Renault’s journey in the Indian automotive market can be summed up quite succinctly in two simple words – hit & miss. When they hit the bull’s eye with their products – the Duster and the Kwid, for instance – they tasted amazing success. But, when they’ve missed the target, the downfall was equally epic – a bit oxymoronic, don’t you think?
Keeping that in mind, it’s quite clear that the Triber has a lot riding on its shoulders, both for Renault India and the market overall. Now, Renault has had massive success with the Kwid in the sub-4 metre segment, and they’re hoping to repeat the same with the Triber, albeit in a different body type. Now, for what is essentially a people mover – despite whatever Renault wants to call it – the Triber ticks a lot of boxes.
For a seven-seat MPV under 4-metres in length, its design is an absolute revelation. Like most other products from the French manufacturer, the Triber’s proportions are bang on. And from all angles, it looks much bigger and more cohesive than its 4-meter length suggests.
In our test, then, it scored huge points in that respect. It also scored highly in terms of practicality and space, given its adjustable second and third rows, three rows of air-conditioning, and tonnes of other features. Not to mention, at its price point – starting at ₹4.99 Lakh – it offers phenomenal value. In fact, in that respect, it’s a joint winner in our test this year.
But, and there’s always a but, with a product aimed at such a value-conscious audience, there are a couple of things it misses out on, and one of those is refinement. You see, with its 3-cylinder 1.0-litre engine, the Triber is never going to be the hallmark of refinement, and it loses points there.
However, all things considered, the Triber still exceeded our expectations – other than a few sore points – both on the road and on the track even. Given the price at which it’s offered, it certainly is one of the best value for money, practical cars you can currently buy in the Indian market. And that’s high praise indeed.
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