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-   -   Budget Automatics: Kwid vs Alto vs Nano (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/hatchbacks/182299-budget-automatics-kwid-vs-alto-vs-nano.html)

Renault Kwid


What you'll like:

• Automatic is priced merely 30,000 rupees over the 1.0L MT! City convenience for cheap
• AMTs deliver better fuel-economy than conventional torque-converter ATs
• Distinctive styling! Looks swell for an A-segment hatchback
• Well-packaged cabin with good space, comfy seats, lots of storage & a huge 300 liter boot
• Suspension offers a comfortable ride with neutral handling. 180 mm of GC too
• Equipment in a budget car (driver's airbag, digital meter cluster, touchscreen ICE, navigation, full MID & more)

What you won't:

• A bare-bones AT! Manual mode, sport mode, creep feature & larger brake pedal are all missing
• AMTs simply lack the smoothness & shift-speed of conventional ATs
• Some essential features absent (internally adjustable ORVMs, retractable rear seatbelts etc.)
• Tyres & brakes should have been beefed up on the 1.0L AMT variant
• 28 litre fuel tank is the smallest in the segment and its 5 meter turning radius the biggest
• Renault's dealer & after-sales network is far weaker than that of Maruti & Hyundai

Link to Official Review

Maruti Alto K10


What you'll like:

• A much improved Alto K10 at the same price point
• Power-to-weight ratio of 91 BHP/ton makes this one peppy li'l hatchback
• More fuel-efficient than before. AMT variant is also an easy sipper @ 24.07 km/l
• Compliant low speed ride quality. Soft suspension is absorbent
• Convenient city car: Light, agile & easy to drive (especially the AMT variant)
• Driver-side airbag & factory fitted CNG kit available
• Maruti's excellent after-sales service & fuss free ownership experience

What you won't:

• Cramped rear bench. Also, the seatback is very short
• Sensitive steering & nervous handling at speed. Best driven <100 kph
• AMT lacks the refinement & shift-speed of conventional ATs
• VXI (O) trim & airbag unavailable with the AMT. No ABS on any variant
• Questionable structural strength. The car which it's based on (Alto 800) fared poorly in crash tests
• Skinny 155 mm tyres beg for an upgrade
• Flimsy build & economy grade quality. Poor NVH levels as well
• More accomplished WagonR & Celerio are priced not too far away

Link to Official Review

Tata Nano GenX


What you'll like:

• Cute & cool styling. A car that will make you smile
• The cheapest Automatic car in India. Priced Rs. 1.26 lakhs lower than the Alto AMT!
• AMT, light power steering & small footprint make it effortless to drive in the city
• Innovative packaging results in spacious interiors for 4 adults. Generous legroom & headroom
• Openable tail-gate & bigger fuel tank make the Nano more practical to live with
• Powerful air-conditioner will chill you to the bone
• Features such as the Bluetooth-stereo, full MID, Zest steering wheel, twin glove-boxes etc.
• 4 year warranty is standard (limited to 60,000 kms)

What you won't:

• Nano AMT has sluggish performance. Struggles on inclines too. Unsuitable for highway runs
• AMT lacks the refinement & shift-speed of conventional ATs
• Puny drum brakes feel too weak in the Automatic variant
• Basic, bumpy ride quality
• Low cost nature & quality. Cheap car image is a deterrent for many
• Tiny 94-110 liter boot
• Niggles & issues as reported by existing Nano owners
• Tata's sub-par after sales service isn't a match to Maruti's

Link to Official Review

For reasons highlighted in the Kwid's review, I'll pick the Alto AMT.

1. The Kwid's Automatic is stripped of all must-have / nice-to-have features. It's the lousiest AT deployment I've seen. Not giving Manual Mode in a car powered by a puny engine is sacrilege. These small cars absolutely need manual override for some driving conditions.

2. No creep mode! Seriously, how can you make an AT more difficult?? AT is supposed to be 'easy'.

3. The Alto's 1.0L petrol is sweeter, and it does have the useful manual mode + creep.

Renault should have just charged 10k more and given us all the missing features. After all, would you rather buy an AT with many compromises for 4.25 lakhs, or a full-feature one for 4.35 lakhs?

Idiots.

I was about to write that this seems an easy choice - Alto seemed an obvious pick.

Then I read this - This is a deal breaker for me.

So I will not pick any of the three because:

Seems like they got carried away by the success of the Kwid thus far. Ironically it's called the Easy R!

They came so close and then goofed up, a good opportunity lost. Hope Renault will rethink on the creep and manual modes, after Airbags and ABS we need these on an AMT.

Oh, and Maruti goofed up on the Vxi (O) AMT as well!

For me, Renault Kwid EazyR would be an easy choice because of Kwid's looks, roomy cabin, feature list and large boot - I wouldn't even bother visiting Tata or Maruti showrooms to checkout the competition .

Lack of creep function is a negative but not a deal-breaker. After all, Honda Activa does not have creep functionality either, and its not exactly a hassle in stop-go traffic. Among cars, CVTs have "weak' creep functionality and they roll back on inclines. Using the hand-brake solves the problem and women or nervous drivers will have no issues because the Kwid will NOT stall. New drivers get nervous on inclines at traffic signals only because they fear stalling.

I think keen drivers will miss the manual mode on highways - especially when quick overtaking manoeuvre is required. Otherwise, sedate drivers will have no major issues with the lack of manual mode in Kwid AMT. After all, they have bought the automatic for a reason - freedom from gear shifting. But yeah, overtaking requires patience and some pre-planning.

Creep mode is a big miss, but I am not sure how many automatic/amt drivers use the manual mode. Most of them I have seen do not know when to use it.

My choice would be Alto AMT if its second car.
But if its the only car than KWID makes more sense.

Again if an elderly person is buying/or will be using it , than it should be Nano.

I voted for Nano, because it is not a Maruti! :)

Well, at about Rs 1 lakh+ cheaper than Alto, I think the Nano is a good VFM car. The -ves (small boot, struggle on inclines) are not really -ves for an urban commuter. Plus, it looks so cute!

+1 to above,

Although i voted for kwid, but the choice of Wagon R is most appropriate here. Considering there is enough discount, I would say Wagon R is the smart choice here. :thumbs up

I, for one was eagerly waiting for the Kwid AMT. But the absence of any kind of manual control is a deal breaker for me. Not very fond of the Alto too.

If I had to pick from these 3, my choice would be the Nano( as a 2nd car). I think it is a VFM product, way cheaper than the other 2, almost better equipped (lack of airbags is a downer) and good enough to potter around short distances within the city.

For an only car, first choice would be to look at pre-owned. There will be some good options at 4-5L.

Eddy, unfortunately, looking for safety in this segment is like asking for healthy food in a Dominos outlet. It's sad, but that's the reality. You could upgrade to a WagonR or Celerio; however:

- They aren't exactly Euro NCAP performers either.

- It's not easy for the typical Alto buyer to extend his budget even further.

Overconfidence has surely blurred their judgement.

Just a note: Even the AMTs with creep roll back on inclines. You have to use the handbrake. Advantage of creep is in bumper-to-bumper traffic, not climbs.

My pick is Nano but only if I'm offered some serious discounts and if I have another car for highway use. And that's my current situation.

If I can have only one car, it'd be a used Alto K10, for obvious reasons. Except on the highway, the Nano meets all my needs. My height will make the Alto a compromise every time I get in it.

While I agree with the overall safety assessment of the segment, I am only comparing two variants of the similar cars. I am sure that the one with airbags will be safer. So a wagonR with an airbag is better than alto without one.

Totally agree on the budget part. If its not flexible, I'd get the Alto.

From the heart, it is the Nano for me. I have had a soft spot for the Nano from the day this car rolled out. Drove one from the first batch, without power steering and I loved it. There were flaws for sure. The multiple fire episodes could not take away my interest or fondness for the Nano. The Nano wins purely from a practicality stand point. Who would have thought that Tata could have managed so much space on the inside from such a small foot print. I bet it is the easiest to drive around in this group. The design appeals to me as well. My colleagues think I have lost it though I firmly believe their choice of the Reva over the Nano is purely around the brand and not the design. The Reva, to me, looks like it has a hunch.

I did consider the Nano AMT when launched. It was for my wife and to take care of our work commute. At over 4 lac on road, and the need to take a small loan for it, we decided against it. We rent too so parking could be a problem. Besides; long term reliability of a new Nano with a major mechanical upgrade was unknown and I ain't going anywhere near a Tata without knowing about this.

The Nano is a very different car today compared to the one I drove. Tata have made a lot of changes to its design and overall quality. You gotto admit, you get a lot of car for your money.

I have not driven the AMT but having read the review and owner reports, power and stopping power are concerns even today. Having said that, the mind says Alto AMT. It is the most reliable car you can buy and from a company that is known to support its customers very well. The Alto AMT is an eyes closed purchase.

Voted for Nano.

I have one Genx XTA which is fun to drive. Interior space, steering, turning radius, creep function, AC all are superior. Yes, engine power, boot space, drum brake, and cheap car image are deal breaker. Kwid has an airbag and touch screen infotainment system but it lacks manual mode and creep function. I never like the interior of Alto, nothing special to mention about Alto except the so called 'reliability' (please don't take it otherwise).

I drove the Nano XTA in expressways, highways, hill stations, as well as in the city of Kolkata. It is always fun for me. In the hill stations I use manual mode instead of auto. I don't know how the Kwid will behave in variable terrain and how the driver will manage the car.

Renault missing Creep has been discussed extensively. What is of interest to me is does the Average joe who goes shopping for a AMT car, know about benefits of creep function?

I feel lack of creep will get lost in popularity of Kwid.
It is possible sales guy will make a fool , and make them believe that car is safer without creep.

The issue is very few have driven/owned an automatic car, hence there is not much for average car buyer to refer to or get advise regarding it.