Renault Triber First Drive Review — The Budget Friendly MPV

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Renault Triber MPV is the latest offering from the French carmaker in the Indian market. The all-new compact-MPV had its global debut in India back in June 2019. The car later went on sale in the Indian market on 28th August.

The Renault Triber MPV comes with a completely fresh design, along with a host of features; making it an attractive offering in the Indian market. We recently got a chance to get behind the wheel of the new compact-MPV and drive it in the scenic state of Goa.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

The Renault Triber looks and feels premium and is available with a host of options, both inside and out. However, the real question is how does the compact-MPV feel like to drive on the bustling Indian streets? Let's find out.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

Design & Styling

The Renault Triber is offered with a completely fresh design, compared to any of its other siblings on sale in the Indian market. The Renault Triber comes with a host of premium and upmarket looking styling elements all-around, making it an extremely attractive MPV to look at.

The car is based on the same CMF-A platform which also underpins the Kwid hatchback in the Indian market. However, this has been modified extensively for the Triber, allowing Renault to offer more space on the interiors while also being able to keep its dimensions under the 4-metre bracket.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

Starting from the front, the Renault Triber comes with a new front grille studded with chrome inserts and the company logo prominently at its centre. Flanking either side of the MPV is a pair of neat-looking projector headlamps with integrated turn signals.

The front bumper also comes with bulky proportions, offering a rugged look to the compact Triber MPV. This is further enhanced with the presence of centrally-placed air intake with a silver scuff plate at the bottom.

The front bumper also houses a set of LED DRLs, positioned at either end. The DRL housing also features silver accents, adding to the premium appeal of the MPV.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

The side profile of the Renault Triber comes with a boxy design, large windows and flared wheel arches. The wheel arches and the bottom part of the side doors also come with black plastic cladding; continuing the rugged theme from the front. The wheel arches house 15-inch alloy wheels, which feels well proportioned with the rest of the MPV.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

The Renault Triber also offers a fresh and premium-looking rear profile. The rear is characterised by the long, sleek wraparound taillights. It also comes with roof-mounted spoiler with integrated brake lights, adding a bit of sportiness to the MPV. The rear bumpers come finished in black and houses a silver scuff plate as well.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

Interiors & Practicality

Moving into the cabin of the Renault Triber, the MPV offers a premium and upmarket feel. The cabin comes with a dual-tone black/beige finish. The dashboard features good quality soft-plastic materials all around the cabin. There is also a thick silver panel running along the entire length of the dashboard, adding to the upmarket appeal of the MPV.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

The centre console consists of a well-integrated 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. The controls for the AC and climate control are placed below the display in the form of physical rotary knobs. The Renault Triber also comes with a push-button start/stop, which is placed oddly below the AC controls on the central part of the dashboard.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

The Triber MPV offers an airy and spacious looking cabin, which is further accentuated by the large windows and the light coloured seats and interiors. The MPV also offers plenty of storage and cubby spaces all around the cabin, this includes two glove boxes; one of which is air-cooled.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

Moving to the second and third rows, the Renault Triber here as well offers plenty of space for rear passengers. There is plenty of headroom and legroom, although the under-thigh support could have been a tad better.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

The space in the third row also feels adequate, although we would suggest its usage be limited to just kids. However, the large windows, light coloured seats and roof lining add to the sense of space, never making the passengers feel claustrophobic.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

The third-row of seats can also be completely removed easily, expanding the boot space on the Renault Triber. The carmaker offers the MPV with a bag, which can easily pack away the third-row of seats when not required. The third-row of seats come with a 50:50 split, allowing customers to remove the seats individually and customise the boot space accordingly as well.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

With the third-row seats in their upright position, the Renault Triber comes with 84-litres of boot space. This can be further expanded to 625-litres by entirely removing the third-row of seats. The second-row comes with 60:40 split seats, which further expands the boot space to a massive 1000+ litres of luggage space.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

The seats themselves are finished in light coloured fabric upholstery. The front driver and passenger seats are extremely comfortable and offer a good amount of side and thigh support.

The rear seats also offer a comfortable seating position, however, it does miss out on under-thigh support. The second row of seats also come with a slide and recline function adding to the comfort of the passengers.

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

Here is a brief look at the dimensions of the Renault Triber:

Length (mm) 3990
Width (mm) 1739
Height (mm) 1643
Wheelbase (mm) 2636
Ground Clearance (mm) 182
Boot Space (litres) 84*

Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

Variants, Key Features & Safety

The Renault Triber is offered with a choice of four variants: RXE, RXL, RXT and RXZ. Each of the variants are offered with a host of features as standard. Some of the important features on the Renault Triber:

  • Projector Headlamps
  • LED DRLs
  • Electrically-Adjustable ORVMs
  • LED Instrument Cluster
  • Electric Tailgate Release
  • Day/Night Adjustable IRVM
  • Push-Button Start/Stop
  • AC Vents for 2nd & 3rd Row Passengers
  • Auto Up/Down Window For Driver
  • 3D Spacer Fabric Upholstery
  • Smart Access Card
  • 12V Socket For All Three Rows
  • 8-inch Touchscreen Infotainment System (Apple CarPlay & Android Auto standard)
  • Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

    In terms of safety, the Renault Triber comes packed with

    • Four Airbags (RXZ variant only)
    • ABS with EBD
    • Load Limiter & Pretensioner
    • High-Speed Alert
    • Rear Parking Sensors
    • Pedestrian Protection
    • Speed Sensing Door Lock
    • Impact Sensing Door Unlock
    • Rear-View Camera (RXZ variant Only)
    • Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

      Engine Performance & Driving Impressions

      The Renault Triber MPV is powered by a single petrol engine option, called the ‘Energy Engine'. This comes in the form of a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit. The 999cc petrol engine produces 70bhp at 6,250rpm and 92Nm of peak torque at 3,500rpm, mated to a standard five-speed manual gearbox.

      Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

      The 1.0-litre petrol engine is peppy for a three-cylinder unit, with most of the power kicking in after crossing the 3000rpm mark. The engine has been tuned well, although it does not feel powerful enough for a car its size. However, it doesn't seem sluggish as well. The engine noise can also be heard throughout.

      The engine is tuned to offer an efficient way of transporting people from ‘A' to ‘B' and nothing else. This is quite evident, as the car does take its time to build up speed, even under heavy accelerations.

      Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

      The five-speed manual gearbox does feel a bit jerky at times and the car does require constant gearshifts to keep the engine in the powerband. Renault has confirmed an AMT automatic transmission for the Renault Triber, which is expected to arrive at a later stage.

      Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

      The ride handling on the Renault Triber is where the MPV shines. The steering is light and direct, allowing you to easily tackle the bustling city streets and the narrow bylanes with ease.

      The Renault Triber also offers a composed and effortless drive and feels sure-footed even at higher speeds on the highway. The suspension set up is robust and soaks up the road undulations with ease. Braking on the Triber is progressive and offers good composure even under heavy braking.

      Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

      Specification Table

      Engine 1.0-litre petrol
      Power (bhp) 70
      Torque (Nm) 92
      Transmission 5MT
      Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

      Pricing, Competition & Fact Check

      The Renault Triber is offered with a starting price of Rs 4.95 lakh for the base-spec RXE variant. The top-spec Triber RXZ MPV is, however, priced higher at Rs 6.95 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom (Delhi)

      The Renault Triber is positioned in the Indian MPV segment and rivals the likes of the Datsun GO+ and the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga in the market.

      Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

      Here is a brief comparison between the Renault Triber and its main rivals in the Indian market.

      Specifications/Model Renault Triber Datsun GO+ Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
      Engine 1.0-litre Petrol 1.2-litre Petrol 1.5-litre Petrol (BS-VI)
      Power (bhp) 70 67 104
      Torque (Nm) 92 104 138
      Transmission 5MT 5MT 5MT/4AT
      Starting Price* Rs 4.95 Lakh Rs 3.86 Lakh Rs 7.55 Lakh

      *All prices are ex-showroom (Delhi)

      Renault Triber (First Drive) Review: Driving Impressions, Performance, Specs, Features & Other Details

      DriveSpark Thinks!

      The Renault Triber is a good attempt by the brand to re-invent itself in the Indian market. The compact-MPV offers good ride handling abilities, along with a peppy engine which happily trots along on the city streets and the occasional highway drives.

      The Triber has been positioned as a seven-seater MPV in the Indian market, however, it is better off as a five-seater offering.The Renault Triber is perfectly aimed for those family-oriented people looking to buy something other than a hatchback in the same price range.

      (Writing by Rahul Nagaraj; Inputs & Editing by Jobo Kuruvilla and Rahul Jaswal)

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Read more on: #review #renault
Article Published On: Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 16:46 [IST]
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