Renault Niagara ute unveiled for Latin America

The Renault Niagara has been revealed in Argentina, but this new ute, which has been "designed in Latin America for Latin America" seems unlikely to be built in right-hand drive.

The Niagara effectively serves as a replacement for the long-lived Oroch, a 4.7m-long ute launched in 2015 that was based on the first-generation Duster.

Renault says the Niagara reflects changes to the ute market in Latin America. Like many other parts of the world, utes used to be simple work vehicles, but nowadays many serve mainly as personal cars, with a greater priority placed on features, comfort and interior space.

As such, the Niagara is based on the Boreal, a 4.55m SUV that's essentially a reskinned Dacia Bigster. The Niagara and Boreal seem to share many components, including the front doors, bonnet, front fenders and dashboard.

In addition to a longer wheelbase and completely redone rear-end, the Niagara also has a unique front bumper and grille design, which seeks to emphasise the car's rugged and outdoorsy nature. Stretching the width of the car, the 3D grille dumps the Renault diamond for the company's word mark.

Measuring 4.94m long in all-wheel drive form (front-wheel drive versions are 30mm shorter) and 1.72m tall, the Niagara is one of the larger car-based utes available in Latin America. It will be pitched against the likes of the similarly sized Fiat Toro and Ram Rampage.

The cargo bed has a volume of 938L, and can carry up to 654kg of stuff. The cargo area can be accessed via an electric tailgate with a built-in cupholder, and the tray features a coated bed, eight lashing rings around the edge, and a 12V socket.

Like the Boreal, the Niagara is available with just one engine: a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's flex fuel capable. In front-wheel drive models it makes 115kW/270Nm, while all-wheel drive versions develop 120kW/270Nm.

Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual or a six-speed automated dual-clutch transmission. The Niagara has a towing capacity of 710kg.

With its 233mm of ground clearance, 22.1-degree approach and departure angles, and five driving modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, Mud-Sand and Off-Road), the all-wheel drive Niagara should be up for a bit of light off-road work.

The Niagara will be built in Renault's Santa Isabel factory in Cordoba, Argentina. Developed by Renault Brazil, it has been tested extensively in its key markets: Argentina, Brazil and Colombia.

Given the car's Latin American focus, and the relatively small size of ute-friendly right-hand drive markets, namely Australia and South Africa, availability in our part of the world seems unlikely.

According to Renault, the Niagara is part of the automaker's push to expand its range with localised offerings outside of Europe. So far it has revealed the Geely-based Filante and Koleos SUVs that will be built in South Korea, and a number of India-specific models. There's also the Boreal and Kardian that will be produced for Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

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