The new generation Duster has been out for some time in Europe under the Dacia brand. Then came the Renault version of Duster for a few European and African countries with little differences. Now, we recently witnessed the India-spec version of Renault Duster which is significantly different from Euro-spec version.
After careful consideration and market analysis, Renault has formulated a specific version of Duster for Indian market meeting the taste of Indian SUV buyers. It was recently unveiled at a grand stage in Chennai and here is everything we liked about the new Renault Duster curated for Indian market.
Unlike Captur, Duster is now much better suited to Indian SUV buyer’s taste and preferences. Even the grille says DUSTER, rather than RENAULT. It looks boxy and impactful with its muscular silhouette, SUV proportions, 212 mm ground clearance, 18-inch wheels and 225-section tyres. It has tasteful LED DRLs, LED tail lights, body cladding and other elements to make a lasting impression.
Hopping inside the India-spec Duster, one can see a practical cabin with enough space for both front and rear occupants. Rear seats get three adjustable headrests, centre armrest, rear AC vents, USB Type-C ports, seat-back pockets and more. Front occupants get powered and ventilated seats with adjustable lumbar support. There is a panoramic sunroof too, which brings in a lot of natural light, if you’re into it.
Renault claims the new Duster has 700L of boot capacity. This metric is true when cargo is loaded till the roof. Under the parcel tray, there is a squarish boot with decent cargo capacity and functional elements like lights, hooks and even a cavity for a spare wheel. The tailgate is electrically powered, which only the Tata Sierra and Curvv used to offer in this segment.
The new Renault Duster packs a new 10-inch touchscreen infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. More important than that is the fact that it runs Google OS with in-built navigation and other Google apps, making media and navigation baked in, rather than an extension of a smartphone. The instrument cluster is a 10.25-inch unit with crisp resolution and a host of informatics including navigation.
Unlike the Duster India got before, new India-spec Renault Duster is loaded to the gills with features and creature comforts. Notable attributes include electronic parking brake, dual-zone automatic climate control, 48-colour ambient lighting, powered tailgate, powered front seats, ventilated front seats, leatherette upholstery, rear AC vents, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, Type-C USB ports, panoramic sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree cameras, Level-2 ADAS suite, air purifier and a lot more.
While we have not driven the new Duster yet, powertrain lineup Renault has curated for India look like a smash hit, at least on paper. With lower variants, Renault is offering a 100 PS 1.0L Turbo Petrol and with higher variants, there is a 163 PS 1.3L Turbo petrol and then a Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 with around 160 PS and a 1.4 kWh battery promising up to 80% of city driving in pure electric mode.
The new Renault Duster has landed in India’s most competed 4.2m to 4.4m SUV (C SUV) segment as the 14th contender. We already have Tata Sierra, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Curvv, Maruti Suzuki Victoris, Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Honda Elevate, MG Astor, Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun, Citroen Basalt and Aircross.
We will soon get the 15th contender in the form of Nissan Tekton soon, based on Duster. If Renault gets the pricing right, Duster has all the potential to shake up this segment as it has a massive brand recall among SUV enthusiasts.
