Renault Twingo Review by Expert

The seeds of French car maker showing its might in India were sown when it broke its ties with the homegrown SUV maker Mahindra. However, where it was a misfortune for Mahindra, it has been a good omen for Indian car industry. As soon as Renault was freed of the tie up it planned a robust strategy of its independent presence in India. Starting with Renault Fluence and then Koleos, the French biggie plans to launch five cars by this year end.

Out of these, three are already in with the recent addition of Renault Pulse small car. The fourth will be Renault Duster in June followed by the fifth car that is still under veil. According to experts, the fifth car could be Renault Twingo. Reason: immense possibilities in small car market and immediate cause could be the success of Renault Pulse in India that will encourage the French to bring in another small car.

Launched first in 1993, Renault Twingo is a city car and is available in three door and five door versions. Since its launch, the Twingo city car has been liked world over for its compact yet spacious nature. Though the earlier generations could not attract much attention following its mundane styling and cabin quality but the recent makeover and launch in Europe seems to have clicked it for Renault.

Twingo Renault car’s latest generation is heavily inspired by Renault DeZir concept and starting from the front to the tail, one can see the same styling to continue. The front newly designed grille now houses the diamond shaped Renault logo. There are lots of visible changes here and there on the car. In Europe, the small wonder rivals include Skoda Citigo, VW Up and SEAT Mii. In India, the Renault’s baby machine will have many rivals to fight with in the premium hatchback segment that includes Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen Polo and others.

If launched in India, the £10,350 (Rs 8 lakh approximately) small car need to have an affordable pricing as here the hatchback price segment begins at Rs 1.5 lakh and ends at 6 lakh from where the sedan segment begins. Besides if placed under Renault Pulse hatchback, the Twingo is expected to have an under Rs 6 lakh price. Twingo’s prospects as a compact car in India is no doubt tremendous and even the French car maker believes that bringing in a small car than a sedan or SUV will be more profitable.

Since Renault has a production unit in a joint venture with Nissan, it would not be difficult for the car maker to bring this car in India as it has the 1.5 L engine ready that it has also used in Renault Pulse.

Renault Twingo Mileage and Fuel Efficiency

Being a small car Twingo has more scope of delivering higher fuel economy. The European version delivers a mileage of 55 mpg which is 19.1 kmpl. As per the European standards this average is low. However, in India a hatchback car delivering 19.1 kmpl is considered to be returning a decent mileage. The emissions are also low and the Renault Twingo emits only 119 g of CO2 per kilometer. The Twingo diesel version which is expected to be the hit model is expected to return a 23kmpl or mileage as it will be using the 1.5 dCi engine developed by Renault.

 

Renault Twingo Models and Features

The European models Renault Twingo Dynamique, Twingo Expression and RenaultSport could make it to India but nothing can be said prior to the launch and so a demarcation can be made with respect to petrol and diesel models.

Renault Twingo Petrol: This will be the petrol model of the small car by Renault. It is expected to be powered by a 1.2L (1149cc) four cylinder petrol engine that will have a maximum Power of 60 Bhp and a maximum torque of 93 Nm. As Twingo will be a premium hatch, a lot of features are expected including air bags, a more powerful petrol 75 bhp variant besides, infotainment device inside, Anti-lock Braking system, Electronic Brake Force distribution etc.  

Renault Twingo Diesel: This will be the diesel variant and is expected to be powered by a 1.5 L dCi engine that is developed by Renault. The diesel engine will output 86 hp with 200 Nm torque. This diesel engine delivers 23 kmpl mileage in Renault Pulse and is expected to deliver the same in Renault Twingo as well. Since diesel cars are in demand in India, Renault could launch its diesel version only as it did with Renault Pulse. However in the absence of any official information, it is expected that the fate of the Twingo diesel launch will greatly depend on the decision regarding tax on diesel cars in India. 

Renault Twingo Engine, Power and Performance

The new car-Renault Twingo is expected to be launched in India in petrol and diesel engine options. Where the petrol models will be powered by a 1.2 L 60 bhp Multi-point injection engine, the diesel models will have 86 hp power 1.5 L dCi common rail diesel technology based engine. Both the petrol and diesel engines are powerful enough to give a decent pickup and thrust to this Renault small car Twingo. Its engines will be tuned to Indian conditions and it is expected that a more powerful 75 bhp engine in petrol will also make its way in India. However all in all, the diesel engine that is tried and tested in the Nissan Micra and then recently in Renault Pulse will be the most sought after indeed. Renault produces the diesel engine at its plant in India and this engine will be used in Twingo diesel.  

Twingo performance can be gauged in terms of its power output. A 60 bhp is decent enough power for a car that weighs around 1000 kgs. The engine will be mated to a five speed manual gearbox and it is expected that the gearbox will be translating the power from the engine to the wheels in totality. While with the 75 bhp engine under the bonnet the car’s performance will increase and this engine will also imbibe in it sports capabilities.

A 60 bhp petrol engine with 93 Nm of torque will be sufficient enough for the car to be driven in the city and it is expected to perform reasonably well on the highways as well. However due to its small size, it will be best for the city drive.

Renault Twingo Pick Up and Acceleration

The Renault small car’s petrol 60 bhp motor is expected to have a decent pick up due to its torque rich engine. The petrol Twingo will accelerate to 100 kmph from stationary in just 12.3 seconds while the diesel Twingo acceleration will be 11.2 seconds which is better than the petrol one. Whereas the 75 bhp petrol will be accelerating to 100 kmph mark in a little less than 11.2 seconds. The top speed of Renault Twingo petrol car will be 169 kmph while that of the bulky diesel powered yet powerful car will be 189 kmph. Conventionally the petrol versions were quicker than diesel ones but these days with improvement in technology and production of lighter engines, there is significant increase in the performance and power delivery of diesel engines as well.

Renault Twingo Interiors and Features

The bubbly design continues on the inside as well. Step in and one feels that the interiors of Renault Twingo have an ambience of its own. There is perfect harmonization of the color of the material. In the new 2011 Twingo, a soft to touch material has been used that has enhanced its interior appeal. The seats too have new patterns and the edges of which have different colors. The door inserts as well as the air vents also have a touch of color. The interior quality has been significantly enhanced and now it has an up market feel.

Despite being a small car, the Twingo interiors offer much space for seating and storage as well. The rear seats are 50-50 split offering much space at the rear. With an overall height of 1.4 m, the Renault car has enough of headroom for the front passengers and the passengers at the rear. With the rear seats folded, the Twingo draws 959 dm3 of space at the rear. Besides this there are a lot of spaces for storage making every trip a fun.

The interiors also have audio system that is integrated with Bluetooth and USB connectivity ensuring that your favorite numbers keep shuffling even inside the car. The music system also has iPad and iPod docking facility.  

Though it would be unfair to expect large hectares of space inside the Twingo but it has a comfortable seating for five people. The Indian version will be a five door version and so entry and exit would be quite easier. In addition to this, the Twingo with a length of 3.6 m and 1.6 meter width offers sufficient legroom and shoulder space for the occupants. However headroom could be a problem for the rear passengers.  

Renault TwingoExterior and Features

Bubble shaped, bubble eyed and bubble inspired all the way is what the new Twingo is. Akin to its offering by its Japanese partner which is the Nissan Micra, Renault Twingo is also bubble shaped. For Renault’s new car it is like a bubble designed for the city. All the more the small size makes driving lot more easier in the city. Parking is easy, steering is easy and passing through narrow streets is easy.

With strong inheritance of design from Renault DeZir, the Twingo car has seen two generations since its launch in 1992. The current version which is a facelift of the second generation of this Renault’s small car has received changes on the outside and inside to silence the criticisms. This car now has a new front, with improved and prominent lines and the diamond shaped Renault logo now sits on the specially designed new grille. The front has a more upright stance than the exiting generation. However, the overall appeal characteristic of the first generation Twingo remains intact with a playful character in the looks. The new Twingo gets new headlamps and fog lamps and a newly designed front bumper. Two new colors have been added to the current color range. The new Renault car also has an option of electrically operated sun roof.  

The rear has also received a treatment with new tail lights and the tailgate. The same aerodynamic nature continues from the sides to the rear. The rear bumper is round in shaped compared to the earlier generation and the lines are softer at the rear. At just 3.6 m length and a width of 1.6 m the car qualifies for the tax exemption as well as will fit to be a city car. At a reasonably height of 1470 mm the car will have a ground clearance of 120 mm which is quite considered to be ok for Indian roads. The European version of Renault Twingo also has a variety of accessories available and by opting any of these one can easily transform, the small car into a sporty machine. From roof decals, to sunroof to radical graphics, all are there to make the Twingo truly yours.

Safety Features in Renault Twingo

For Renault safety is given top preference. However, in India, in order to fit the car in the budget segment, the French car maker could be compelled to drop certain features. The European Renault Twingo model has a lot of safety features and it has got four star rating for the occupants and two star for the pedestrian safety. Still, the Indian model will manage to get Anti-lock Braking system, electronic brake force distribution and anti skid tyres besides other features. On the higher trims, Renault could offer airbags and other safety features as well.

Renault Twingo Driving and Handling

Renault Twingo driving and handling is far easier. Lightweight body with only around 1000 kgs on coupled with a powerful engine and five speed manual gearbox, expect the Twingo to offer decent maneuverability inside the city and on the highways as well. The driving will also be comfortable with the improved power steering and overall design of the car. With 60 bhp on the petrol car and 86 bhp on the diesel car, expect a good thrust and pick up. Besides, the small car capabilities will be high on Twingo and it will be easier to drive in dense traffic and cramped roads and will also be easier to shrunken parking spaces.

Renault Twingo Accessories

A lot of Renault Twingo accessories will be available to make the compact car truly yours. In Europe, the car has a variety of optional accessories available that make it truly customized cars. From engine options to sunroof and roof decal everything will be available for this car. Renault sport mats, multimedia options, spoiler, wheels, rail carriers are some of the accessories available that can be added to the Twingo car making it truly your own.
 

Renault Twingo Conclusion

If a new car is coming to the already hot hatchback segment, it has to carry some miracle with it or else it will be just another car in the segment. This in toto applies to Renault Twingo as well. What is so impressive about it? Is it the small size, brand, or the offering? The brand no doubt is robust, thus, what remains is the pricing factor that can really play a vital role for Renault’s another small car. If priced in the range of Rs 3.2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, Twingo will be able to draw much attention. However, its styling, space inside and mileage in diesel will be attracting lot of heads towards it.