Datsun is launching the Redigo in a 1.0-litre avatar tomorrow and ahead of the launch, we have looked at the hatchback against all its immediate rivals like the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 and the Hyundai Eon 1.0-litre. Now, here is how the car fares against its nearest rival or rather you could say brother from the same mother, the Renault Kwid.
Before we get going here are some of the facts. Both cars are pretty much the same underneath and are made in the same factory as well as on the same assembly line. So what is the competition like within the family? Read on to find out? Also, we have already driven the new Redigo 1.0-litre and you can find a link to our first drive experience here.
Exterior
Common underpinnings with two different top hats is perhaps the best way to describe what we are looking at when we see the Redigo and the Kwid in both the 800cc and 1.0-litre guises. When taken as a whole, both cars have the same concept but differ in terms of approach. One has the traditional SUV look while the other goes for the crossover approach.
The Kwid emulates its elder brother, the Duster, when it comes to looks and has the feel of an SUV. The roof is high at the back while the square wheel arches sit above the wheel ladder-on-frame style. These little bits add well to the SUV look. It’s a similar approach with the Redigo where Datsun has gone for the crossover look with the funky roofline, heavily flared wheel arches and heavily raked windshield. One of the most noticeable elements on the car is, of course, the boomerang-shaped tail lamps.
Interior
It’s a one sided fight in terms of features here as the Renault Kwid has the upper hand over the Redigo thanks to a touchscreen infotainment which is offered with the top-spec RXT and RXT (O) variants. This is a first in the segment feature and you would need to go up a lakh or two before the feature become standard. The Redigo, on the other hand, makes do with a 2-DIN music system which has AUX input as well as USB support.
In terms of appearance, the Kwid’s cabin has a much cleaner look thanks to the modular layout. However, if it’s the design that piques your attention over mere appearance, then it will be the Redigo that will take a leap ahead thanks to the shape of the AC controls as well as the music system which look like an extension of the instrument cluster. Call it, if you will, a throwback to the sporty Japanese cars of the 1990s which used such designs for the centre console. Both cars are low on safety as only the top end variant gets an airbag, that too only for the driver side.
Engine
Both cars make use of the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine producing 67bhp/90Nm with power going to the front wheels via a five-speed manual. The Kwid currently also offers a five-speed AMT with the 1.0-litre engine which the Redigo will also get but probably in early 2018.
Conclusion
There is a difference of Rs 20,000 between the 800cc Kwid and the 1.0-litre Kwid in the top spec RXT variants. We believe that this will be the case for the Redigo too when looking at S 800cc variant and the S 1.0-litre variant.
