A little bit of house-keeping needed before we get to today’s development. A couple of weeks ago, Renault silently increased the prices for three out of the four Triber variants – RXL, RXT and RXZ. By how much? A mere Rs 4,000. Honestly, we could not work out why the sudden price hike came into effect, and why not for the entry-level RXE variant. With today’s news, however, we can join the dots. Renault has introduced the option of an AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) for the sub-4 metre MPV in three trim levels. You want to guess which ones? Yes, the same three mentioned above. Here’s how the new price list looks like:

Simple math reveals that the price difference between MT and AMT variants is Rs 40,000. That’s a more rounded figure than what it could have been if the prices didn’t go up during the lockdown. Not convinced with our theory? Let’s put it this way; there’s no other explanation. The 5-speed AMT comes coupled to the same 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine that produces 71bhp/96Nm. Renault hasn’t revealed the mileage figure yet. Considering how frugal the engine is, the number should be impressive.

The convenience of a two-pedal setup coupled with the versatility of the car makes for quite a hard package to falter. There’s space for up to seven people, a ground clearance of 182mm, a 625-litre boot space (in the five-seater form) and numerous permutations and combinations for seating arrangements. In the features department, the Renault Triber comes with stuff like four airbags, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, AC vents for the second- and third-row of seats, all-LED instrument cluster, push-button start/stop, a rear-view camera and a six-speaker (including two tweeters) sounds system.

Those who aim to book the Triber AMT, or for that matter another other Renault model, can do so online. If you want to test-drive it, you can do so by visiting the nearest dealership. Don’t worry about the global pandemic (COVID-19) as Renault will ensure utmost safety on all fronts.