Renault Triber

MVP MPV

Indians love big cars. And until the dawn of compact, subcompact, and micro SUVs, we either craved large 7-seaters like the Scorpio or the Innova, or small affordable hatchbacks with a frugal engine. But what if I told you that now, you could have both in the same car? A spacious and practical 7-seater that still has compact dimensions and a fuel efficient engine? That surely sounds too good to be true, right? Well, Renault has managed to deliver just that with the Triber. A sub-4-metre car that also can accommodate 7-passengers fairly comfortably, powered by a fuel efficient 1.0-litre engine, all while costing less than ₹11 lakhs on-road, even for the top spec variants. So has Renault cut several corners to achieve that? Or is it a well rounded package that warrants serious consideration? Let’s find out in our detailed review.

Renault Triber Pros and Cons 

Renault Triber Exterior Design 

In order to maximise interior space from a sub-4-metre length, the Triber adopts a rather less sculpted silhouette, which isn’t much different than some older MPVs — almost like a shrunk first gen Ertiga. However, with many clever details, Renault has made sure that the Triber doesn’t end up looking ugly. Projector headlights with LED DRLs, scuff plates, claddings, roof rails, and a bunch of other things come together really well to give the Triber a butch appearance, making it look SUVesque. The stepped roof is masked well too, with the option of dual tone paint finishes, and a large glass area below. Yes, the rear end would have benefited with some more attention to detail — like nicer tail lamps — but the overall design comes together well to make this an attractive MPV, especially considering its price.

Renault Triber Interiors 

You’d expect that a budget 7-seater MPV would have cut many corners on the interior quality, but in the case of the Triber, you’d be wrong! Yes, the quality isn’t great, but it is much better than budget hatchbacks, especially elevated with a sleek and modern design. An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment, part-digital instrument cluster, and many thoughtful storage spaces — including two glove compartments — elevate the overall experience in the car. Different variants also get different types of finishes, with lower variants getting no inserts on the dash, mid variants getting a piano black insert, and top variants getting a lighter coloured insert that gives the cabin a dual tone look. The upholstery also changes variant wise, matching with the dashboard finishes.

As expected, boot space with all rows up is non-existent, and could probably house only a couple of umbrellas or water bottles. However, not only do the third row seats fold down, but you can also completely remove them! Removing the entire third row can free up a massive 625 litres of storage space, giving you the option to drive this around as a 5-seater with a huge boot, a 6-seater with a small boot, or a 7-seater with a negligible boot. And if you want even more storage space, the middle row can tumble down completely too, offering a van-like storage area with space for two passengers.

Renault Triber Comfort 

Even on the comfort front, the Triber has you covered. Front row seats are well contoured, and the soft foam ensures comfort for both short and long journeys. The middle row is very spacious as well, and the sliding seats allow you to choose between a generously spacious second row, or adequate space for both second and third rows. While the third row is tight on leg room, headroom is generous — thanks to the stepped roof. For longer journeys though, this is best reserved for smaller individuals. 

A similar experience comes across from the suspension too, which is tuned for comfort. The bump absorption is good, and the ride stays flat for the most part. However, since it is designed to carry up to 7 people, the suspension also delivers the best ride when the car is loaded. Solo journeys can tend to be a bit bouncy.

Renault Triber Performance and handling

Powered by a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine, the Triber's performance may not be sprightly, but it meets daily commuting needs. The 5-speed manual transmission, while having a long travel clutch with a strange bite point, is still relatively easy to use. And there’s also the option of an AMT gearbox, which like most units, is decent but not great. While the engine is at home in urban environments, it can handle highway drives at early triple digit speeds too. However, if you want to overtake someone at higher speeds, you will need a bit of planning. What is the engine’s key feature though? Its high fuel economy. Even on high speed journeys, the engine can return a fuel economy figure upwards of 17 km/l. And thanks to being a non-turbo unit, the economy doesn’t dip significantly even in changing driving conditions. A turbo petrol engine is also in the works for the Triber, however, there’s no clear indication from Renault as to when this will hit the market. 

While it has a bit of body roll when driven fast in tight corners, the Triber does well in terms of handling, especially considering that this is a family car. The steering is a little slower than you’d want, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll realise that it is a precise unit. Despite getting skinny 165/80 R14 tyres on all base and mid variants (top end gets larger 185/65 R15s) there’s enough grip in corners, making it feel surefooted.

Renault Triber Key specifications 

Renault Triber Safety Features

Safety is yet another area where Renault hasn’t cut corners on the Triber. The MPV scored an impressive 4-star crash test rating from Global NCAP, making it one of the safer budget cars, bested only by a handful in the price bracket, like the much smaller Tata Punch. Although only the top variant gets four airbags, with all others getting two, it does get other safety features such as ABS, EBD, brake assist, ESP, traction control, hill assist, TPMS, and more. However, while everything else is great by segment standards, the seatbelts could’ve been better. The pretensioner and load limiter is equipped only for the driver’s seat belt, and more importantly, the third row gets only static reel seat belts, compromising on safety.

Renault Triber Technology and Infotainment

As most entry level cars the Triber gets varied levels of kit depending on the variant, and the top end is quite well-equipped. It gets an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which is a great addition for the segment. The system is smooth and easy to use, and is paired with a 6-speaker setup. Instrument cluster is analog, but it gets an LCD MID which also shows the speed readout in digital, instead of an analog dial. Information like range and fuel economy is also easily readable on the MID. 

Is the Renault Triber for you?

With the landscape of the automotive industry changing rapidly, affordable practical cars are becoming scarce. Yes, you may consider a micro SUV practical just because of its form factor, but in essence, they are only raised hatchbacks which are in fact smaller than some B-segment hatchbacks when it comes to interior space. They can only seat four passengers comfortably, and carry about 350 litres of luggage in the boot. At the same price point, the Triber offers comfortable seating for 5, plus the option to seat two more, and a luggage space of up to 625 litres! Yes, not everyone would be tempted to buy an MPV, but for someone who's looking for a practical budget car, things can't get much better than the Triber.