New Renault Kwid gets 1 Star GNCAP safety rating; the top end variant equipped with driver airbag (as optional) showed high chest deflection
Renault Kwid might be one of the bestselling entry level cars in Indian market, but the car seems fragile just liike any other entry-level small car. The Global NCAP tested the car few months back, and given a 0 rating. Now again the GNCAP has crash tested the top end variant of the Kwid at 64 kmph of speed, and it has received a 1 star rating, which again shows the poor safety quality of the popular car.
Earlier, Renault India defended GNCAP’s 0 rating by stating, that the Kwid was still under development at that time. But after four months, the car has improved merely to 1 point in terms of safety. Earlier, the French auto manufacturer said that, Kwid will become much safer and it will get improved safety features. It seems that, the promise is yet to be kept.
Also read: GNCAP Aftermath: Renault Kwid to Feature Four Airbags and ABS in Brazil
According to Global NCAP, the top end variant of Kwid equipped with driver airbag (this comes as optional), has shown high chest deflection, which resulted the 1 star safety rating. Apart from the optional driver airbag, the new model comes with a seatbelt pretensioner. As the Bharat NCAP is about to implement the new safety norms in the country, the airbags, ABS, reverse parking sensor like safety features are about to become standard for every car.
Renault also claimed, they are working toward making the India spec Kwids safer complying with the new safety norms in the country. While the India spec Kwid has received only a single star, the made-in-India Brazil spec Kwid is 130 kilogram heavier than its Indian sibling. The Brazilian spec model comes sporting safety features like dual front airbag for driver and front passenger, ABS etc.
Also read: Renault Kwid – One of Seven Cars Involved in the Global NCAP Crash Tests
Meanwhile, the French auto major launched the 1.0L version of the Kwid recently. Also the car maker started exporting the Kwids to neighboring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka. In India too, the car comes as very popular, and such a poor safety rating actually didn’t affect the sales figure of the car.