A sub-four-metre seven-seater built on a ‘lightly modified’ version of the Kwid’s CMF-A platform? I must confess, I wasn’t expecting much when news of the Triber first broke. It seemed like a bit of a long shot. How much better than a Datsun Go+ could it be? Four metres, after all, are four metres . . . that extra space has to come from somewhere. What was Renault going to do – give it an upright WagonR-like stance and use the vertical space cleverly? It would have to. But that would make it look like a telephone box on wheels, wouldn’t it? Questions, question, questions. 182mm ground clearance and plastic body cladding gives it a SUV-like persona.
Ground clearance is an impressive 182mm. This is no poorly conceived, hastily put-together bottom feeder for sure.
What makes the Triber work even better as a seven-seater is the fact that the CMF-A+ platform is practically all-new. Substantially larger than the CMF-A that underpins the Kwid, the width of the Triber is 174cm compared to the Kwid’s 158cm, and Renault says the common parts between the platforms are so few and far between, the platform is as good as new.
Touchscreen also gets reverse camera.
What’s interesting is that at the centre of the dash sits a big, new, 8.0-inch touchscreen, incidentally larger than the 7.0-inch unit currently offered on even the range-topping Captur. The resolution seems better than the other screen; it has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and functionality, in general, feels slightly improved too.
What I also particularly like is the design of Triber’s digital instrument cluster – the pizza slice-shaped tachometer sections are not as easy to read as a dial and a needle, but they look neat. And the 3.5-inch LCD screen at the centre is clear and sharp too.
Its middle row slides and reclines. Access is made easy due to the large doors.
Space is plenty in the second row too. You are sat higher up here, and again, quality of the seat is excellent. Support for your thighs and back is very good, and what adds to comfort, especially over long drives, is that you can recline the backrest. The second row also slides back and forth. The range of movement is so large, you can push the second row all the way back when there are no passengers in the third row, and really stretch out.
What’s impressive is that adults can sit in the third row in reasonable comfort.
Now, clambering into the third row of a car that’s under four metres long is not expected to be easy. But here, the second row can be flipped forward with just two fingers, and the large rear door allows you to step into the third row easily. And although the seat is a bit low and you sit with your knees slightly up; the third row is actually quite useable. There is no inertia reel or self-adjusting seat belts, as Renault says there’s no place for the mechanism, and the headroom for six-footers will be tight, but, otherwise, there’s enough space in the back for even longish stints.
With rear seats removed, boot capacity goes up to 625L.
With all three rows up, luggage space is only 84 litres. But the third-row splits, folds down and can even be removed completely, with the two individual backrests and seats coming out quite easily. Removing both rear seats expands luggage capacity to 625 litres, which is by far the largest on any car of this size.
Triber gets the 1.0-litre engine that powers models like the Clio and Sandero (Logan hatchback) in other markets. Based on the Kwid’s engine, this 999cc, three-cylinder unit now gets variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust valves, and the improved breathing helps it make 72hp at 6,250rpm and 96Nm of torque at 3,500rpm.
The car seen here is still a prototype and engine calibration is still work in progress, but the brief drive does allow me to experience the potential of the dual-variable valve timing system at low engine speeds. While initial responses to a tap on the throttle are a bit relaxed, there’s a nice swell in power soon after, which is quite good for a 1.0-litre unit. And, when functioning perfectly, the variable valve timing system should, in theory, also be able to increase valve overlap and enable the engine to deliver more performance in the top end.
Rs 5 and 7 lakh (ex-showroom), it is likely to be the only car at this price point that can genuinely seat seven in relative comfort. So, clearly, the potential is huge. We just can’t wait to test the fully sorted version of the car.
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