10 Sub-4 Meter Nissan And Renault SUVs: Bridger To Magnite
The sub-four metre SUV segment is one of the fastest growing automotive segments in the Indian market. They strike a sweet balance between space, value and road presence. Renault and its alliance partner Nissan are betting big on sub-four-metre SUVs (sub compact SUVs) to scale success in India. The two companies will launch ten sub-four metre products in the next few years. Let’s make it clear. These will be different versions of the same product- Bridger, and factory-fitted CNG versions of the Magnite and Kiger.
At present, the Kiger offers dealer-level CNG retrofitment. It is based on the CMF-A+ platform. The company recently announced its intention to move the SUV to the new RGEP (Renault Group Entry Platform). It will support factory fitted CNG powertrain. The CNG in this case, will be stored in two interconnected cylinders mounted under the vehicle's underbody. This will liberate usable boot space. Rest of the mechanicals are expected to remain the same as those of the outgoing model.
Expected to be out in late 2027, the Bridger will be an important product for Renault. It is part of the company’s ‘FutuReady’ strategy for the Indian market. The company intends to attain ‘China speed’ and reduce product development duration to just two years.
The Bridger will be a very important product. Renault has confirmed its intention to make it available with a wide range of engine options. Pure petrol and CNG versions of the Bridger will be made available. Forming the base of this SUV will be the RGMP Small Platform (Renault Global Modular Platform). Essentially a derivative of the global CMF-B architecture, it is a multi-energy platform and can support pure petrol, CNG, hybrid and electric powertrains.
The petrol version of Bridger will offer two engine options- 1.2-litre naturally aspirated MPFi (Multi-Point Fuel Injection) petrol and a 1.2L turbocharged petrol engine. Both will be four-cylinder units while the latter will be aimed at performance enthusiasts.
The turbo-engine will be a derivative of the 1.3L turbo-petrol used in the new Duster. It will have a lower stroke to bring the displacement to under 1200cc. This engine is expected to produce around 120 hp and up to 220 Nm. The MPFi engine, on the other hand, will make around 90hp.
The rising demand for CNG as a fuel has made Renault think about a CNG version of the Bridger. It will use the same 1.2L MPFi turbo petrol engine with a factory-fitted dual cylinder CNG system. The use of dual cylinders will help in freeing up space. The CNG powertrain will have an output of around 100hp in CNG mode and is expected to deliver an efficiency of 30+ km/kg.
Another model is the strong hybrid version of the Bridger. It will use a new 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder hybrid engine, developed by Horse Powertrains. This unit will run on Miller cycle and will have improved thermal efficiency and fuel efficiency. According to reports, Renault is studying technology from AVL’s H12 hybrid concept which uses Horse HR12 architecture as its base. The production form will likely have a displacement of under 1200cc.
Renault is also expected to bring an electric version of the Bridger, most likely in early 2028. It is likely to get two battery packs- 35 kWh and 55 kWh. The former will have a range of around 300km per charge, while the latter will likely offer around 500 km. The EV will support DC fast charging and will come with technologies like regenerative braking and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) support. It will have a front wheel drive (FWD) layout. When launched, it will compete primarily with the Tata Nexon.EV and MG Windsor here.
Creating a noticeable presence in the sub-four metre segment is an important part of Nissan’s comeback strategy. It is likely to roll out badge-engineered versions of the Bridger, just like it made the Tekton from the Duster. This means that Nissan will launch its own versions of the Bridger powered by the internal combustion petrol, CNG, hybrid petrol and electric powertrains. That takes the total count of expected launches from the alliance to ten.
Details of Nissan’s version of the Bridger remain sparse. We do know that the exterior and interior designs will align with Nissan’s global SUV styling directions. No changes are to be expected in the underpinnings or powertrains.
The Magnite will also move to the RGEP platform soon. When that happens, it will start offering factory-fitted CNG option. Like the Kiger, CNG will be stored in two interconnected cylindrical tanks stored under the vehicle's underbody. This will ensure a usable boot space on the vehicle.