Renault created the segment of compact pickup trucks derived from SUVs with the Oroch in 2015, but was overshadowed by the Fiat Toro, which had a larger size and a diesel engine. Now, the brand pays back with the new Niagara, the first model to directly rival the Italian pickup, scheduled to hit stores in November.
The new Renault Niagara is derived from the Boreal medium SUV and uses the RGMP platform. The pickup will be the first product of this new phase to be made at the Santa Isabel plant in Argentina, which currently produces only the Kangoo van.
Niagara’s focus will be on Latin America, mainly Brazil, Argentina and Colombia. Europe and other continents are not in Renault’s plans for the pickup.
The design is more aggressive than that of the Boreal, with the front grille in black bearing the name “Renault” in full. On the side, the bucket is integrated into the cabin by a sloping C-pillar, adorned by a robust functional seat.
The front design is more robust than that of the Boreal (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)The wheelbase of 2.96 m allows for a spacious cabin (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)There will be four versions, with the top-of-the-line Outsider as the only 4×4 and the entry-level models will have a manual transmission (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)
Four versions were confirmed: the entry-level, with manual transmission, and the top-of-the-line, which will be the Outsider 4×4. In the future, it will have hybrid options, and Renault guarantees that it will not use a mild hybrid system, but a more full-bodied set.
For now, Renault has only presented the Niagara globally and confirmed the four versions. Details such as prices and the equipment package for Brazil have not been informed. However, it is expected to be positioned between R$ 150 thousand and R$ 200 thousand, the price range of the flex versions of rival Fiat Toro.
Fiat Toro size
All-wheel drive allows you to lock by 50% for each axle (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)Among the driving modes there is one for off-road (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)
Fiat Toro seems to have been Renault’s reference in many ways during the creation of Niagara. According to official information, the new pickup measures 4.94 m in length in the 4×4 versions and 4.91 m in the 4×2 models; the wheelbase is 2.96 m, the width is 1.83 m and the height is 1.72 m.
Another similarity is in the bucket, which holds 938 liters and has a capacity of 654 kg. The compartment measures 1.03 m wide by 61 cm high. Inside the bed, there are eight hooks to secure the load and a 12-volt outlet.
Renault Niagara will have all-wheel drive and manual
transmission option
The 1.3 turbo engine yields 160 hp (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)
Under the hood of the Renault Niagara will be the 1.3 turbo TCe engine, already used for a few years by the Duster and which also equips the Boreal. The transmission can be manual or automated wet dual-clutch, both six-speed. Electrified versions will come in the future.
The Renault Niagara will have an all-wheel drive option with terrain selector to assist driving. The engine has a different calibration from the Boreal, delivering 160 hp and 27,5 kgfm.
Despite being derived from the Boreal, the Niagara will have multilink rear suspension. According to Renault, the setup will have the comfort of an SUV — something to be verified at the launch in Brazil. The brakes are disc brakes on all four wheels.
The pickup has a ground clearance of 22.3 cm, with an entry and exit angle of 22.3° in the 4×2 versions. In the 4×4 models, there are 23.3 cm of clearance, and the angles are 22.1°.
Niagara will have a neat interior
The dashboard is the same as the Boreal, what changes are the green details where in the SUV it is blue (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)The dashboard and doors have soft-touch materials (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)The seats of the Outsider version also have green details (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)The gear selector is a joystick type (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)
An asset of the Renault Niagara over the Fiat Toro is in the cabin. The interior width and better use of space allow five occupants to be carried more comfortably, in addition to ensuring a more practical center console. Behind the rear seat, there is a 36-liter compartment for objects.
The dashboard is similar to that of the Boreal, with the 10.2-inch instrument panel integrated into the 10.1-inch multimedia center. Models with dual-clutch transmissions feature the joystick-type selector, which takes up less space.
The finish pattern also follows that of the Boreal, with soft-to-the-touch materials on the dashboard and front doors. Overall, the pattern is closer to that of the Ram Rampage, but the direct target will be the Fiat Toro.
Bucket takes up to 938 liters (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)The rigid retractable cover will be factory (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)The sanctuary is functional (Photo: Renault | Disclosure)
Among the equipment that will come in the pickup, the induction smartphone charger, full-LED headlights, ambient lighting with 48 colors, driver’s seat with electric adjustment, 360° camera, automatic parking system, connected services, multimedia center with native Google and the integrated Gemini artificial intelligence for voice commands stand out.
The Renault Niagara’s ADAS package is also similar to that of the Boreal, with adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane keeping assistant, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitor, license plate reader, rear cross traffic alert and fatigue sensor. To complement safety, the cabin has six airbags.
The Renault Niagara will be launched in Brazil in November. This first contact with the pickup was very positive and indicates that it has the necessary specifications to rival the flex versions of the Fiat Toro. It remains to be seen if the price will also be competitive.
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