Rugged Renault Niagara ute concept unveiled

Renault Australia’s long-running quest to get hold of a dual-cab 4x4 ute to compete against the top-selling Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux has moved in a new direction with the emergence of the 2024 Renault Niagara concept overnight.

The Niagara heralds a replacement of sorts for the Nissan Navara-based Renault Alaskan, which was under consideration for Australia before the business case ground to a halt a few years ago.

And while there’s new-generation utes from Renault’s alliance partners just around the corner – namely, the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton and 2025 Nissan Navara – the Niagara is based an all-new Renault Group modular platform and is clearly more of a lifestyle ute than a workhorse in the same vein as Australia’s popular twin-cabs.

With this architecture, which is believed to be a car-like monocoque platform rather than a heavy-duty ladder frame, the Niagara concept features an advanced E-Tech 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive.

It’s slightly smaller than the Ranger, measuring 4900mm long with a 2950mm wheelbase, and the styling is more along the lines of an SUV-derived utility than a body-on-frame dual-cab, with cabin room clearly prioritised over load space.

Limitations are also evident with the mild-hybrid powertrain, which drives the front wheels and relies on an electric motor to spin up the rear wheels instead of using traditional 4x4 hardware.

That said, the Renault’s AWD system sees tailpipe emissions slashed around town as almost 50 per cent of all urban journeys can be completed in all-electric mode.

A potential rival for the US-oriented Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Cruz and a forthcoming Toyota model based on the EPU concept shown in Tokyo this week – all of which are a chance for Australia, too – the Niagara previews one of eight new models in the Renault pipeline that will launch before 2027 and are aimed at markets outside Europe, most notably South America.

The Niagara would sit above the current Dacia-based Renault Oroch – which has been under consideration for launch Down Under – and combine versatility with rugged looks.

The concept features split LED headlights that live within a huge front grille that stretches across the truck, and instead of the traditional diamond-shaped emblem there’s illuminated RENAULT lettering.

Adding to the visual muscle are wider fender extenders front and rear, heavy-duty front bash plates, side sills and a rear sports bar.

There’s also a sturdy roof rack that carries a spare wheel, generous levels of ground clearance and a rear bed that’s big enough to at least carry a further two spare wheels.

It’s thought Renault will reveal more of its future models for its international markets in the coming months, which is likely to include a production version of the Niagara pick-up.

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