Renault Triber

The Renault Triber is one of the most affordable MPVs in India made for those who want space for seven people in a small budget.

After receiving its first facelift recently, the compact MPV was just updated with the one thing it had been missing all these years – a turbo-petrol engine. We recently drove the turbocharged Triber, and this is what we think.

Being an affordable MPV, it does not have a direct rival, instead, it serves as an affordable alternative to MPVs like the Maruti Ertiga and Toyota Rumion. Check out everything you need to know about the Triber in this review.

Exterior (4 out of 5)

Design & Build Quality

For a car in its affordable price range, the Renault Triber has a modern and premium design which can make it look pricier than it actually is.

The front end has a piano black grille which runs from one end to the other and also houses the LED headlamps and DRLs. The grille also has Renault’s new 2D logo. Below the grille is a massive bumper with an even chunkier skid plate, and on the edges you get air dams. On the far corners of the bumper you also get fog lamps.

The side profile is simple, no cuts or creases. You get functional roof rails, piano black ORVMs and door handles, cladding below the doors, and 15-inch styled steel wheels which look like alloys.

At the back, the most eye-catching bits are the LED tail lamps with a smoked effect. These lights are connected by a piano black strip which also houses the new Renault logo. At the bottom, you get the “Triber” lettering and a thick bumper with a skid plate.

Renault offers the Triber in 9 shades. In monotone, you get the Amber Terracotta (Orange), Shadow Grey, Zanskar Blue, Ice Cool White, Moonlight Sliver, and Stealth Black. Amber Terracotta, Ice Cool White, and Shadow Grey are also available with a dual-tone shade.

The design of the Triber looks neat and compared to its previous version, it now looks much more modern. However, Renault could have made some changes to the side profile and proper alloys instead of styled steel wheels would have been a nice decision.

Also, while there have been no changes to the design or dimensions, Renault has made structural changes to the platform to accommodate the new engine. Also, a CNG variant is on the way, for which changes have been made to the rear end of the platform as well.

Interior (3.5 out of 5)

Design & Quality

Inside, the Triber has a fairly simple look with a dual-tone black and beige theme, some brushed aluminium inserts, and a wooden-like plastic strip on the dashboard. Compared to the pre-facelift Triber, the cabin design has not changed much.

It still comes in a 7-seater layout where the seats get dual-tone fabric upholstery. The steering wheel has a leatherette wrap, all the buttons and dials in the steering wheel and centre console feel solid, however, the door lock/unlock buttons feel old and cheap, and the plastics all over the cabin are scratchy, but not rough. A smoother finish would’ve been appreciated, but it’s acceptable for the price. 

Front Seats

Due to its low height and wide opening doors, getting in and out of the Triber is fairly easy, even for the elderly. Once inside, you get a tilt adjustable steering wheel for your convenience, however, driver seat height adjustment is available only in the top-spec variant.

In terms of space, the front seats offer good enough space for adults. There is ample headroom for tall people, the side support holds you in place, and you get adequate underthigh support. The driver also gets a centre armrest attached to the seat, but the front passenger does not get a centre armrest.

From the front seat, the AC controls are easily accessible, however, the wireless phone charger is placed below a tray, which makes it difficult to place your phone.

Second Row

The rear seats have enough space for three average-sized adults, however, the middle passenger does not get a headrest and will have to face some shoulder overlap which won’t be comfortable during long journeys.

In terms of space, while the underthigh support could be better, the headroom, legroom, and knee are good for most people. You can also slide the second row for more space and recline it for a more comfortable position. One thing that feels like a miss is a centre armrest which Renault should have added.

The second row passengers also get AC vents and independent fan speed controls.

Third Row

The last row offers enough space for children, but not adults. The space here does not offer much legroom, and adults have to sit with their knees up. If the second row seat is pushed ahead, adults can sit here for short durations but it's best to use the third row to seat children.

The third row passengers also get AC vents but there are no fan controls here.

Storage Options

There are plenty of storage options in the Triber. The front passengers get bottle holders in doors, two gloveboxes (one cooled), cupholders in the centre console, and a cooled storage behind the cupholders.

Second row passengers get seat back pockets, bottle holders in the doors, and the third row passengers only get small cubbies in the armrests.

Charging Options

For charging options, the front row passengers get a wireless phone charger and a USB type-A port. The second row passengers get a 12V socket which is shared with the front row, and the third row passengers also get a 12V socket.

Overall, the Triber does what it set out to do. It manages to give you decent space for seven passengers, especially considering that the footprint is similar to a sub-4m SUV. However, it could do better in terms of cabin quality and charging options.

Features (3.5 out of 5)

Apart from the daily use functional features, the Triber also gets an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This screen runs smooth enough, but you will notice some delays every now and then. It supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which run seamlessly.

However, due to the matte screen and low peak brightness, the screen becomes hard to read under harsh sunlight.

There is also a 7-inch digital driver’s display which relays all the drive information in a neat manner, and the big font size also makes the texts easier to read.

There is a rear parking camera as well, but sometimes the feed gets delayed, and its grainy camera quality makes it hard for you to see the feed properly in low light conditions.

Compared to the exterior, the interior of the 2025 Triber facelift has seen much fewer changes. Most of them are focused on the dashboard, where it now gets a new floating touchscreen infotainment system and a faux wood insert to dial up the premiumness. The dashboard is also draped in a black / beige hue, which gives it an upmarket look. 

Apart from that, the cabin remains more or less similar to the pre-facelift Triber. The cabin continues to remain practical with plenty of storage spaces and decent comfort for occupants. Notably, the second row gets sliding and reclining functionality for added practicality. This means you can move the second row a bit ahead to open up more room for third row occupants.

If you want to take a closer look at the cabin, we have jotted down a detailed explanation of the interior design in our gallery.

Boot Space 

With all three rows up, the Triber offers only 84-litres of boot space which is enough for one or two small duffle bags.

However, you can fold or even completely remove the third row, which gives you enough space to keep an entire suitcase set (small, medium, and large), along with a few small bags. Furthermore, even the second row seats can be folded down for a space of up to 1065-litres. 

In case you plan to travel with luggage and all passengers in all three rows, you can mount a storage box on the top, as the roof rails in the Triber are functional and have a load capacity of 50kgs. 

As part of this mid-life update, Renault has given the Triber facelift some crucial feature additions such as auto LED headlights, cruise control and rain sensing wipers. 

The size of the touchscreen infotainment system continues to remain at 8-inches. However, it now gets an updated user interface that looks much nicer than before. Other feature highlights include a 7-inch digital driver’s display, manual AC, a wireless phone charger, steering mounted audio control, and keyless entry with push button start. In a recent MY26 update, Renault has also added an automatic climate control feature to the list.

While the features package would satisfy most people, some features such as a sunroof, and a branded sound system  are conspicuous by their absence, considering other cars in the similar price bracket get it. That being said, it still gets certain things over the Ertiga, making the Triber a good value-for-money proposition.

Safety 

In terms of safety, you get 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability program (ESP), a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), hill start assist, front and rear parking sensors, traction control, all 3-point seatbelts, and a rear view camera.

While the Triber did get a 4-star safety rating from Global NCAP in 2021, in its next (and the more stringent) test, which happened in 2024 at Global NCAP, it only scored a 2-star crash test safety rating.

After this update, the Renault Triber is now available with two engine options: a 1-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a new 1-litre turbo-petrol engine. The latter is the same unit which is found in the Kiger and in the lower variants of the Duster, but it has been turned for more torque.

1-litre NA Petrol Engine

City Performance

With this small engine, the Triber offers a very relaxed drive experience in the city. It has enough power to overtake others around you, and you can get to high city speeds with ease. However, when pushed, this engine does get very loud, and the lack of insulation does not prevent you from listening to the noise.

The manual is a good option to get with this engine. Gear shifts are smooth and the clutch is light. However, you do have to keep changing gears which can be a hassle when driving in traffic. The AMT, on the other hand, takes away the stress of changing gears, but it takes time to shift between gears and gives you a slightly jerky drive experience.

As far as fuel efficiency goes, the Triber returns around 11 to 12 kmpl in the city.

Highway Performance

On the highway is where you realise that this engine is strictly for relaxed driving. As mentioned above, this engine does not like being pushed, so overtaking others on the highway or getting to high speeds not only takes time but also creates a lot of noise.

Especially with a full load, you have to plan your overtakes and when driving uphill you have to keep the momentum alive as the car has a tendency of struggling when driving up on inclines.

On highways, if you cruise gently without pushing the car for overtakes, you can expect a fuel efficiency between 17 and 18 kmpl.

1-litre Turbo-petrol Engine (NEW)

City Performance 

This new engine shifts the drive experience of the Triber into a completely different direction. Where the NA petrol feels dull, the turbo-petrol feels eager. When driving in the city, you get a good amount of low end torque, which lets you easily navigate traffic without using the clutch so often. It can be picked up from single digit speeds on second gear, so you don't have to worry about stalling the vehicle.

During normal city commutes, you get linear acceleration, and the car builds speed gradually. The turbo kicks in later than expected, at around 2500 rpms, but till then the low end torque keeps you moving and let's you overtake others with little planning. Once the turbo comes into play, gaining speeds and overtaking becomes easier and effortless. The engine does get a little vocal, and you feel vibrations a lot, but that's a trait of a 3-cylinder engine that you'll have to live with.

There is no automatic available, because Renault plans to launch one a little later. But even with the manual, you get a light enough clutch to not cause any pain while driving in traffic. And while the slotting doesn't feel buttery smooth, it is a small imperfection that you won't notice much.

Overall, this engine makes your city drives much more effortless, and reduces the task of planning overtakes almost completely. However, the one draw back is low fuel efficiency, as you'll be getting around 8-9 kmpl in the city.

Highway Performance 

You might expect this turbo-petrol engine to offer a fun-to-drive experience, but that's not the case, atleast with a full load. If you're driving alone or with just one or two passengers on board, you can get some excitement out of your drives. But as soon as the car is full of people and luggage, your drive experience dials down

But do not take this in the wrong way at all. Triber is a people mover, and this engine let's you do those highway commutes with you family or friends in a much easier manner.

With this engine, you can easily get to triple digits speeds and just like driving in the city, overtakes on the highways also required little to no planning. Even with a full load, you don't find the drive experience to be sluggish, it feels just enough. You have the punch feeling when you're driving alone, and when you're with more people, this engine fulfills it's duties by giving you enough performance for you to not complain.

When it comes to fuel efficiency, you can expect around 13-14 kmpl on the highways.

Ride Comfort

The new turbo-petrol engine is heavier, and the additional high strength steel used in the chassis also adds weight, so Renault made tweaks to its suspension setup in order to accommodate the additional weight and keep the ride comfort the same.

When driving inside the city, it handles potholes and speedbreakers very well, and settles back very smoothly. Even with a full load, the drive does not become jerky, and you do not feel any sudden movement. Whether you're in the front or at the very back, the Triber makes sure your movement inside the cabin is limited, and this results in a drive experience which is comfortable for all passengers.

Handling

At high speeds, the Triber remains planted and stable. There is some side to side movement while changing lanes or going over undulations, but not enough to cause any discomfort. Even while taking sharp corners, the Triber does not lose balance. It does not give a sporty experience, but inspires enough confidence for you to take those corners without worrying.

The Renault Triber is available in 4 variants: Authentic, Evolution, Techno, and Emotion.

Triber Authentic

• Available only with the manual transmission.

• Gets halogen headlamps, 14-inch steel wheels, and halogen tail lamps.

• Cabin gets a dual-tone theme, black fabric seats, adjustable 2nd and 3rd row headrests, sliding and reclining 2nd row seats, and removable 3rd row seats.

• Features include a semi-digital driver’s display, all power windows, manual AC, manual ORMVs, and tilt adjustable steering wheel.

• Gets 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability program (ESP), traction control, hill start assist, rear parking sensors, ISOFIX anchors, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) as part of the safety kit.

Triber Evolution

• Only available with the manual transmission.

• Cabin gets grab handles for the 2nd and 3rd row.

• Additional features include an 8-inch touchscreen, wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 4 speakers, and AC vents for 2nd and 3rd rows.

• Safety kit adds a rear view camera.

Triber Techno

• Only offered with the manual transmission.

• Exterior changes include LED tail lamps, 15-inch steel wheels with styled covers, ORVM mounted LED indicators, black roof rails with 50kg capacity, and door decals.

• Cabin gets a faux wooden trim, black and beige fabric upholstery, front passenger seat back pockets, and cabin lights for rear rows.

• Additional features include electrically adjustable ORVMs, steering mounted controls, and a cooled storage in the centre console.

• Improved safety with a day/night IRVM and a rear wiper with washer.

Triber Emotion

• Available with both manual and AMT.

• Gets auto LED projector headlamps, LED DRLs, LED fog lamps, and 15-inch styled steel wheels.

• Cabin gets a height adjustable driver seat and seat back pocket behind the driver seat.

• You get a 7-inch digital driver’s display, a wireless phone charger, push button start/stop, keyless entry, cruise control, cooled glovebox, auto folding ORVMs, and auto up/down driver window as additional features.

• Front parking sensors, follow-me-home headlamps, rain sensing wipers, and a rear defogger gets added to the safety kit.

CarDekho Recommends

• Get the base-spec Authentic if you’re on a budget. But keep some money aside for an aftermarket infotainment system. Stretch to Evolution if you want the stock infotainment.

• Pick the one-below-top Techno for a better experience as it offers decent features with a good design. Go for the top-spec only if you want the convenience of an AMT.

To me, the Renault Triber is a case study in great packaging. In the form factor of a small hatchback, you get good space for 6-7 people, a lot of storage options, good features, and great comfort.

The one thing that was always missing in the Triber was performance, because the standard person engine feels dull and disappointing. Thankfully, Renault listened to what people want, and added a turbo-petrol engine. This single addition and made the Triber feel like a complete package, and it has now become even easier to recommend.

Other Options To Consider 

Nissan Gravite

Reasons To Consider

• More premium interiors with leatherette and suede seats

• Slightly more affordable

• AMT more accessible

Reasons To Ignore

• No turbo-petrol option 

• No features over the Triber

Maruti Ertiga/ Toyota Rumion

Reasons To Consider

• Better space in all rows

• More powerful engine

• Option of a proper automatic transmission

Reason To Ignore

• More expensive

• Under-equipped with features for its price