Introduction

This is the Renault Triber. A car that we feel has redefined the small car segment. And we say that because even though it is priced similar to the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Swift and the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, the Triber can seat seven. And if seating seven doesn’t float your boat, well you have a five seater with a boot big enough to shame the likes of the full fat Range Rover.

But, a family car must do more than just seat people and haul luggage around. Here then, are five things that make the Triber a good buying option, and two that might make you want to reconsider.

Positives

Smart Engineering

Like we said, this can seat seven or can swallow more luggage than you can pack. And it manages that courtesy of the smart engineering. For starters, it sits on a wheelbase that’s almost as long as the Duster, and in fact longer than the Hyundai Creta. Then, you have the wheels, which are almost right at the edges. And the firewall itself is nearly level with the front wheel. No wonder, sitting in the Triber is more like being in a co-working space than being packed like sardines in a Mumbai local.

Practical Cabin

But the Triber doesn’t just score well on space when it comes to its interiors. It also has one of the most practical cabins we have seen. And, not just for its class. You get two glove-boxes, and both are very usable. The front door pockets are big and designed well to hold large bottles. You get two-deck storage on the front central console and there are cup holders for the front two occupants as well.

Second row occupants get usable door pockets. And that’s not all, they also get pillar mounted AC vents and seats that adjust for both, recline and reach. There’s also a central storage space that is shared between the front and rear occupants. As for the last row, it gets armrests and a tiny bit of storage as well.

But seating is only part of it. You can also throw out the last row of seats completely to load up bags and suitcases. And then, when you fold the second row, well, it opens up a whole new set of opportunities.

Convenience Centre

In terms of seats, practicality and space, the Triber does well. But it also scores when it comes to comfort and convenience features. Now, it might not outdo its competition on that front, but it has a respectable list.

For starters, the Triber doesn’t get steering mounted controls like some of its competition. But, it gets keyless entry and start, a touchscreen multimedia system, a driver information system, dual glove-boxes for additional storage, electric ORVMs but without fold function, power windows on all four doors with the driver side getting one touch for both up and down, a cooled box in the centre, and a single-zone manual AC with rear vents that can be adjusted via a dial.

In terms of safety, the RXZ get four airbags, but all meant for the front two occupants, which is a bit silly. Other safety kit includes, ABS, EBD, and adjustable head rests for four occupants.

Easy driver

As far as ride and handling go, Renault has reached a good compromise with the Triber. No matter which row you are seated in, the ride remains flat. It doesn’t wallow, or crash into sharp bumps, and it doesn’t feel brittle or loose on poorly surfaced roads either. We won’t term the ride plush, but it’s comfortable.

And when you steer it into a corner, the Triber feels taut and neutral. It manages quick direction changes well too. Yes, it rolls a bit when pushed hard, but it isn’t unnerving or exaggerated. Plus, the clutch is light to operate, as is the steering, and the visibility - at least over the hood and via the A-pillars - make it is an easy car to live within the city.

Price

The Triber in this particular RXZ trim costs Rs 7.7 lakhs on the road in Mumbai. But it starts at under Rs 6 lakhs, and this for a usable, practical, comfortable seven seater. Not bad at all! That’s less than one pays for both the Grand i10 Nios and the Swift. And in fact, that’s cheaper than even the Wagon R in VXI trim.

Negatives

Lacks Pep

To be perfectly honest, if you are going to be driving in the city, battling stop and go traffic, or making a hurried dash to the airport early in the morning to drop off your in-laws, the Triber’s one-litre, three-cylinder engine will feel fine. It’s not the most exciting or the most powerful- it makes a little over 70bhp and a little under 100Nm of peak torque. But, if you are sensible with the throttle it’s alright.

But, if you aren’t, and you like something that feels peppy and alive – more so with the full quota of people on-board – then the Triber can feel underpowered. Plus, revving that engine with everyone from your road test editor to your photographer and maybe even the whole marriage party on board, makes more noise than brisk progress.

Noisy Drive

You can hear the Triber’s engine from the get go. And it’s a whiney sounding engine instead of being something throaty. It’s more Eminem than Johnny Cash. Or, if you are a Bollywood fan like me, it’s more Himesh Reshamiya than Mika Singh.

But unless you rev it to 3,000-3,500rpm, the Triber feels lazy. So, the least Renault could have done was offer better insulation for the cabin. And I say that because you can also hear the suspension over bad roads even though you can’t feel it as much.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt the Triber is a great value proposition. Consider you take its space or you take practicality, or even design and visual appeal, the Triber has it in spades. It rides well too, no matter what the surface or where you might be seated. It is easy to drive in the city, courtesy its light controls.

Now, its small engine does pose some inconveniences. For instance, with full load of people, one has to work with the revs and the clutch a bit to get a move on. But yes, buy it for its space, its practicality and its value, and not for its performance.

Pictures by Kapil Angane