After updating the Triber’s styling last year, Renault has now addressed one of the biggest requests from prospective buyers—more power. The Renault Triber Turbo starts at Rs 7.85 lakh for the Evolution trim, rising to Rs 8.54 lakh for Techno and Rs 9 lakh for the top-spec Emotion, all ex-showroom.
While the basic formula of Renault Triber has been carried forward, we now get a new Turbo Petrol engine, revised underpinnings, suspension system, engine management system and revised thermal management system that sucks in up to 35% more air. I drove the new Renault Triber Turbo in Delhi NCR region to experience these updates first hand and tell you all about it.
Renault Triber Turbo Review
If you park the just launched Triber Turbo and the NA Triber Energy side-by-side, you would not be able to pin point which is which. The only visual difference to distinguish Triber Turbo over non-turbo variants is a Turbo badging on rear tailgate. Exterior design highlights, lighting elements, stylized steel wheels with wheel covers and everything else is identical between Turbo and non-Turbo versions.
This is not a bad thing in any way because Triber is as handsome as the sub 4m MPV form factor allows it to be. It has a short bonnet and a bulbous passenger compartment behind it. Every decision from transverse engine positioning, front windshield angle, door size, door position, window area and kink in the roof line have just one purpose – maximum interior room (perceived and actual).
Exterior attributes like new Renault logo, stylish fascia with blacked-out grille, LED headlights, LED fog lights, LED tail lights, 15-inch stylized steelies, large window area, roof rails, rear defogger, rear washer and wiper, body cladding and other attributes are carried forward. It measures 3,985 mm in length, 1,734 mm in width, 1,643 mm in height and 2,636 mm wheelbase are the same.
Features like 8-inch infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, proximity-based keyless go with push-button start, wireless charging pad, driver armrest, steering mounted controls, TFT instrument cluster, auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers, auto climate control, sliding and reclining 2nd row seats, B-pillar mounted AC vents for 2nd row and roof-mounted 3rd row AC vents, removable 3rd row seats, cooled glovebox, cooled storage in centre console, twin glovebox design and more is offered with Triber Turbo as well.
New Turbo Engine
The most notable change with just launched Renault Triber Turbo is in the engine department, if the name has not made that obvious. This 1.0L 3-cylinder Turbo Petrol engine is similar to that seen in Kiger and Duster, but gets its own engine management system. This engine in Triber Turbo is rated at 100 PS of peak power and 180 Nm of peak torque, mated to a sole 5-speed manual gearbox option. A CVT gearbox option is not offered and I didn’t feel the need for one. 0-100 km/h sprint with 5MT comes up around 11.5 seconds.
Clutch action is slightly springy, but light to operate, nonetheless. Clutch actuation is progressive and bite point is easily predictable, unlike the 1.3 Turbo 6MT combo in Duster. This, coupled with the slick gear shifts, ensured seamless drivability in city and on highways. Tractability from this new engine is stellar, when compared to the 1.0L non-turbo Energy engine. This Turbo engine is far more drivable when compared to the 1.0L non-turbo Energy engine which would run out of breath quite early.
Ambling around at lower speeds and in higher gears was possible and I often found myself tackling speed breakers in 3rd gear and without any clutch modulation, this powertrain combo would pick up without any hesitation. NVH is alright for this price and segment and I could hear turbo spooling sounds to keep the inner child in me happy. Carrying 5 adults and 2 children is much easier and seamless, thanks to this new Turbo engine.
While the performance gains is immediately noticeable, real world implications of the new RGMP platform and revised suspension are hard to pin point. Maybe one have to drive this new Triber Turbo and preceding model back-to-back to realise these updates, something which we couldn’t and didn’t do. Renault also promises better crash performance with safer underpinnings, something which we couldn’t test (fortunately).
Should You Buy One?
If you wanted to ferry around 5 adults and two children with maximum possible performance and at lowest possible budget, Renault Triber Turbo is for you. There’s nothing else on the market to match the ethos of Renault Triber Turbo. If you were already in the mindset of buying a Triber, Triber Turbo makes more sense with its enhanced drivability and promised 21 km/kg fuel efficiency. Price delta for Turbo over Energy is Rs 94,550 for Emotion, 1,09,780 for Techno and Rs 1,11,295 for Evolution (all prices Ex-sh).
