Renault Triber Real - World Test - 6 People Review

Renault Triber, India's most affordable MPV, has been on sale since 2019. We at 91Wheels have driven it multiple times in the past and always found it to be a perfect, simple car you need for commuting, as everything works aptly. A few weeks back, the Triber was again called at 91Wheels to put it to a rigorous test, which we haven't done till now. Fully loading it up with 6 people and luggage, we set out to find out whether it can be used as a large family car for long-distance travel. And to our surprise, it outdid itself. Here's a detailed analysis of what we've experienced. So, let's start, and in the meantime, make sure to join the 91Wheels WhatsApp Channel  to never miss out on automotive updates.

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Renault Triber

The Renault Triber we reviewed was the RXZ Dual Tone MT variant in its signature colour - Metal Mustard. Talking about its price - it costs Rs 8.45 lakh (ex-showroom), and its on-road price in New Delhi is somewhere around Rs 9.40 lakh. Additionally, it is powered by a 1.0L NA 3-cylinder petrol engine making 72 PS and 96 Nm of torque, and the gearbox is a 5-speed manual. Now, these numbers look disappointing for sure, but on the go - if 2 people are sitting or maximum 3, Triber doesn't hold back itself, and picks up speed with ease. That's because its engine is tuned in a certain manner, that it can manoeuvre with 7 people.

Certainly, with all seats occupied, Triber feels malnourished, where it can only maintain speeds but can't overtake with confidence, and the engine feels like it's overworking. That section we'll discuss below; now, let's check the dimensions of this MPV.

Exterior

To be frank, Renault Triber features the most basic of basic car looks - nothing exciting or special from any side. It is simple and sober with an upright stance that results in better headroom inside. Moreover, the chrome elements on the grille light up its front section, and the dual tone paint gives it a modern appeal. Moreover, the 15-inch styled flex wheels closely imitate alloy wheels and can easily fool anyone into thinking they're real, unless examined closely. So, this is a work of detailing, and Renault has done it really well. Apart from this, there isn't much to talk about, but a final verdict on its exterior is - that Triber is a sober-looking car.

Interior

Renault Triber comes in a 7-seat configuration, with two people at the front, three in the middle, and two at the rear. However, the middle row seat is best used for 2 people, 91Wheels learnt during this detailed review, as after 3 people sat there, there was no shoulder room left. Each person was seated like they were stuck by glue, and for long journeys, it will become a torturous ride. This is the paramount reason, we decided to do a 6-people review.

First Row

Talking about the first row, the seats are comfortable with a good amount of cushioning, and the dashboard area doesn't take up much space and is placed a little backward, which results in lots of room for knees and feet. The steering wheel size is small, so that too leaves a lot of space, plus the window area is quite large - so no issues in visibility. Also, there are plenty of storage spaces in this section - to begin with, the doors can hold 1-litre bottles; at the front of the passenger, we have 2 decent-sized glove boxes, and the lower one comes with cooling features. Plus, there's a hidden storage space area in the middle of the front seats, which again features a cooling function - and can easily hold a small bottle of up to 750 ml.

One strange thing we noticed is that the driver gets an armrest, but the co-passenger doesn't. So, Renault should improve this. Also, the door lock here is very old-fashioned - the one with a lock toggle on the upper deck, like we used to see in the Maruti 800. We believe this should be changed.

Second Row

Renault has done very clever engineering here, as the middle seats can be adjusted in several ways - they can slide, recline, and also come with one-touch tumble, which translates to, with just one press of a button, the left section seat automatically folds down to create space for passengers who will sit in the 3rd row. Also, there are two AC vents, placed at the B-pillar on each side, with a middle positioning that throws air - not at the face but the chest area - and can be adjusted as per person setting.

A great thing done by Renault, which you won't find in other MPVs. Here too, Renault carved out spaces in the doors, where a 1-litre bottle can easily fit, and there is good enough legroom space and headroom. The seat features 2 adjustable headrests, which we believe is a clear indication by Renault itself that this seat is perfect for 2 people.

Third Row

This is where Triber surprised us the most, as two people with average Indian height sat comfortably without feeling that they were done injustice by putting them here. The seats were supportive, with the same amount of cushioning as in the middle row, and with two adjustable headrests and two dedicated AC vents placed at head level. To add more, there was a 12V socket, grab handles, and a plastic armrest. Lastly, there was enough space that people could stretch. This is engineering at its best, as Triber's length is just 3990 mm, and for sure, they utilized each mm on offer.

Driving

As we mentioned above, with full load, the 1.0L NA engine breathes for more power, and the engine noise can be heard till the second row, and to some extent the third, when the accelerator is fully pressed. So, this car is strictly meant for peaceful driving only. Moreover, the ride quality is decent - not too hard or soft - something you would expect in a car with this price tag. Bumps are felt, body roll is there, and a lot of work needs to be done in the NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) department.

However, the thing which impressed us was its light steering wheel. Even with your pinky finger, it can be rotated, and in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, this will come as your saviour. Another positive about it is the AC performance - not chilling, but definitely satisfying. To be frank, its AC performance is better than some cars costing above Rs 40 lakh we tested in the past few months.

Talking about the most important factor Indians are concerned about - mileage. Sorry to break the ice, but this isn't the most fuel-efficient option. With a full load, we didn't receive a fuel efficiency of more than 13 kmpl. The reason for this figure is the small engine, which can't do much when so much weight is put on its shoulders. Apart from that, the 8-inch infotainment screen works fine and also comes with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Plus, the 7-inch MID looks cool.

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