The tribe has spoken

Has the new round of updates to the Renault Triber ensured it remains a popular compact MPV?

- Marius Boonzaier Marius_CARmag

Since attending the local launch of the updated Triber, I started noticing an increasing number of Renault's funky small MPV roaming around Cape Town.

This could well be related to a touch of what is described as the 'frequency illusion', a sort of cognitive bias where you suddenly begin to notice something everywhere only after becoming aware of it.

According to Renault, more than 30 000 South Africans have put pen to paper for its compact seven-seater since its market launch in 2020. If our calculations are correct, this figure translates to an average annual sales figure of over 5 300 units from its 13 February debut to the most recent facelift, which arrived on our shores on 9 October 2025. Although modest, with average monthly sales over that time period amounting to just over 440 units, for a car occupying a spot in such a niche segment, this number remains fairly significant in a local context.

However, with the refreshed Triber, the French firm's local arm is aiming to make SA consumers even more aware of its petite people-mover...and not through mere illusions.