Renault Bridger EV

The Renault Bridger EV is a sub-4m electric SUV that’s bound to be Renault’s first-ever all-electric vehicle for the Indian market. It’ll arrive sometime after the launch of the ICE-powered Bridger (expected towards the end of 2027), and it will be underpinned by the same RGMP (Renault Group Modular Platform) platform that is also used on the new Renault Duster. Apart from the Bridger EV, the carmaker has a slew of launches lined up until 2030, and you can read all about Renault’s future plans for India in this story.

Scarcity of information means there is very little to tell about the upcoming Renault Bridger EV, but here’s all we know so far:

Renault has only revealed the concept version of the Bridger, and if the production model is anywhere close to the concept, you can expect one of the most rugged and boxy designs in the sub-compact SUV segment. 

The electric Bridger is expected to have the same overall design as the petrol-powered version, but likely to be updated with EV-specific styling revisions like aero covers on the wheels, some badges and maybe slight revisions to the bumpers. 

In terms of what we know, the nose of the Bridger looks wide and upright with a flat grille and bumper design. The sharp and angled LED DRLs sit right at the edge with the illuminated “RENAULT” badging proudly resting on the piano black grille. The bumper sports regular airdams for airflow and cooling and gets a silver skid plate that adds some chunk to the styling.

In profile, the Bridger looks properly boxy with almost a Defender-like silhouette, chunky wheel arches, roof rails, and flared body contours. The 18-inch alloy wheels further add to the stance of the SUV, and I like the design treatment behind the rear quarter glass. You’ll also notice the spare tyre mounted on the tailgate, but it’s only when you come to the rear is when you realise that it makes the Bridger Concept look almost like a purpose-built off-road SUV.

Here too, the body has an upright design with a flat rear windshield and tailgate. The angular LED tail lights look distinctive and the bumper continues to get a silver cladding-like insert for some contrast. 

Overall, the Renault Bridger will boast a rugged design, just like Renault Duster, and we also hope the tailgate-mounted spare wheel makes it to the production version.

While the exterior styling of the Bridger Concept was revealed earlier, Renault hasn’t shown the cabin yet. But going by the recent design approach by Renault, you can expect the cabin to carry a hint of European styling with a variety of materials and textures. 

What Renault has confirmed is their confidence that the Bridger is going to be a spacious offering in its segment with 200 mm of rear knee room and a 400-litre boot capacity. These numbers are for the ICE-powered Bridger, and could vary in the electric version. 

Features

The features of the Renault Bridger haven’t been listed yet, but you can expect it to cover all the features you’d expect from a modern day car. Given that the car is based on the RGMP platform, which will only underpin the more premium cars of the Renault lineup, features like dual digital screens with connected car technology, powered and ventilated seats, wireless phone charger and sunroof should be present. 

We expect Renault to offer features like 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESC), hill-hold assist and rear parking sensors as standard. Higher variants could further offer a 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring system and an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) suite.

Renault has recently confirmed the ICE-powered Bridger will be powered by a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine, but the specifications for the electric Bridger are still under wraps. We expect multiple battery sizes to be on offer, and given that the RGMP platform is capable of rear-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations, we reckon the former is likely possible with a single-motor setup. However, an all-wheel drivetrain in the Bridger can be assumed to be a little ambitious. 

We also expect the electric powertrain to be compatible with DC fast charging. 

Information on the Renault Bridger EV is highly limited, but it excites us nonetheless. There aren’t a lot of sub-4m electric SUVs in the market, and the Bridger Electric could pose as a proper rugged option for people who like their SUVs tall and chunky. And since it is based on Renault’s new platform, we expect it to go heavy on tech, creature comforts and safety.

Read this story to compare the Renault Bridger concept to Mahindra’s upcoming Vision S Concept.