Renault’s Triber launched here just over a week ago, and it’s a car that polarises opinions - just as the little entry hatchback Kwid has done over the past few years.
Some background
The Renault Kwid has won huge favour in the marketplace over the last two years, to the point where it has become one of South Africa’s top-four selling cars. And yet, reviews by discerning motoring journalists remain skeptical regarding the Kwid’s road-holding, laggardly performance in semi-automatic form, straight-line stability and engine vibrations that intrude into the cabin.
Why has the Kwid been so successful, then? Well, Renault has run an amazingly focused campaign to get first-time buyers into its little car, with accessible finance and stressing the fact that insurance is free for the first 12 months of ownership.
What’s more, and this is important, the Kwid looks good!
What about the Triber?
The Triber is more than just an extended Kwid, despite also being built in India, and largely designed for the Indian market, just like the Kwid. The Triber is based upon the Kwid's platform, but re-developed to the point where it really counts as all-new. It obviously looks very different (and much better) as well. Renault is also at pains to point out that the 1,0-litre engine is also a new development, even though it shares the Kwid's basic 3-cylinder layout and displacement.
An all-new car, possibly creating an all-new niche?
Renault’s Managing Director of its Indian operation, Venkatram Mamillapalle, was at the KZN launch of the new Triber, indicating the importance of South Africa to Renault India’s operations. It was Mr Mamillapalle’s first visit to South Africa, and during an informal chat at the lunch break he ventured that the Triber was creating its very own niche in our market.
For a typically comprehensive and insightful launch report by AutoTrader’s Martin Pretorius, you can read his impressions from the media launch here. For this alternative overview on Renault’s new Indian-built contender, we offer impressions under the headings “Good and Bad”. Because, once again, we feel that, while this excellently-priced Renault will enjoy huge sales, there are dynamic points about the vehicle that need to be addressed.
The Good
Price: The new Renault Triber comes in three models, priced between R164 900 and R189 900. Right now, this makes the Triber, with its SUV-type looks, extremely attractive from a price perspective.
Good looks: There is no arguing that Renault got the styling spot-on, given this is a sub-R200 000 car with diminutive SUV looks hiding the basic architecture of an MPV. Its styling features are integrated, not merely tacked-on, and the overall appearance is extremely up-to-date.
Impression of quality: Open the doors on the Triber and there is a nice weight about them, and they close with a reassuring “thunk” as well. The same goes with the initial impression of the materials used in the interior.
Safety: The entry-level and mid-line Triber models have dual airbags, while the top-priced variant (the Prestige, costing just shy of R190 000) has four airbags. All models have ABS braking with EBD as standard, but stability control doesn't feature on the spec sheet.
A real 7-seater: We were a bit skeptical about the Triber’s 7-seater status, so we inserted two adult men in the back row of seats, both measuring over 1,83 meters tall. And guess what? They both had sufficient head- and leg room. This is due to the Triber’s tall, stepped roof line, and relatively flat floor pan.
Excellent luggage space in 5-seater format: With the third row of seats removed, there is over 600 litres of luggage space.
Infotainment and more: The Kwid’s big appeal initially was its cyber-connectivity in a market where small, cheap cars were sometimes not even being offered with standard-fit radios. The Triber has a very attractive infotainment pod with full phone compatibility (and smartphone mirroring from the mid-level trim upwards), and in the top model also adds a reverse camera.
Stowage space: There is plenty of stowage space all around the Triber, including dual glove boxes and a cooled storage bin between the front seats to keep drinks frosty in hot climes.
Ability over bad roads: Like the Kwid, the Triber’s suspension is designed for the poor roads in India. This means it handles our South African speed bumps and potholes quite well.
Directional stability: Much better than the Kwid’s!
The bad
Engine vibes: Start up the Triber and the 3-cylinder engine makes its presence felt as a less-than pleasant vibration through the accelerator pedal and the body shell. The Kwid has this same characteristic.
Clutch action and gear shifting: Letting in the clutch, you discover that it takes plenty of concentration to get a smooth pull away. It takes even more concentration to get a smooth change between first and second gear. You get used to it, but there are times when your initial progress is going to be jerky and shuddering.
Acceleration: The Triber has a maximum power output of 52 kW and 96 Nm of torque. With the exception of the Datsun Go+, all the other 7-seaters on our market have much more power. Progress is acceptable on level roads, but on up-hills, with the Triber weighing in unladen at around 940 kg, you will be using the lower three gears, and working that engine very hard just to try to maintain some speed. Overtaking is likely not very probable, either!
Cruising: The Triber is okay on level roads at cruising speeds, but it will battle to maintain a steady 120 km/h on undulating freeway sections. Be prepared to head for the slow lane when a hill looms, especially if you are laden with lots of passengers or cargo.
Road holding on normal roads: It has quite a lot of body roll and is a bit too sensitive to steering inputs, such as you’d use when changing lanes on the freeway. But overall, the stability level is not too bad for the exceedingly modest performance on offer.
The pretty
Sharp headlights, sharper tail lights, roof rails: The Triber ticks some important SUV-like boxes in terms of its styling. The roof rails (standard for mid- and high-level trims) add a purposeful look to this car.
The wheels: The top model has 15-inch alloy wheels and wider rubber that fills out the wheel arches nicely (but the two lower-end variants make do with smaller wheels and narrower rubber). These wider wheels also add to the acceptable stability levels of the Triber.
The warranty and service plan: The Triber comes with a 5-year/150 000 km warranty and a 2-year/30 000 km service plan. Not too shabby, considering that you are paying less than R200 000 for a 7-seater! Umm, no, free insurance is not included on the Triber.
Verdict
Make up your own mind. If dynamics and performance are important to you, we would recommend that, if you are a confirmed Renault fan, you should probably rather forget about that extra row of seats and get an entry-level Sandero, which costs the same as the top-spec Triber. It’s a far more substantial car, with turbocharged performance that is useable about town and on the freeway, and boasts a fine level of build quality and dynamics. But there again, a Sandero doesn’t look quite as “cool” as the Triber.
If it’s a 7-seater that’s top of mind, you’d be remiss not to check out the opposition in the form of the similarly-priced Datsun Go+ or the more expensive (but superior in every way) Suzuki Ertiga.
Recommended next:
Suzuki Ertiga Review: If rationality ruled the world…
Renault’s Sandero Stepway Plus: a value-packed new addition
Datsun launches new Datsun Go+ - First drive impression