Kwid, Mobi and C3 are popular car candidates; see test – 05/15/2023 – Eduardo Sodré

Three brands must take the lead in the process of resuming popular cars. Renault Kwid, Fiat Mobi and Citroën C3, in that order, are the most affordable cars sold in Brazil today.

In partnership with Folha, the Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia measured the performance and consumption of these models, both with ethanol and gasoline.

To measure the performance of the cars, the IMT (Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia) uses the V-Box, equipment that uses a GPS signal.

The acceleration and resumption tests are carried out on the track owned by the company ZF, in Limeira (inland São Paulo).
The stage that verifies consumption in the city is 27 km long. To simulate a road trip at 90 km/h, the engineers drive 31 km. Both routes are in São Caetano do Sul (ABC), where the institute’s headquarters are located.

If the car is flex-fuel, two measurements are made: one with ethanol, the other with gasoline.

Renault Kwid is the most economical both in the city and on the highway

The Kwid should be the first release among the popular new cars. Its price starts at R$69,000 for the Zen version, but Renault has been promoting it, when the value drops to approximately R$63,000.

The current list of standard equipment includes four airbags, power steering, air conditioning, stability controls, a sound system with Bluetooth and electric door and window locks.

The internal space is adequate for four adults. The knees of those traveling in the back seat are very close to the front seats, but there is a good headroom.

The strong points of the compact are agility in urban areas and fuel consumption, with an average of 23.1 km/l on the road when fueled with gasoline.

Renault Kwid Zen

Price: BRL 69 thousand
Motor: front, transverse, flex, three cylinders 999 cm³
Power: 71 hp (E) and 68 hp (G) at 6,250 rpm
Torque: 10 kgfm (E) and 9.4 kgfm (G) at 4,250 rpm
Streaming: manual transmission, five gears; front wheel drive
Tires: 165/70 R14
Weight: 818 kg
Trunk: 290 liters
Length: 3.68m
Width: 1.60 m
Height: 1.48 m
Wheelbase: 2.42 m
Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h, in seconds): 15.2 (E), 16.9 (G)
Resumption (80 km/h to 120 km/h, in seconds): 17.3 (E), 18.4 (G)
Braking: (80 km/h to 0): 41.8m
Urban consumption: 12.6 km/l (E), 17.9 km/l (G)
Road consumption: 16.6 km/l (E), 23.1 (G)

Mobi offers familiar mechanics and easy maintenance, but it’s tight

The entry-level version of the Fiat Mobi costs BRL 69,000 and shares the position of cheapest zero-kilometer car with the Kwid. However, this option was not available for testing.

The option evaluated was Trekking, sold at R$ 72.3 thousand. Its suspension is higher, indicating regions with dirt roads and bad asphalt.

The mechanics are simple and known to repairmen. Its engine is a 1.0 flex four-cylinder, and the main current standard items are power steering, air conditioning, sound system and electric drive for front windows and door locks.

It is, however, the tightest among popular car candidates. Space is less both in the cabin and in the trunk.

Fiat Mobi Trekking

Price: BRL 72.3 thousand
Motor: front, transverse, flex, four cylinders, 999 cm³
Power: 74 hp (E) and 71 hp (G) at 5,500 rpm
Torque: 9.7 kgfm (E) and 9.3 kgfm (G) at 3,250 rpm
Streaming: manual transmission, five gears; front wheel drive
Tires: 175/65 R14
Weight: 969 kg
Trunk: 200 liters
Length: 3.60 m
Width: 1.66 m
Height: 1.55 m
Wheelbase: 2.30 m
Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h, in seconds): 19.9 (E), 20.7 (G)
Resumption (80 km/h to 120 km/h, in seconds): 20.3 (E), 21.5 (G)
Braking: (80 km/h to 0): 39.6m
Urban consumption: 10.7 km/l (E), 13.2 km/l (G)
Road consumption: 15 km/l (E), 21.1 (G)

Citroen C3 better accommodates passengers and luggage

The Citroën C3 2023 offers good space both in the cabin and in the trunk (315 liters of capacity), and these are its main assets compared to competitors.

Today all versions come with air conditioning and power steering, but there is no rear window wiper on the simplest version.

The safety package includes front airbags and stability controls. There are also LED daytime running lights and electric front windows and door locks, which may no longer be offered in future popular versions.

Citroën C3 Live

Price: BRL 73 thousand
Motor: front, transverse, flex, three cylinders 999 cm³
Power: 75 hp (E) and 71 hp (G) at 6,000 rpm
Torque: 10.7 kgfm (E) and 10 kgfm (G) at 3,250 rpm
Streaming: manual transmission, five gears; front wheel drive
Tires: 195/65 R15
Weight: 1,037 kg
Trunk: 315 liters
Length: 3.98m
Width: 1.73m
Height: 1.59 m
Wheelbase: 2.54 m
Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h, in seconds): 16.5 (E), 18.2 (G)
Resumption (80 km/h to 120 km/h, in seconds): 18.4 (E), 22.8 (G)
Braking: (80 km/h to 0): not measured
Urban consumption: 10.6 km/l (E), 13 km/l (G)
Road consumption: 14.8 km/l (E), 19.2 (G)