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Versatile: 2020 Renault Triber 1.0

Pricing’s the kicker

Posted: February 14, 2020


The numbers
Prices: See text                                                                                                     Engine: 999 cc, DOHC, 12-valve, inline three-cylinder
Power: 52 kW at 6250 rpm
Torque: 96 Nm at 3500 rpm
Top speed and acceleration: Not yet released
Claimed average fuel consumption: 5.5 l/100 km
Tank: 40 litres
Luggage (litres): 58 to 625, thereafter configuration-dependent
Warranty: 5 years / 150 000 km
Service plan: 2 years / 30 000 km at 15 000 km intervals

Advisory: Renault Triber comes out of the same factory in Chennai as Kwid and Datsun GO+, but that’s where similarities end. It isn’t a rebadged or re-imagined Kwid. Nor is it a GO+ with different body panels and engine. Jesus Boveda, Renault SA’s VP for marketing and communications, wanted us to emphasise that.

Triber is built on a completely new, modular platform. Its body is built for strength, space, comfort and convenience. It is not an SUV although it looks like one. It isn’t a hatchback either. Or an MPV. It’s Renault’s affordable offering for anyone wanting one of the above, but isn’t quite sure which. But demands versatility when unexpected needs arise.

It can be a family five-seater with humungous boot, a two-person camping companion with loads of space, a four-seater with room for a surfboard, or a seven-seat microbus for your personal tribe. Hence the name; Triber.

That tribe could be a big nuclear family; you and me with yours, mine and ours; family plus in-laws or Stacy the student with six of her study buddies.

It works like this: In Life mode it’s a conventional five-seat family wagon. The second row of seats can be adjusted horizontally and the seatbacks reclined by a few degrees for comfort. Or they can be laid almost flat for extra packing room. Folding and tumbling, one or both chairs, adds yet more.

This row has repeater vents so that passengers can share the air conditioning. On mid-range Dynamique or upper-class Prestige models, those air controls are adjustable.

When demand increases, for neighbourhood school-run duty perhaps, just click one or both easily fitted (or removed) third-row seats into place. Boveda reckons there are a hundred possible seating configurations. We didn’t check.

Its engine is a dual VVT version of the 999 cc, naturally aspirated mill that’s found in Kwid. In Triber mode it produces 52 kW and 96 Nm, rather than 50 and 91. It works fine under light to medium load, but could become stressed on long hills with seven aboard.

In Renault’s defence, it’s common industry practice to lead at first launch with a base engine; followed later by something more powerful, should customers demand it. As Gran undoubtedly told Mom: “Don’t surrender all your goods upfront. Keep ‘em wanting more.”

Five-speed manual is the only gearbox choice right now although an AMT will become available for the top car later this year.

As usual there are three models; Expression, Dynamique and Prestige. Expression starts the ball rolling with two airbags; 14” steel wheels with plain caps; fabric seats; ABS brakes with EBD; manual exterior mirrors; automatic locking on the move with impact-sensing unlocking; powered windows in front; single glove box; plain AM/FM radio with Bluetooth, auxiliary and USB, and the EasyFix rearmost seats.

Upward progression introduces two further airbags, 15” wheels with flex caps, eight-inch touchscreen infotainment centre with satnav and screen sharing, powered mirrors and rear windows, a second glove box, two chilled storage compartments, push button starting, reversing camera, LED DRLs and extra power points.

Colours: Ice Cool White is the only plain shade, while optional metallics include Moonlight Silver, Electric Blue, Fiery Red and Honey Yellow.

But pricing’s the kicker wherewith Triber blows all competitors away; Expression is offered at R164 900, Dynamique at R174 900 and Prestige at R189 900.

Information collected at a manufacturer-sponsored product launch

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

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