Should You Wait For The Renault Triber Or Go For A Sub-4 Metre Hatchback

Is the Renault Triber’s versatility enough to sway you away from established alternatives?

Renault’s aim with the Triber is to disrupt the mid-size hatchback space which has been the stronghold of the conventional hatchbacks like the Maruti Suzuki Swift, Ford Figo and Freestyle and the Hyundai Grand i10.

Renault’s aim with the Triber is to disrupt the mid-size hatchback space which has been the stronghold of the conventional hatchbacks like the Maruti Suzuki Swift, Ford Figo and Freestyle and the Hyundai Grand i10. This begs the question: should you wait for the Triber, which is expected to launch in July 2019, or go for readily available alternatives? Maruti Swift: BUY it for the styling, sporty drive, features and strong resale value The Swift ranks on top of the popularity charts in the Indian car market. The sporty exterior design is complemented by sprightly driving dynamics. Further, it gets a peppy yet frugal set of engines - a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.3-litre diesel engine. The equipment levels are decent with goodies like auto LED projector headlamps, auto climate control, leather wrapped steering wheel, reverse parking camera, and more. The Swift has been popular ever since its introduction and it continues to retain a strong resale value. In addition, it is the only model that offers a BS6 petrol engine in its segment. Hyundai Grand i10: BUY it for a premium experience The Grand i10 offers a premium feeling as far as the material quality is concerned. Even the back seat experience in the Grand i10 is comparatively better thanks to the presence of rear AC vents. The Grand i10 is also equipped with goodies like LED DRLs, diamond-cut alloy wheels, a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink. The 4-speed torque converter on the Hyundai is relatively sophisticated than the Swift’s AMT. Ford Figo/ Freestyle: BUY it for its ride and handling, powerful engines and segment-leading technology Both the Ford Figo and Freestyle offer a fun drive, which is supported by the 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder Dragon series engine which offers best-in-class numbers of 96PS and 120Nm. Both come equipped with features like automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, alloy wheels, touchscreen infotainment, and more. However, the most notable are the segment-best safety features, including six airbags, ESP (electronic stability control), TCS (traction control system) with HLA (hill launch assist). If you want one of these with an automatic, then your choice is limited to the Figo as it is the only to be offered with a 6-speed torque convertor paired with the bigger, more powerful 1.5-litre petrol that delivers 123PS and 150Nm. Renault Triber: HOLD your purchase if you want a versatile city car that has loads of space for passengers and their luggage. Gets unique features too! The Triber will bring with it a modular three row seating layout. It can be turned into a 2-, 4-, 6- or even a 7-seater. Fold the third row and you free up a massive 625 litres of boot space. Top-spec variants will get an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital instrument cluster and push button start/stop. It will also feature dedicated AC vents for all three rows along with a segment-first refrigerator. As far as safety is concerned, the Triber, with up to four airbags, goes past the Swift and Grand i10 but remains behind the Figo and Freestyle. The MPV will also be offered with a 5-speed AMT for those who prefer a two-pedal setup.