Hyundai Atos vs Renault Kwid vs Suzuki Celerio: Here's our winner!

Hyundai SA has a passenger car in most market segments, with no fewer than eleven models to choose from, as well as a few options on the commercial side. For those intent on a small Hyundai on a budget, the entry-level model is the reborn Hyundai Atos. It’s a highly affordable offering, and competes in one of the most hotly-contested segments in the motoring industry right now. Let’s see how the new Atos stacks up against its competition.

Martin Pretorius

22 Apr 2020 · 21:37Buying a Car

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Small cars are big business

Many people believe that the SUV/crossover market is where all the action happens, but, with car buyers downsizing in these tough times, small cars are again gaining ground. Some buyers want all the features they had in their B or C-segment cars, but in a smaller and more affordable package, which means that manufacturers that dabble in this market need to have a well-rounded product to ease customers' transition into something smaller. These aren’t the only buyers in this segment, though.

Families looking for runarounds for their offspring will also be shopping at the low end of the market, as will many first-time buyers. And that’s not even mentioning the masses of buyers who simply like small cars, and have no want or need to climb the model ladder. With so many streams of interest, it makes sense that manufacturers have scrambled to make their small cars as attractive as possible, so as not to lose out on market share and sales.

The Hyundai brand has done great things over the past few decades. They started out as a fringe player in South Africa nearly three decades ago, but eventually their offerings became so consistently good they could no longer be ignored. One of their bread and butter models is the Atos, which started out as a rather ungainly, basic but affordable little car rather devoid of creature comforts. Since its worldwide debut in 1997, the little car has gotten better and better, and this third generation (with a bunch of facelifts and updates inbetween) has become a really enticing option in the segment.

While it’s still technically a Korean car, it’s now produced in Chennai by Hyundai India. There’s only one variant available, the Atos 1.1 Motion, and it warrants a closer look based on sheer value and perceived quality. But, in a segment as hotly contested as this one, you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not examining a few alternatives. We decided to pitch the Atos against Renault’s Kwid and Suzuki’s Celerio to see how it stacks up against these stalwarts.

Hyundai Atos 1.1 Motion

The Hyundai Atos 1.1 Motion is an A-segment hatchback with space for four occupants (five at a very tight squeeze), and is great for the daily travel needs of young families. It’s equally suitable to the daily commute and school runs, and it’s small enough to easily navigate through narrow streets and parking lots, light on fuel, has reasonable standard equipment, and won’t break the bank to park in your driveway.

Available in just one trim level, all it really comes down to for buyers is to pick a colour, dealership, and finance provider. If you do this online via Hyundai’s new car configurator portal, you’ll notice there’s no way to add any options at all: what you see is what you get.

Engine, performance and consumption

The Atos 1.1 Motion is, as its name suggests, powered by a 1.1-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, good for 50 kW and 99 Nm. That’s not a lot of power, but in these A-segment cars, it’s about par for the course. At least the 5-speed manual transmission sending power to the front wheels has well-chosen ratios, to make the most of the little bit of available power.

These humble power and torque figures might leave you thinking that the Atos will be dead slow. That’s not really the case, though, especially since it only tips the scales at 866 kg. Even with a full compliment of passengers on board, the power is adequate for stress-free and comfortable driving – at least around town.

Performance figures are probably a little better than you’d expect from a car in this class, getting from standstill 100 km/h in 14.4-seconds, with for a top speed of 155 km/h. More importantly, the torque is spread over a wide rev range, giving the little engine impressive in-gear flexibility. The Atos’s claimed fuel consumption is perhaps a tad higher than we’re used to seeing in new-generation A-segment cars, with an official average figure of 5.7 ℓ/100 km, but the Atos is actually quite capable of achieving this efficiency in real-world driving as well.

Standard equipment

A few years ago, standard equipment on cars in this segment could be listed in a few seconds: wipers, indicators, lights, hooter and steering wheel. Done. Not anymore, though, because these cheapies have feature lists that can rival C-segment cars these days. The Atos has manual air conditioning and power steering, with a colourful and easy-to-read 7-inch infotainment screen mounted in the middle of the dashboard. Bluetooth is standard, and the USB port will charge your phone as well as enable Apple CarPlay.

Only the front windows are electrically-operated, the central locking isn’t remotely operated, and the mirror have remote adjustment via stalks on the A-pillar, but the steering wheel is of the multifunction variety and includes controls for hands-free telephony.

Safety

Safety is a big deal to most buyers, and this is unfortunately where some A-segment cars are rather sub-par. That’s not quite the case with the Hyundai Atos, though: it features front and rear crumple zones, side impact protection beams, a rigid body construction and ISOFIX child seat anchors in the rear.

Actual crash safety credentials are still unknown, because the local-spec Atos (with two airbags) hasn’t been tested by any of the NCAP programs yet. However, the Indian-market Atos (called the Santro at home), which has only one airbag, got a 2-star rating in Global NCAP testing in 2019, so the SA-specification Atos may achieve a higher score. ABS is standard, and an impact-sensing door unlocking function allows easy vehicle exit after a collision.

Practicality

Four adults can fit quite comfortably in the Hyundai Atos, but five would a tight squeeze. Thanks to its upright seating position, there’s ample space to accommodate even lanky occupants in front, and with normal-sized people in front, the rear bench will have decent legroom. And, while the cabin is quite narrow, there’s plenty of headroom all round, courtesy of an elevated roofline.

On the load space front, it’s fair for a car of this size – not great, but OK. The boot has a volume of 235 litres, and can be expanded by folding down the rear seat. It’ll be a good weekend getaway car for a couple, but as a holiday car for a family of four, it may be less than fun on a long road trip – unless their luggage is shipped along separately.

Price and value proposition

With the A-segment being as competitive as it is, there’s a need to balance what’s on offer with what the package costs. The Hyundai Atos is a good-looking car, has good fuel consumption, enough comfort- and safety features for its class, and an agreeable price point to make it a worthy choice for its segment. No wonder it emerged victorious in its category in the 2020 AutoTrader SA Car of the Year competition.

That said, it’s one of the more expensive offerings in this segment, with a list price of R 162 900, but it does have that huge warranty available that only Hyundai offers: coverage spans 7 years and 200 000 km for the drivetrain, as well as a 15 000 km/1-year service plan (essentially, the first service is free).

The competition

Renault Kwid 1.0 Dynamique

Images depict the high-spec Climber trim. The Dynamique looks the same, minus the orange accents and decals.

There are a few cars in the A-segment that come with a dose of controversy, and one of them is the Renault Kwid. In this case, the main problem concerns safety – but that’s clearly a non-issue for the masses, judging by the multitudes puttering along on our roads. It’s a pity that the Kwid has that kind of reputation, though, because looks-wise and on paper, it appears to be a really good option for buyers in this class.

Renault wants to categorise the Kwid as a micro SUV, which alludes to it having more space and practicality than the other hatchbacks in its class. This is more wishful thinking than reality, though – the Kwid might be styled like a little SUV, but it’s really just a very small hatchback with a tippy-toe stance and some plastic styling bits. For a Renault in the cheap SUV bracket, rather look towards the freshly-launched Triber.

While looks are subjective, we think the current Kwid has what it takes in this department, thanks to funky colours, body cladding and even roof rails (variant-dependant). These appealing attributes also applied to the pre-facelift Kwid (2019-model and older), of course, but the recent restyling job elevates its appearance far above the normally-mundane standards in this class. In short, the latest Kwid looks a lot more upmarket and solid than it actually is.

Its pricetag is also notable: in comparison to the Atos, there’s a saving of two grand straight off the bat with a list price of R 160 900 in mid-level Dynamique trim. The entry-level Expression variant costs a cool R 10 000 less than the Dynamique, but it’s truly trimmed in poverty-spec, so the Dynamique will be more appealing to customers looking to “buy down”. The list price includes a very good warranty for 5 years or 150 000km, and it becomes even more financially attractive with the inclusion of a 2-year service plan, along with a year’s worth of insurance thrown into the sales price.

Space is adequate in the Kwid, and with its slightly raised seating position, it does feel reasonably airy. The door apertures are very small, though, and the cabin is even narrower than that of the Atos. Fitting two large adults in front will assume that they’re comfortable with some body contact, because they will have to share elbow- and shoulder room above the handbrake. The same applies to the rear seat, which isn’t over-endowed with legroom or headroom, either.

Boot space is better than the 235 litres in the Atos, with an extra 44 litres giving the facelifted Kwid a solid 279 litres, and its rear seat can also fold away for more cargo volume. There’s also an extra 24-odd litres of storage space scattered around the cabin in the form of little pockets and spots to store everyday items. This equates to being a more practical daily driver.

The average power available in this class is around the 50 kW mark, putting the Kwid bang on the money for its segment. There’s a 3-cylinder engine displacing 1.0 litre thrumming away up front (as opposed to the Atos’s 1.1-litre 4-cylinder), which sends 50 kW and 91 Nm of torque to the front wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox. Its torque output is 8 Nm down on the Atos, which can likely be attributed to the Hyundai’s larger displacement. An automated manual (AMT) is available for people who hate clutch pedals, for an extra R 10 000.

Manhandling the tiny engine and manual transmission with considerable enthusiasm will see the Kwid amble from standstill to 100 km/h in about 15.9 seconds – a good 1.5-seconds slower than the Atos. This is odd, because the Kwid is also a notable 130 kg lighter than the little Hyundai, but it doesn’t seem to take advantage of that weight advantage. It can run on to a claimed top speed of 152 km/h, but, by the time you reach 120 km/h, you’ll undoubtedly decide to not test that maximum speed claim – directional stability is still not a Kwid strong suit, in spite of the wheels being upsized to 14-inch items during the facelift.

Regarding fuel efficiency: the Kwid returns a claimed average consumption of 4.7 ℓ/100 km, and has proven to be capable of sub-5 ℓ/100 km figures in mixed-cycle driving. This hands the Kwid a significant advantage over the Hyundai’s 5.7 ℓ/100 km claim.

On the subject of specs and features, the Kwid more than holds its own in this segment. As with the Atos, there’s a colour touchscreen fronting the infotainment system, but it measures in at a class-leading 8-inches. It one-ups the Hyundai because, while it offers up Apple CarPlay, there’s also the addition of Android Auto. The MediaNav Evolution system will even read your text messages out loud if you allow it.

The Kwid Climber also features funky orange accents inside - Dynamique trim isn't quite as cheerful...

Dynamique trim level includes electric windows all round, along with remote central locking, electric side mirror adjustment, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera marking other notable advantages over the Atos.

Safety includes not only ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) to match the Atos, it goes one further to add in EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution). The Kwid matches the Atos by having a pair of airbags up front for the driver and passenger. However, as with the Atos, its crashworthiness is still undecided. Renault claims increased bodyshell rigidity as a result of the recent spate of updates, but the current Kwid hasn’t yet been tested, to see if it fared better than the dismal 1-star it achieved in its last (pre-facelift and single-airbag) round of Global-NCAP testing.

Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GL

Suzuki has a number of offerings in this segment, with the recent arrival of the cheaper S-Presso actually pushing the Celerio slightly upmarket in the Suzuki hierarchy. However, unlike the SUV-like styling applied to the S-Presso (and the Kwid), the Celerio is unashamedly a small hatch. It’s been around since 2015 and received a mild facelift in 2018, which mostly comprised restyled bumpers and headlights.

However, being an ageing car by now, the Celerio does succumb to one of Suzuki’s traditional downsides, and that’s the infotainment system. There’s no touchscreen in sight, and for many who shop in the segment, that could be a deal breaker. But if they can overlook the old-school radio, the Suzuki Celerio matches or surpasses the Hyundai Atos and Renault Kwid in every other area, especially in terms of pricing.

In higher-level GL trim, the Celerio costs exactly the same as the Atos (R 162 900) and R 2000 more than the Kwid Dynamique, but the entry-level Celerio GA actually undercuts the cheapest Kwid by a solid R 6 000, listing at R 144 900. All Celerios have a standard 3 year/ 100 000 km warranty, as well as a service plan for 2 years or 30 000 km included in their list prices.

Suzuki calls the Celerio an “extra-large small car”, which implies that the space inside isn’t what it seems to be on the outside. The Celerio is the shortest of these three cars, measuring in at just 3 600 mm, but it matches the Atos and beats the Kwid on height. Combined with its upright seating position, the Suzuki has a more interior space to accommodate taller passengers, which is good news for the six-footer brigade.

Luggage space is the same as the Atos, with 235 litres available – good enough for shopping and school bags, but not great for holiday trips. The Celerio matches the Hyundai and falls short of the Kwid’s boot space, but manages to offer the most spacious interior, with perceptibly more shoulder- and head room all round than the Kwid and more rear-seat space than the Atos. It’s also blessed with a split-folding rear seat for greater versatility.

When we take a look at its power figures, the Suzuki Celerio also claims 50 kW and 90 Nm – the least torque in this comparison. The configuration is similar to the Kwid’s, with a 3-cylinder, 1.0-litre petrol engine hooked up to a 5-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive. As with the Kwid, an automated manual gearbox is available (only in GL trim), this time for an extra R 13 500.

With the manual transmission’s ratios helping to properly exploit the power and light weight (835 kg) of the Suzuki, it’s the quickest-accelerating car of this trio. It gets to 100 km/h in a claimed 14.0 seconds, and the top speed matches the 4-cylinder Atos at 155 km/h. In typical Suzuki fashion, the Celerio barely sips fuel, and matches the Kwid’s claimed average consumption figure of 4.7 ℓ/100 km, according to Suzuki. Yet again, sub-5 ℓ/100 km is attainable in normal driving, so the Celerio and Kwid both outclass the Atos in this important metric.

We’ve already mentioned that the Suzuki is at a disadvantage thanks to its much more primitive radio, as opposed to a fancier touchscreen infotainment systems in both the Kwid and Atos. We’re not sure if a future iteration of the Celerio will include a touchscreen, but other recent Suzuki offerings are thusly equipped, right down to smartphone mirroring abilities, so here’s hoping that the newer system trickles over to the Celerio as well.

But, in spite of its modest audio system specifications, the Celerio nonetheless still offers Bluetooth- and USB connectivity and music streaming. Other creature comforts almost match those of the Kwid (barring the rear-view camera and parking sensors), and it quite comfortably outstrips the Atos on the features list.

Safety equipment is similar to the others, with driver- and passenger airbags, ABS braking, crumple zones, side-impact protection, and ISOFIX child seat anchors. The Celerio does have a significant advantage as far as its crashworthiness goes, having achieved a 3-star safety rating in stringent Euro-NCAP testing back in 2014 already.

Let’s recap the important numbers:

	Hyundai Atos 1.1 Motion	Renault Kwid 1.0 Dynamique	Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GL
Engine (cyl/size)	4-cyl, 1.1-litre petrol	3-cyl, 1.0-litre petrol	3-cyl, 1.0-litre petrol
Power/Torque	50 kW/99 Nm	50 kW/91 Nm	50 kW/90 Nm
Transmission	5-speed manual	5-speed manual	5-speed manual
Kerb Weight	866 kg	736 kg	835 kg
Length (mm)	3 610	3 679	3 600
Airbag count	2	2	2
Load Volume	235 litres	279 litres	235 litres
0-100 (km/h)*	14.4 seconds	15.9 seconds	14.0 seconds
Top Speed (km/h) *	155	152	155
Ave Consumption *	5.7 ℓ/100 km	4.7 ℓ/100 km	4.7 ℓ/100 km
Warranty	7 yr/200 000 km (drivetrain)	5 yr/150 000 km	3 yr/100 000 km
Price	R 162 900	R 160 900	R 162 900

* Manufacturer's official claimed figures.

Verdict

These cars are very similar on paper, yet they’re also quite different at the same time. They all feature small-capacity powerplants that really don’t have much between them in terms of size or output figures. The Hyundai Atos has the superior engine, but uses the most fuel, has the lowest specification level, and, along with the Celerio GL, also costs the most. It could be argued that it’s the best-looking of the bunch, with its smiling face looking a lot like the more-upmarket models in the Hyundai range. It’s also has that massive 7 year/ 200 000 km drivetrain warranty (5 years/150 000 km for the rest of the car). Something that adds so much peace of mind is well worth the premium to many buyers, though.

On paper, the Renault Kwid is also a very attractive option. It looks great inside and out, and the available colours and finishes will likely draw in the younger crowd. The on-board tech will make those young buyers happy too, and there’s not really much more to want or need to make this a competent daily driver. A little more stability on the road would be a bonus, though, as would better safety credentials.

The Suzuki Celerio however has to walk away with the honours in this comparison, because it is the clear choice if you’re buying in this segment and counting your pennies. It is let down by the lack of a fancy infotainment system and parking aids, which may turn away younger, more tech savvy buyers, rather than more sensible chaps who purely want to downscale. The Celerio is the quickest of the lot, though, gets joint first place in fuel efficiency, and has the most comfortable cabin. These features matter to buyers who have to commit to driving a car for many years.

* Prices were accurate at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice.

Recommended Next:

Shop for new and used Hyundai Atos cars for sale here.

Shop for new and used Renault Kwid cars for sale here.

Shop for new and used Suzuki Celerio cars for sale here.

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