Renault Bridger SUV Imagined Ahead Of Global Debut: India Launch Next Year
Renault has confirmed its intention to launch a second sub-four-metre SUV in India in the coming months. The carmaker released a set of images giving clues of how the SUV would look like- a vague outline and a rear three quarter view showing a tailgate-mounted spare wheel and the Bridger badge. Clearly, not enough detail to imagine the full car. But the team at Auto Moto has now managed to visualise the Bridger concept ahead of its global debut on March 10, 2026.
First things first. From what the official sketches (teasers) reveal, the Bridger will be an interesting concept with a bold design. It will be targeted at emerging markets like India. The image released by the publication shows what the show car’s rear three quarter view could look like.
As suggested by the teaser, even this illustration follows a tough, utilitarian design theme. An upright tail section, boxy proportions, and tailgate mounted spare-wheel- all give us ‘Defender vibes’ that are hard to ignore. There is a sense of sophistication to this design.
The roof rails seem functional and well-integrated into the rest of the design. There is a bold belt line. Panels at most places look clean. Front and rear bumpers get bold Black cladding, and so do the wheel arches. The C-pillar has been Blacked out.
Gloss Black can be seen on the upper half of the car, making the design even more interesting. The wheels get an interesting design and are finished in Black. AT the rear, the LED tail lamps look slightly bigger than what they should have been ideally. May be that is intentional. The rear bumper looks rugged and gets a skid plate and two tow hooks.
The rear windscreen, as can be seen in this image, is fairly large. There is a high-mounted stop lamp on the integrated rear spoiler. The artist has even given this SUV an integrated side step!
While the brand hasn’t confirmed it officially, the production form of the Bridger concept is likely to be a small 4x4 SUV, that will likely rival the Maruti Jimny when launched in India. The designer has reinforced this rugged, off-road-centric character with this rendering.
Many cues of this design may seem familiar. Parts of it will remind you of the Defender, The rear windscreen may even invoke memories of some Mahindras that were on sale previously. We are used to associating these cues with being rugged and off-road capable.
In short, we think this illustration does justice to what the first images hint at. That said, this is still an unofficial rendering, and the actual concept could look different when unveiled next week.
Renault’s India team is known to be behind the Bridger project. The production form will be designed specifically for our market. Since it tucks below the 4 metre mark, in length, the Bridger-based SUV will qualify for tax benefits. Interestingly, it is unclear if the spare wheel mounted on the tailgate is included within the net 4-metre length. When launched, the Bridger-based SUV will become the company’s second sub-four metre offering, the first being the Kiger.
It is still too early to comment on the drivetrain layout or engines of the production model. If Renault is to aim for the Jimny, the vehicle will need to be equipped with 4x4 hardware. Another possibility is the use of All Wheel Drive (AWD) with an electric rear axle, as seen in some of Dacia models sold abroad.
If the product is intended strictly at urban buyers, a conventional front-wheel drive (FWD) layout is likely to be used. The actual direction that Renault would take here, remains unclear for now.
Speculations also suggest that this SUV could be shipped to international markets and sold under the Dacia brand, as an affordable small SUV. These remain unconfirmed at the time of writing.
In India, however, the Bridger concept’s production form will play a key role in driving people back to the brand. Many will likely take it for a ‘Mini Duster’, effectively adding to the carmaker’s overall monthly volumes.