The Renault Duster has been launched at a price of ₹10.29 lakh (ex-showroom) with Renault’s R-Pass program, prices without R-Pass start at ₹10.49 lakhs. The SUV marks the return of the Duster nameplate to the Indian market after a gap of nearly four years. Renault first unveiled the third generation Duster earlier this year in January. This new generation brings a completely new design, a more feature rich cabin, updated powertrain options, and improved safety equipment.
Renault Duster – Exterior Design
The third generation Duster features a completely new exterior design which marks a major departure from its predecessor. The India specification version of the Duster is also visually different from the versions sold in several international markets. At the front the SUV features bold Duster lettering positioned within the grille. This replaces the traditional Renault diamond logo. The front fascia gets LED headlamps along with eyebrow shaped daytime running lamps. Projector headlamp units are not offered.
The bonnet features strong sculpting with chiselled lines that enhance the SUV character. The front bumper includes chunky body cladding. It also gets a silver finished skid plate which adds to the rugged appearance. In terms of size the new Duster measures 4346 mm in length. It measures 1815 mm in width. Height stands at 1703 mm. The wheelbase is rated at 2657 mm which should improve cabin space. The SUV also features square wheel arches which give it a robust stance.
Another notable design element is the placement of the rear door handles within the C pillar. This design choice gives the side profile a cleaner appearance. The SUV’s ground clearance stands at 212 mm. The approach angle is rated at 26.9 degrees and the departure angle stands at 34.7 degrees. At the rear the SUV features a connected tail lamp design along with a two-dimensional Renault logo. Duster badging is positioned on the lower section of the boot lid.
Renault Duster – Interior Design and Features
Inside the cabin the third generation Duster offers a significantly more premium cabin compared with the earlier model. The SUV comes equipped with a 10.1 inch touchscreen infotainment system. It is paired with a 10.25 inch TFT instrument cluster that displays driver information. Despite the digital setup Renault has retained physical buttons for essential vehicle functions. HVAC controls are also operated through physical switches.
The steering wheel is leather wrapped and features yellow contrast stitching. It also includes integrated control buttons. The dashboard and door inserts feature jade leather finish. Carbon fibre accents are also present.
The Renault Duster offers six way power adjustable driver seat. The co driver seat also gets power adjustment, both seats feature ventilation. Additional comfort features include an electric tailgate, ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof. The panoramic sunroof is notable because the global specification Duster offers only a single pane sunroof. India becomes the first market to receive the larger panoramic unit.
Other features include a 360 degree camera system, dual zone automatic climate control, cleaner air display with PM2.5 filter, electronic parking brake with auto hold function, auto dimming IRVM, wireless charging pad, puddle lamps, and a six speaker Arkamys sound system. The SUV also includes Google built in assistant support for voice commands. It also supports navigation and media control along with connected car technology.
Renault Duster – Powertrain and Safety
The Renault Duster will be offered with three powertrain options. The entry level engine is a 1.0 litre turbo petrol unit that produces 100 horsepower and 160 Nm of torque. This engine is paired with a six speed manual transmission. The second option is a 1.3 litre turbo petrol engine that produces 163 horsepower and 280 Nm of torque. This engine will be available with a six speed automatic transmission.
The top engine option is a 1.8 litre four cylinder petrol engine paired with a hybrid system. The petrol engine produces 109 horsepower. The electric motor provides an additional 49 horsepower. The system also includes a 20 horsepower hybrid starter generator supported by a 1.4 kWh battery pack.
On the safety front the Duster is equipped with seventeen advanced driver assistance features. These include adaptive cruise control and hill descent control. The SUV also includes six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, and ISOFIX child seat mounts as standard.
Renault Duster – Variant Lineup and Price
Renault Duster – Market Positioning and Rivals
The Renault Duster will compete in the mid size SUV segment. This is the same segment that the Duster helped establish in India more than a decade ago. The new SUV will face familiar rivals such as the Hyundai Creta which currently leads the segment. Other competitors include the Kia Seltos, Tata Sierra, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Honda Elevate, and the MG Astor.
Renault has confirmed that deliveries for the 1.0 litre and 1.3 litre petrol variants will begin in April. These deliveries will first be offered to customers who have pre booked the SUV through the Renault R Pass program that was introduced during the unveil of the Duster in January this year. Deliveries of the petrol hybrid version of the Duster are expected to begin around the festive season during Diwali later this year.