Renault Kwid Climber Launched At Rs 4.30 Lakh

After first showcasing the concept at the 2016 Auto Expo, Renault has now launched the Kwid Climber in India. It is only available with the 1.0-litre engine but with both 5-speed manual and AMT (with Easy-R shifter) transmission options. Prices for the Kwid Climber start at Rs 4.3 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the manual transmission, which is Rs 25,000 more than the standard Kwid RXT (O) 1.0L SCe. The AMT variant is priced at Rs 4.6 lakh, which is also Rs 25,000 more than the Kwid RXT (O) 1.0L AMT. Bookings have commenced across all Renault dealerships in India. 

Unlike the beefed up version showcased at the expo, the one launched gets special accessories and paint job to make it look like the concept. To be precise, it gets 17 new design elements to distinguish it from the standard Kwid. For starters, it gets a new 'Electric Blue' exterior colour with orange accents. Additionally, it can also be bought in the Outback Bronze and Planet Grey shades. 

In the front, it get a new cladding around the fog lamps and a new two-tone strip underlining the air dam. Move to the side and you find new claddings on the front and rear doors, Climber badging and two-tone roof rails along with two-tone orange ORVMs. This time around, the Kwid also gets 13-inch alloy wheels. At the rear sits a new two-tone bumper underline with the regular Kwid badging. All-in-all, the Climber looks vividly different from the standard Kwid and you cannot mistake one for the other. 

Inside, it continues to feature all the high-tech gizmos of the flagship Kwid - like the 7-inch MediaNav touchscreen system and the all-digital instrument cluster. What has changed is the upholstery which is now black and orange which lends the cabin a more youthful look. Orange accents can also be found on various parts of the cabin like on the gear shifter, outline of the centre console, outline on the side air vents and the door panels. If that wasn't enough affirmation that you are not in a standard Kwid, there are climber badges on the front headrests as well as the steering wheel. 

The engine in the Kwid Climber is the same as the standard Kwid. It is a 1.0-litre petrol unit which produces 68PS of peak power and 91Nm of peak torque. Mated to this engine is a choice of a 5-speed manual or an AMT  which  have a claimed fuel efficiency of 23.01kmpl and 24.04 kmpl respectively.

With the Kwid Climber, Renault has made the SUV-like hatchback look a bit more rugged. It will appeal to buyers who would like a little more attitude in the Kwid, Though the Rs 25,000 premium over the standard Kwid might be a bit much, its youthful appeal should appeal to customers especially the young professionals of our country. 

Recommended read

- Renault Kwid 1.0 Easy-R: First Drive Review

- Renault Kwid 1.0-litre: Review