Renault Kwid Climber - First Look

The Renault Kwid's exterior design has already earned it a mini-SUV status. For the buyers looking for more muscle at an entry-level price, Renault has launched a new variant of the Kwid, the Kwid Climber. The Climber gets cosmetic updates aimed to make it look beefier in comparison to the Kwid. The interiors also get elements that complement the exterior theme. The Kwid Climber looks catchy in images, but is it as impactful when seen in the flesh? We find out.

Renault Kwid Climber - Know the car

>> Based on the Renault Kwid RXT (O) variant

>> Available with the 1.0-litre, 68PS engine only

>> Available with an option of a 5-speed manual or an AMT transmission

>> Exterior updates include - Orange ORVMs, bumper overriders, front and rear bumper terrain protectors, roof bars, orange side turn indicators, ‘Climber' stickers on front doors and rear windshield, door plastic cladding, new design wheel covers, Electric Blue exterior colour

>> Interior updates include - Orange perforations and ‘Climber' insignia on the steering wheel, orange contour on centre fascia and air con vents, orange trim on gear knob (for manual Kwid Climber) and doors, new upholstery

>> Price (ex-showroom Delhi) - Rs 4.30 lakh (manual) and Rs 4.60 lakh (AMT)

More details - Renault Kwid Climber Launched In India

Exteriors

The Kwid Climber retains the bonnet design, the front grille and the headlamps of the Kwid. The upright fascia continues to lend this entry-level hatchback a big-car attitude. The Climber can be easily distinguished from the regular Kwid if you happen to opt for the new Electric Blue exterior colour, which is currently exclusive to this variant only. The Climber is also available in Outback Bronze and Planet Grey exterior colours which are a part of the Kwid's colour palette too.

Changes to the front bumper include new fog lamp inserts and faux skid plate, which Renault calls terrain protector. The skid plate is more a cosmetic addition than functional. It's painted in silver and orange, and thankfully, doesn't look overdone. The fog lamp design remains identical to the Kwid. However, the new black plastic surround makes it look different. The frontal updates make the Kwid Climber look considerably grown-up in studio images. In real, it does look more rugged than the Kwid, but you can make out that the changes are just skin-deep.

The Kwid Climber gets cleverly designed six-spoke steel wheels and wheel covers that give an impression of alloy wheels. The wheel covers are designed in a way that you need to unscrew the nuts to take them out. The door cladding, which is otherwise an accessory fitment on the Kwid, is a part of the standard package on the Kwid Climber. The Kwid Climber gets orange painted contrast ORVMs; the Kwid 1.0 gets them in silver. The roof bars make the Climber appear slightly taller than the regular Kwid, but they are only a cosmetic addition and can't be used for mounting a roof rack.

Changes at the rear include the faux skid plate on the bumper and a large ‘Climber' insignia on the windshield.

Interiors

There's a consistent dose of orange colour on the inside - on the door panels, the AC vents, the dashboard, the gear lever and even on the seat covers. The dashboard layout remains the same, though. The Kwid Climber also gets the touchscreen infotainment system which is a part of the standard equipment on the RXT(O) variant of the Kwid. There are ‘Climber' imprints on the seat covers, floor mats and the steering wheel. The orange perforations on top of the steering wheel look sporty.

Overall, the Kwid Climber does look different both on the inside and outside compared to the regular Kwid 1.0, but the magnitude of the changes isn't as big as it may look in some of the images. The extra Rs 25,000 you pay for the Climber will get you a more rugged-looking Kwid, but its capabilities will remain the same. The Kwid Climber concept that Renault showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo promised a lot more. Apart from the cosmetic enhancements, it offered more ground clearance, had a wider track and shorter overhangs. We believe such changes would have increased the asking price too much and therefore Renault not only skipped working on the mechanicals but also toned down the styling of the Kwid Climber.

Renault already offers a host of accessories for the Kwid. So, if either the Climber stickers or orange treatment on the inside is too much for your liking, you can opt for the RXT (O) Kwid and get it personalised to your taste.

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