Renault Kwid vs Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 – Exterior, Interior, Features and Space comparison

The Renault Kwid is one of the more interesting cars or 2015. Although in most pics, it looks like a compact SUV, it is in fact a small car that is a little bigger than the likes of the Alto. What does make it unique though is the way it is designed with its high rising look that gives it a much more aggressive look. So lets compare it to the current leader in its segment, the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 to see how it stacks up when it comes to exterior and interior design, interior space and of course, features.

Exterior Design

The main reason why the Kwid will be well received by Indian audiences is because of our love for the SUV or anything that remotely looks like one. And the Kwid delivers in spades. The new Renault Kwid for example gets a raised look which is coupled with a side plastic cladding in black and a chunky side panel on the doors. The large and aggressive SUV-esque grille combined with the central logo too looks aggressive and the overall dimensions too suit the car well. Comparatively, the Alto K10 in its new avatar is a very conventional small car design.

The K10 though does have a set of nicely swept back headlamps and large chunky tail lamps, but the Kwid’s headlamps and tail lamps are a better design overall. The Alto is also slightly smaller than the Kwid in terms of the way it comes across. Where the Alto K10 does have the advantage is the fact that it still gets a 4-bolt wheel as compared to the 3-bolt one that the Kwid gets which is similar to the Nano.

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Around the rear, the alto continues with its conventional design whereas the Kwid continues with its new age compact SUV look. Where the Alto gets a nice chrome garnish on the hatch, the Kwid gets a large plastic cladding on the bumper that makes it look tougher. The Kwid also comes with an inbuilt spoiler design feature, which looks more modern as compared to the Alto K10.

Interior design and Features:

Both the Renault Kwid and the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 adopt very different design philosophies when it comes to their dashboard designs. Where the new Alto has a larger dashboard with a selection of curves that are very well placed, the Kwid employs a more angular dashboard with a large central console setup. That said, in both cars, the central console gets a gloss black or piano black finish but where the Kwid’s overall color scheme is grey, the Alto gets a two-tone beige and grey combination.

The Alto’s infotainment system is well laid out with a plethora of buttons that go well with the overall design that the dashboard has. The silver treatment on the buttons co-incides well with the AC vent surrounds too. The Kwid on the other hand gets the same touchscreen infotainment system that the likes of the Duster get. We personally love the way it is set up and are looking forward to using it in the Kwid too. Neither car comes with climate control though.

When it comes to the instrument binnacle, the Alto and the Kwid looks like they are from different eras of motoring. Where the Alto is simple and conventional with three distinct sections, i.e. one for the speedmeter, one for the tachometer and one for the warning lights, the Kwid features an all-digital panel. The panel has a digital readout for the speed mounted right in the centre, a fuel gauge and a digital tachometer that reads distinctly. The steering wheel design too is very conventional in the Maruti whereas the Renault gets a chunkier wheel with well designed and detailed elements.

Interior Space:

Being a slightly larger car certainly has its advantages and the Kwid is larger than the Alto K10 on the insides by a comfortable margin. At the front, there is considerable knee room and considerable headroom too. As compared to the Alto K10, the Kwid does not feel cramped. The rear row of seats too is more spacious than the Alto K10 both in terms of leg and knee room and even more so in terms of head room. Considering the car is bigger than the Alto, one can expect a larger boot and the Kwid does deliver. In fact, the Kwid by far has the largest boot in the segment.

All in all, the Renault Kwid certainly looks like a promising car and can very well revolutionize the way smaller cars are perceived in India. In fact, just like the Rs 8-10 lakh cross hatchback segment that has exploded in the last year, the Kwid will create a new segment all to itself which will without a doubt see a lot of new entrants in the coming years, especially from manufacturers like Hyundai that are willing to experiment with their products.