The Renault Bridger concept, featuring a rugged and upright stance, was unveiled in March 2026. The concept previews the brand’s upcoming sub-4 metre SUV that will hit Indian roads in late 2027. In the company’s product lineup, the production-ready Bridger will sit above the Kiger and below the Duster.
In terms of competition, it will directly take on the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Brezza, Kia Sonet, Skoda Kylaq and other subcompact SUVs. Interestingly, the upcoming Tata Scarlet and Mahindra Vision S are also expected to be rugged upcoming subcompact SUVs, competing with the Bridger.
Renault’s New Cost-Effective Turbo Engine
Renault India appears to be aiming for competitive pricing for the Bridger by using its new, heavily localized RGMP platform along with a new 1.2L, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. According to Autocar, the French automaker is developing an all-new engine for the Renault Bridger, which will essentially be a derivative of Duster’s 1.3L TGDi engine.
New Turbo Petrol Engine – Benefits & Power Figure
With the smaller 1.2L capacity engine, the Bridger will benefit from GST 2.0 regulations, attracting an 18% tax with no additional cess. Unlike Duster’s 1.3L TGDi direct-injection engine, Renault’s new 1.2L turbo engine will feature a more cost-effective multi-point fuel injection system (MPFi), allowing it to be adapted for CNG use. The RGMP platform has also been designed to support multiple powertrains including CNG, hybrid, electric and ICE.
The new 1.2L turbo petrol engine is expected produce power worth 120bhp. For reference, the Hyundai Venue 1.0L Turbo GDI, Kia Sonet 1.0L turbo GDi and Tata Nexon 1.2L turbo petrol engines also deliver a maximum power of 120PS.
1.2L NA Petrol Engine In the Works?
To make the Bridger more competitive, Renault might also introduce a naturally aspirated version of the new 1.2L petrol engine. This NA derivative will be offered in lower variants, helping the carmaker achieve a more competitive starting price against its rivals in the subcompact SUV segment.