Nissan India has launched the much awaited Nissan Tekton mid size SUV in India at a starting price of Rs 10.49 lakh (ex showroom). The Tekton is Nissan’s badge engineered version of the Renault Duster. Bookings for the SUV are now open, while deliveries will begin from July 20. This is Nissan India’s second product launch of the year after the Gravite compact MPV, which made its debut earlier this year. In this article, we compare the Nissan Tekton with its badge engineered sibling, the Renault Duster, to see what has changed and what remains the same.
Nissan Tekton vs Renault Duster – Exterior Design
Although both SUVs share the same overall silhouette and body structure, Nissan has given the Tekton a distinct identity. The company says the design is inspired by the flagship Nissan Patrol, giving the SUV a more upright and squared appearance.
At the front, the Tekton gets slimmer LED headlamps connected by a full width light bar. The C shaped daytime running lamps are different from the eyebrow style units seen on the Duster. Nissan has also used a traditional front grille with the Nissan logo placed at the centre, while the TEKTON lettering is positioned on the bonnet. A unique red strip across the grille further helps distinguish the SUV from its Renault sibling. The front bumper has also been redesigned with reduced use of silver finished elements.
From the side, both SUVs continue to share features like heavy body cladding, front pull type door handles, rear door handles integrated into the C pillar and a shark fin antenna. However, the Tekton gets its own multi spoke 18 inch alloy wheel design, C shaped fender graphics and silver roof rails.
At the rear, the Tekton replaces the Duster’s triangular tail lamp design with new C shaped LED units inspired by the Patrol. The rear bumper also gets silver inserts that match the new lighting signature.
The Nissan Tekton is available in Onyx Black, Blade Silver, Pearl White, Flare Garnet Red, Indigo Blue and Moonbow Gray. Every colour is offered in both monotone and dual tone options. The Renault Duster, meanwhile, is available in ten colour options including four dual tone combinations.
Nissan Tekton vs Renault Duster – Interior Design and Features
Inside the cabin, the Tekton differentiates itself with a dual tone cream and burgundy upholstery, replacing the Duster’s black and green interior theme. Nissan has added rose gold finished inserts on the steering wheel, dashboard, centre console and door handles further give the cabin a different look.
Feature wise, both SUVs remain almost identical. They come equipped with a 10.1 inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.25 inch digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charger and six way adjustable ventilated front seats.
On the safety front, both offer six airbags, Level 2 ADAS, a 360 degree camera with blind spot assist, electronic parking brake and front and rear parking sensors. Both the Nissan Tekton and Renault Duster have earned a full five star Bharat NCAP crash safety rating.
Nissan Tekton vs Renault Duster – Powertrain
Mechanically, there are no differences between the two SUVs. Both are available with a 100 hp 1 litre turbo petrol engine and a 163 hp 1.3 litre turbo petrol engine. A six speed manual gearbox is offered with both engines, while the more powerful engine also gets a seven speed dual clutch automatic transmission.
One important difference, however, is the absence of a strong hybrid announcement for the Tekton. Renault has already confirmed that the Duster will receive a strong hybrid powertrain during the festive season this year. Nissan has not confirmed whether the Tekton will receive the same option in the future, making this one of the biggest differences between the two SUVs.
The claimed fuel efficiency figures are also nearly identical. The 1 litre turbo petrol manual returns 19.4 kmpl in the Tekton compared to 19.41 kmpl in the Duster. The 1.3 litre turbo petrol manual delivers 17.8 kmpl against 17.75 kmpl, while the DCT automatic returns 18.5 kmpl compared to the Duster’s 18.45 kmpl.
Nissan Tekton vs Renault Duster – Price and Variants
Both SUVs start at Rs 10.49 lakh for the base 1.0 litre turbo petrol manual. The Tekton Visia+ is priced at Rs 11.14 lakh, making it Rs 55,000 more affordable than the Duster Evolution at Rs 11.69 lakh. The Tekton Acenta paired with the 1.3 litre DCT is also Rs 50,000 lower than the equivalent Duster Techno DCT.
In the higher variants, the Nissan Tekton N Connecta undercuts the Duster Techno by Rs 80,000 in both manual and DCT forms. The Tekton Tekna is also priced lower than the Duster Techno+ by Rs 90,000 with the manual and Rs 40,000 with the DCT. Only the range topping Tekton Tekna+ DCT is dearer by Rs 10,000 than the Duster Iconic DCT. Overall, the Nissan Tekton offers six variants compared to the Duster’s five while delivering better value across most comparable trims.