India’s sub-4 metre passenger vehicle space is busy. There are several different kinds of products which target varied customer needs and in different price brackets. But what we’ve received today is one that exemplifies one incredibly important concept from all angles – versatility. This is the Renault Triber, and we won’t back down to say this – if you want something that has space, a decent amount of kit, a frugal powertrain and a pocket-friendly price list, the Triber is almost impossible to beat. Sure, it looks a bit unusual when compared to other products in the same space but then there’s function behind that form. Prices start at Rs 4.95 lakh and go up to Rs 6.49 lakh (ex-showroom India).

Thanks to a flexible seating layout, the Renault Triber can be a two-seater, a four-seater, a five-seater or even a seven-seater car. Yes, it has three rows of seats, and the last row can also be taken out completely. In that form, the Triber can gulp 625 litres of stuff. Not even the Hyundai Creta has that amount of space, let alone other sub-4 metre models. Apart from having a 60:40 split ratio, the second row of seats can also recline and slide. Also, the Triber has 182mm of ground clearance and skid plates at the front and back. These aspects will help when the going gets rough.

The propulsion comes from the combination of a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. With 71hp/96Nm on tap, the Triber has 4hp/5Nm more to play with than the Kwid, which also uses the same powerplant. The new model will soon get an AMT option too and that gearbox, no points for guessing, will be shared with the Kwid. Renault claims that the Triber’s sole powertrain is good for mileage of 20kmpl.

As is the case with all Renault models, the Triber is available in four trim levels – RXE, RXL, RXT and RXZ. The standard list of features includes rear parking sensors, dual airbags, ABS with EBD, high-speed warning and seatbelt reminder for front occupants. The fully-loaded trim brings gizmos such as projector headlights, LED DRLs, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry, push-button start-stop and a full LED instrument cluster with a 3.5-inch LCD screen, which displays speed, gear-shift indicator, the status of doors and trip computer information.

Bookings for the Triber commenced on August 17, 2019, with a minimum token amount of Rs 11,000. As you’d expect, the Renault Triber doesn’t have a direct rival as such. The closest one is the Datsun Go+, which is priced between Rs 3.87 – 5.94 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). However, it also takes a dig at the Maruti Suzuki Swift, Ford Figo and the Hyundai Grand i10 siblings. As for the Triber’s detailed price list, here it is: