Renault Triber AMT Review: Most Affordable 7-Seater AT

Renault Triber AMT Review: The top-end AMT version that you see here will set you back by 7.2 lakh and that is the most affordable automatic MPV but the question is, how is the car to drive now? Let us find out.

In many ways, this is one of the most significant cars launched this year as the Renault Triber AMT aims to fulfill everything that the Indian family wants. The basic recipe of the Triber has been unique and that is the reason why it has sold so well till now. It is a three-row 7-seater compact MPV with a decent features list and a value price-tag. It also needed an automatic to make it an ideal family car for those who wanted an automatic MPV but on a budget. There is a premium of Rs 40 thousand between the manual and AMT Triber. The top-end AMT version that you see here will set you back by 7.2 lakh and that is the most affordable automatic MPV but the question is, how is the car to drive now? Let us find out. The engine is unchanged and it gets a 1.0 petrol engine which makes 72 bhp and 96Nm. Now this is not a big engine and perhaps you do wish for more power with the Triber but as a family MPV, this engine is enough. In the manual you had to make constant gear-changes to keep the performance level going in the city due to the slight lack of torque however now in the AMT, it is a more relaxed drive. No doubt the AMT is much easier to drive in the city and at low speeds, the engine is refined plus the shifts are smooth. The Triber AMT crawls smoothly at low speeds and as a city car, this is a much more appealing driving experience. It has a creep function and instead of a rotary knob, there is a proper gear-lever for the automatic. Also what you will notice is the sheer amount of space inside with the airy cabin and the driving position which is comfy for even tall passengers with a clear view out- even though the driving position is not adjustable. The city mileage is also decent at 10-11 kmpl and that too when we drove the car hard for acceleration tests. Expect 10-13 kmpl in the city depending on how you drive it in real-world conditions though Renault claims 18 plus. As a city urban car, the AMT Triber is brilliant at low speeds but out on the highway or even when driven in a spirited manner- the AMT loses some steam. The pause between shifts is there and also the lag when you want that immediate bit of performance hence overtaking requires planning-especially laden with passengers. On maybe hilly terrain or flat-out on the highway the AMT will feel slow. An AMT gearbox is best driven sedately and that is where the Triber shines as a comfortable city MPV. However, you can manually shift but when pushed it gets noisy and out of its comfort zone which means it is best driven a notch down. As with all Renault cars the ride and handling are quite good. The compact dimensions of the car help in getting it some agility plus parking is not an issue also. The ride quality for the most part is a decent save for some potholes filtering through. For the price, the interior of the Triber is pretty well built and you get a big 8-inch touchscreen too. It is fitted with all kinds of features which you need (4 airbags, cooled glovebox, all row ac vents, etc) plus it even has a very good rear camera display. We wished it got steering controls or adjustable seat height though. The packaging is what sells this car as even the third row is not cramped and surprisingly good plus the Triber has an eye for practicality with twin large gloveboxes and lots of places to store things. Overall for the price you cannot complain as this is the most efficient, compact and most affordable MPV yet is also spacious for its size and has a decent features list. Its nearest competition is the Datsun GO+ (Rs 6.7 lakh) and the Maruti Ertiga (Rs 9.4 lakh). The Datsun has the advantage of having a proper CVT automatic instead of the AMT found on the Triber but loses out big time due to the interior quality, space or even the looks along with the driving experience. The Ertiga is bigger than the Triber and much more expensive as well with its 4-speed Automatic being much less fuel efficient over the Triber. In the end the Triber remains the best value choice in the sub Rs 10 lakh space due to the design plus cabin along with the features. It is also a proper MPV despite its compact size- something no one else has managed. Overall it is worth spending more over the manual Triber to get this AMT.