Mahindra KUV100 vs Renault Kwid
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
Too close to call on resale: both keep about 59% of their value over three years. Decide on the deal, not the badge.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| KUV100 | Kwid | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 172 999 | R 178 799 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 3 024/m | R 3 125/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 77% | 77% |
| Retained after 3 years | 59% | 59% |
| Value after 3 years | R 102 604 | R 106 044 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 70 395 | R 72 755 |
| Value after 5 years | R 78 826 | R 81 469 |
| Our tier | Weak-franchise mainstream | Weak-franchise mainstream |
Mahindra KUV100 →
Mahindra pitched the KUV100 as a mini SUV, though it really competed with budget hatchbacks from 2016 until it was quietly dropped in 2023. The Nxt update added kit and pricing stayed under R180k to the end. It is a cheap used buy backed by a growing dealer network.
Known for: cheap quirky city runabout
Renault Kwid →
Renault's cheapest model and one of the cheapest new cars in South Africa, built in India on the CMF-A platform. It sells in big numbers to first-time buyers and e-hailing drivers thanks to low instalments and SUV-inspired looks. Early cars scored poorly in crash tests and resale is soft, but sheer affordability keeps demand steady.
Known for: rock-bottom pricing with suv-look styling
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Mahindra KUV100 or the Renault Kwid?
They are close to inseparable: 59% vs 59% retained after three years. Buy on price, spec and the deal you can get, not on resale.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Mahindra KUV100 loses about R 70 395 over three years and the Renault Kwid loses about R 72 755. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Mahindra KUV100 runs about R 3 024 per month and the Renault Kwid about R 3 125, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.