was in 1997, in a Ferrari 355 F1. Yes, on a Ferrari.

Looks

(Renault Kwid 1-Litre Design)

Clearly, the Renault Kwid takes the round here. The SUV-ish design with a big, bold front end is definitely appealing and has a very contemporary feel to it. The rear too, looks very modern and it can be safely said that the Renault Kwid is the best-looking car in its segment.

(Maruti Suzuki Celerio Design)

The Maruti Suzuki Celerio is much simpler in design and styling. The two-slat chrome grille and those big headlamps carry a styling sense which will appeal to a huge consumer base. Inside, the Celerio gets a beige and black colour scheme while the Kwid gets an all-black theme, which looks really sporty

The Kwid's two-tone colour scheme in the form of plastic cladding on the wheel arches and sides, the fog-lamp housing and the bumpers make the Kwid look much more butch than the Celerio.

Features

(Renault Kwid 1-Litre Interior)

Coming to the features, both cars are evenly matched. The Kwid gets a touchscreen infotainment system complete with Bluetooth and navigation apart from the usual fare. And trust us, the navigation really works. The instrumentation console too is unconventional, with a big digital readout for speed. The dashboard layout is simple and uncluttered as well. One gets power-windows, trip computer, EPS to make travel easier for the occupants and the driver. There is no ABS on the Kwid AMT and the driver side airbag is an optional feature. A negative point there for Renault.

(Maruti Suzuki Celerio Interior)

Maruti believes in keeping things simple. And that shows with the interior of the Celerio. The layout is user-friendly and fuss-free. There is the regular analogue instrumentation console with an audio system ready with Bluetooth telephony as well. No navigation here though. The Celerio scores more with features such as steering mounted controls for telephony and audio. The biggest difference here is that the Celerio gets ABS and dual-airbags even if it is optional on some variants and standard on the higher trims.

Engine and Transmission

(Renault Kwid 1-Litre Engine)

Both the cars get a 1.0-litre engine with the Kwid producing a peak power of 67bhp@5,500rpm and peak torque of 91Nm@4,250rpm. The Celerio's engine too produces 67bhp@6,000rpm and peak torque of 90Nm@2,500rpm. Both the engines come mated to an 'Automated Transmission Unit'. The Kwid borrows the AMT unit from the Renault Duster Easy-R which in essence, is a 6-speed AMT unit. Of course, on the Kwid, it will be a 5-speed unit. Instead of a gear-shifter, the Kwid AMT will get a rotary-knob style shifter, to give it a premium look.

The Celerio too gets a 5-speed AMT gearbox with a gear-shifter. As goes with all AMT units, there is no 'park mode' so one needs to put the car in neutral and then pull the handbrake when it is parked. This holds true for the Kwid AMT as well.

Pricing

(Renault Kwid 1-Litre Rear Three Quarters)

The Maruti Suzuki Celerio LXI AMT is priced at Rs. 4.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and then the prices go upwards for the higher trims. The top of the line Renault Kwid 1.0 RXT (O) is priced at Rs. 3.96 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). We believe that the Kwid AMT will carry a premium of about Rs. 30,000-Rs. 40,000 at the most. The bookings for the Kwid AMT have already begun at a few dealerships for a token amount of Rs. 10,000. The Kwid AMT will only add to the success of Renault.

Disclaimer: NDTV Carandbike.com is a partner with Renault Auto India Private Limited.