The automotive world is changing, especially with more electric models arriving in almost every country. Around here, one of the main ones is the electric Renault Kwid, which landed in 2022 to be the cheapest in the category.
This was possible with its starting price of R$ 142,990, which, to the surprise of almost no one, started to rise soon after. One of the reasons is its fight with the CAOA Chery iCar, another low-cost tram in Brazil.
But what can the French model offer to anyone wanting to enter this segment? Is it worth paying the almost R$ 150,000 currently being asked to put it in the garage?
Check out all about the electric Kwid!
Electric Kwid – versions
Available colors: Polar White (at no additional cost), Diamond Silver (R$ 1,500) and Verde Noronha (R$ 3,000).
Electric kwid – equipment
Kwid E-Tech Intense 2023 – electric motor with 65 hp and 11.5 kgfm of torque, with automatic transmission (one gear forward, neutral and one reverse).
COMFORT: rear window wiper, folding rear seat, manual air conditioning, height-adjustable rear headrests, seat with rear pocket, front and rear power windows, electrically adjustable mirrors, instrument panel with digital displays and window defroster rear.
COMMUNICATION: MEDIA Evolution center with 7-inch screen and Android Auto and Apple Carplay connection, Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary inputs, voice recognition and others.
SECURITY: 6 airbags (2 front, 2 side and 2 curtain), visual and audible alert for non-use of seat belts for all occupants, tire pressure monitoring (TPMS), speed limiter, side turn signal repeaters, assistant emergency braking, CAR system – automatic locking at 6 km/h, ramp start assistant, passenger airbag deactivation, 2 Isofix, stability control, ABS brake, LED daytime running lights (DRL), central locking doors, 3-point front and rear seat belts, among others.
DRIVING: Eco function, electric steering, reversing camera, fast charging and battery power drive – 26 kWh.
DESIGN: fabric seats with TEP, 14-inch wheels, glossy black mirror.
Electric Kwid – prices
Check the price of the electric Kwid:
- Kwid E-Tech 2023 – R$ 149.990
Just looking at its price tag at a dealership, you and most Brazilians will be startled by the asking price. But here we need to make some considerations.
The first is that the value would be even higher if it weren’t for the exemptions for an electric car. With them, Kwid E-Tech (which is imported) does not pay the 35% that combustion models need to add to the bill.
In addition, it is within the lowest IPI rate that we have in our market (currently 5.7%), as well as any other popular product that weighs less than 1,400 kg and has good energy consumption.
Even so, we are talking about a car that already reached above R$ 140 thousand and today is close to R$ 150 thousand. Its main rivals are the CAOA Chery iCar, which also costs R$149,990 and the JAC E-JS1, which costs R$145,900.
In Europe, incentives for buying electric models work best for those who want to enter this segment or do not have much money to spend. Here things work differently, and putting such a model in the garage is still for the few.
Electric kwid – engine
Talking about the engine of the Kwid E-Tech, the first good news is that it came stronger than its European cousin, the Dacia Spring. While over there it delivers 45 hp and 12.6 kgfm, here we have 65 hp and 11.5 kgfm of torque.
That’s the equivalent of 48 kW of power, something really necessary if we consider our topography. The fact is that the electric Kwid would already be at a disadvantage against rivals if it came with less power.
Another positive point of the Renault cart is its Eco function, which makes use of the braking regeneration system to power the batteries, optimizing energy consumption by 9%.
Speaking of them, the electric Kwid comes with 27 kWh lithium-ion batteries, reaching 298 km of autonomy in the urban cycle and 265 km in the mixed cycle. With a common socket, it takes 9 hours to charge 70% of the battery (equivalent to 190 km of range), but with the quick charge you do the same in just 40 minutes.
Kwid electric – performance
When we talk about the performance of the Kwid E-Tech, it is worth noting that the objective of models like this is not to impress on outputs or at maximum speed. After all, it is an urban and compact car.
Even so, it is possible to see the agility of the electric motor, with more than enough numbers for day to day use in large urban centers (or even to hit the road on the weekend).
Check out how the electric Kwid fares when it comes to its acceleration and top speed:
- Kwid E-Tech 2023 – 4.1 seconds (0 to 50 km/h), 14.6 seconds (0 to 100 km/h) and 130 km/h.
Electric kwid – consumption
Unlike conventional models, where we only quote the number in km/l to get an idea of its consumption, here we need to do a slightly different calculation.
In real tests, the electric Kwid scored up to 12 kWh/100 km, which would leave it with an autonomy close to that disclosed by the brand (265 km in the mixed cycle). But what would that look like if the Frenchman ran on gasoline?
Inmetro tests, in its Brazilian Vehicle Labeling Program, make an equivalent measurement in km/l for electric cars. Check out the result for Kwid E-Tech:
CONSUMPTION CITY
- Kwid E-Tech 2023 – 52,7 km/l
ROAD CONSUMPTION
- Kwid E-Tech 2023 – 39,6 km/l
Looking at the numbers above, we can say that an electric car is much more economical than an equivalent model powered by combustion. But what about when comparing the electric Kwid to its rivals?
The Chery iCar has equivalent consumption in the city of 48.8 km/l, while on the road it reaches 36.8 km/l. The JAC E-JS1 scores 40.9 km/l and 30.3 km/l, respectively, showing that the Kwid beats both in any situation.
Electric Kwid – maintenance and overhaul
To compensate for the hefty price of its purchase, the electric Kwid seeks to present very attractive values when we talk about its maintenance cost. And it really can make a difference in the long run.
Renault pointed out, at the launch of the Kwid E-Tech, that the running cost after 60,000 km in 3 years would be just R$ 1.30 per km driven. This is very close to what we see in popular 1.0 models, such as the Chevrolet Onix.
In addition, the Frenchwoman highlighted that the first three revisions would have half the asking price for the same stops of the conventional Kwid, which you can see in the table below.
Finally, after its launch, the Kwid E-Tech was included in Renault On Demand, the brand’s rental program. At the time, the brand asked for BRL 154,941, including the entry fee and 48 installments of BRL 2,999.
Check the values of each revision of the electric Kwid (with the values of the combustion model for comparison):
- 10,000 km – R$145.99 (R$489.71)
- 20,000 km – R$185.66 (R$549.22)
- 30,000 km – R$185.66 (R$549.22)
- 40,000 km – R$904.39 (R$887.65)
- 50,000 km – R$225.33 (R$608.73)
- 60,000 km – R$225.33 (R$878.87)
Electric Kwid – technical sheet
Motor | Electric |
Type | Electric |
number of cylinders | (not applicable) |
Displacement in cm3 | (not applicable) |
valves | (not applicable) |
Compression ratio | (not applicable) |
electronic fuel injection | (not applicable) |
Maximum power | 65 cv |
maximum torque | 11.5 kgfm |
Streaming | |
Type | 1 gear automatic |
Traction | |
Type | Forward |
brakes | |
Type | Ventilated discs (front) and drum (rear) |
Direction | |
Type | Electric |
Suspension | |
Forward | Independente, McPherson |
rear | torsion axis |
Wheels and tires | |
Occurs | 14 inches |
tires | 175/70 R14 |
dimensions | |
Total length (mm) | 3.734 |
Width (mm) | 1.579 |
Height (mm) | 1.500 |
Distance between axles (mm) | 2.423 |
Capabilities | |
Load capacity (kg) | 323 |
Tank (liters) | n/d |
Empty weight in running order (kg) | 977 |
Trunk capacity (liters) | 290 |
Electric Kwid – photos
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