Entry-level faux crossover battle
One of the busiest automotive segments in South Africa is, without doubt, the A Segment or subcompact city car. These highly sought-after vehicles are used by a vast majority of first-time car buyers or consumers shopping on a budget. Not many manufacturers compete in this segment, and those that do face fierce competition for the consumer base.
Related: Suzuki S-Presso (2023) Quick Review
The two most significant competitors are Suzuki and Renault, with the S-Presso and Kwid models, respectively. Cash-strapped consumers, students, and pensioners all shop here, and these car buyers are looking for the most car they can get for their hard-earned money. So, how does the Suzuki S-Presso compare to the Renault Kwid?
VIDEO REVIEW: Renault Kwid 1.0 Dynamique
Drivetrain
| Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition auto | Renault Kwid 1.0 Climber auto | |
| Engine | 1.0 3-cylinder N/A Petrol | 1.0 3-cylinder N/A Petrol |
| Transmission | 5-speed Auto | 5-speed Auto |
| Power Figures | 49kW / 89Nm | 50kW / 91Nm |
Both vehicles are equally matched here, so the fallback would be their actual driving dynamics.
Fuel Consumption
| Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition auto | Renault Kwid 1.0 Climber auto | |
| Claimed fuel consumption | 4.4 L /100km | 4.9 L/100km |
| Actual consumption (combined cycle) | 5.5 L/100km | 5.9 L/100km |
| Tank Size (litres) | 27 | 28 |
| Distance on a full tank | 614km | 636km |
| Top Speed | 150km/h | 152km/h |
It is once again a close competition, but the Kwid pips the S-Presso on total distance on a tank and the "top speed".
Safety
| Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition auto | Renault Kwid 1.0 Climber auto | |
| ABS | Yes | Yes |
| Stability Control | Yes | No |
| Hill hold assist | Yes | No |
| Tyre Pressure Monitoring | No | No |
| Camera | Rear only | Rear only |
| PDC (Park Distance Control) | Rear only | Rear only |
| Airbags | 2 (driver and front passenger) | 2 (driver and front passenger) |
| ADAS | No | No |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Lane Keep Assist | No | No |
| HUD (Heads Up Display) | No | No |
| Keyless Entry | No | No |
| LED Lighting | DRL only | DRL only |
The S-Presso takes the win here, offering stability control and hill start assist as part of its safety suite. Outside of that they are rather evenly matched.
Practicality
| Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition auto | Renault Kwid 1.0 Climber auto | |
| Load space (litres) | 239 | 279 - 620 |
| Towing capacity, braked/unbraked | Unrated | Unrated |
| Seating | 5 adults (Partial cloth and vinyl upholstery) | 5 Adults (Cloth upholstery) |
| Sunroof | No | No |
The Kwid has a slightly deeper boot for that extra packing space, but the S-Presso has better seating.
Pricing
| Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 GL manual | R 178 900 | Renault Kwid 1.0 Life | R 196 999 |
| Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 GL+ manual | R 189 900 | Renault Kwid 1.0 Zen manual | R 206 999 |
| Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 GL auto | R 192 900 | ||
| Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 GL+ auto | R 203 900 | Renault Kwid 1.0 Zen auto | R 216 999 |
| Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition manual | R 205 900 | Renault Kwid 1.0 Climber manual | R 217 999 |
| Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition auto | R 219 900 | Renault Kwid 1.0 Climber auto | R 227 999 |
Suzuki offers a 5-year / 200 000 km warranty and a 2-year / 30 000 km service plan, while Renault offers a 5-year / 150 000 km vehicle warranty and a 2-year / 30 000 km service plan.
Verdict
If you purchase purely from a safety standpoint, the Kwid will be off your list as it currently only carries a 2-star ANCAP safety rating. The S-Presso received a 3-star ANCAP rating. From a cost perspective, both cars are within a few thousand rand of each other across various derivatives, but we would have the Suzuki for that extra peace of mind its slightly better safety rating and lower ruungs costs provide.
