It was 2012 when the Duster was introduced in India and since then the SUV has become a path-breaking product in the segment. It started giving tough competition to some popular cars like Hyundai Creta and Ford EcoSport. Now, as the BS6 era is around the corner, the automaker has bought about certain aesthetic modifications for their already potent SUV.
As the Duster gets a fresh makeover, Renault is planning to get back on market presence. But the question is of how it's going to prove itself in this highly competitive segment with new rivals like Tata Harrier and MG Hector. Age and power crunch comes in as a very strong liability for this potent SUV.
Renault Duster is offered in three trims and nine variants which is a handful! There are three petrol-powered which basically take on the lower end of this spectrum. The dominating ones are diesel-powered and available in two power options- 85 PS and 110 PS. The top-end also houses an AWD variant which showcased some pretty neat off-roading skills.
Variants | RXE | RXS/RXS(O) | RXZ |
Price (ex-showroom) Petrol | Rs. 7,99,990 | Rs. 9,19,990/ Rs. 9,99,990(CVT) | N/A |
Price (ex-showroom) Diesel | Rs.9,29,990(85 PS) | Rs. 9,29,990(85 PS); Rs. 9,99,990(110 PS)/ Rs. 10,99,9990(110 PS)(AWD) | Rs. 12,09,990(110 PS)/ Rs. 12,49,990(110 PS) (AMT) |
Features | Tilt Adjustable Power Steering | Tri-winged Full Chrome Grille | Tri-winged Full Chrome Grille |
New Dual Tone Body Colour Front Bumper | New Dual Tone Body Colour Front Bumper | New Dual Tone Body Colour Front Bumper | |
New Matte Black Tailgate Embellisher | New Matte Black Tailgate Embellisher | New Matte Black Tailgate Embellisher | |
Full Wheel Cover | Full Wheel Cover | Chrome Exhaust Pipe Finisher | |
New Renault Steering wheel | New Renault Steering wheel | Front fog lamps | |
Air-conditioner with heater- Manual | Ice Blue Graphic Instrument Cluster with Multi-information Display | Ice Blue Graphic Instrument Cluster with Multi-information Display | |
Remote Keyless Entry & Central Locking | Remote Keyless Entry & Central Locking | Remote Keyless Entry & Central Locking | |
Air-conditioner with heater- Manual | Air-conditioner with heater- Automatic |
2020 sees a host of aesthetic modifications for the Duster and it has managed to breathe a pinch of fresh air into the ageing line-up. The line-up has also been updated with a host of modern tech features to hold up to its modern competition line-up.
We would recommend RXS trim as it is priced aggressively and available with hefty features. It fits best for buyers looking for consolidated Renault Duster price. For Rs. 9.19 Lakh, the RXS gets good looking Ice Blue Graphic instrument cluster with a Multi-information display.
As the French carmaker makes a transition into the BS6 era, the prices of diesel variants of the Duster facelift have been slashed. Also, the popular K9K diesel powermill will be discontinued in April 2020. So, this would be the apt timing to get a diesel Duster. The Duster AWD models now retail at Rs. 10.99 lakh.
Notably, there are no discount offers active presently as BS4 stock has been sold out and we are in time for the BS66 transition.
Also Read,
How is the Renault Duster different from its Japanese twin?
Can the Duster take on India's best selling Ford?
Hyundai has an all-rounder on its hands. Can the humble Renault hold up to it?
The Duster is available with both petrol and diesel powertrain options. Petrol engine is a 1.5-litre unit that makes 106PS of power and 142Nm torque. It can be paired with a 5-speed MT and a CVT. The diesel engine is a 1.5-litre unit, too, and is available in two tuned states. One delivers 85PS/200Nm paired with a 5-speed MT only. The other one makes 110PS/245Nm and paired with a 6-speed MT or AMT. It also offers AWD (all-wheel-drive system) option.
The diesel engine is mediocre in terms of performance for the current line-up of competitors, but it still has juice left in it and that is evident in the AWD variant which pumps out 110 PS of power. The questionable part of this powerplant is that Renault is yet to come up with a BS6 iteration and by the turn of events, the current diesel offering is likely to be shelved after April 2020.
The Duster has impressive cruising potential and that is partially due to the smooth-revving duo of motors at hand but the gearbox tends to dampen the experience, wish Renault had rectified its sluggish gearbox setup. The AMT is satisfactory and weighs in on ease of usage.
Models | Renault Duster RXS | Nissan Terrano XE D | Hyundai Creta 1.4L CRDi | Ford Ecosport 1.5L Titanium MT |
Price (ex-showroom) | Rs. 9.99 lakhs | Rs. 9.99 lakhs | Rs. 9.99 lakhs | Rs. 9.90 lakhs |
Engine(Diesel) | 1.5L K9K four-cylinder DCi | 1.5 L K9K four-cylinder DCi | 1.4L CRDi four-cylinder | 1.5L TDCi four-cylinder |
Transmission | 5-speed manual | 5-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 5-speed manual |
Power | 84 bhp @ 3750rpm | 84 bhp @ 3750rpm | 89 bhp @ 4000rpm | 99 bhp @ 3750rpm |
Torque | 210 Nm @ 1750rpm | 200 Nm @ 1900rpm | 220 Nm @ 1500-2750rpm | 205 Nm @ 1750rpm |
Performance remains notable as the diesel powerplants are surprisingly silent at lower revs and have a strong mid-range punch which makes it a flexible character on as well as off roads. Ford EcoSport has the most muscle of this lot and that's courtesy of the pompous 1.5L TDCi engine and the slick 5-Speed manual gearbox. Nissan Terrano is the Duster's doppelganger and Hyundai Creta crawls into EcoSport's radar with its energetic performance.
Cruising through the city with the new Renault Duster is exciting and becomes more enjoyable, as the power-led performance is enhanced by its X-Tronic CVT gearshift, engineered to avoid shift-shock while delivering responsive acceleration.
The new Duster takes 13.9 seconds to sprint to 100 kmph from halt. Acceleration is commendable taking into consideration, its size and weight and the puny engine it has to counter this. The CVT gearbox is a life-saver as there s no unnecessary shift-lag and that adds up to a polished driving experience.
Models | Renault Duster | Nissan Terrano | Hyundai Creta | Ford Ecosport Titanium |
0-100 Kmph | 13.9 seconds | 13.9 seconds | 12 seconds | 13.2 seconds |
Engine | 1.5-Litre K9K four-cylinder DCi | 1.5-Litre K9K four-cylinder DCi | 1.4-Litre CRDi four-cylinder | 1.5-Litre TDCi four-cylinder |
Hyundai scores here due to its strict diet and that helps in swifter acceleration figures. Ford EcoSport is not far behind as its turbo spools up faster and so, a meaty low-end. Duster and Terrano share the same performance figures as vary only in looks.
Like before, Renault also offers CVT transmission for its petrol variant and a 6-speed AMT gearbox for the diesel variant. The engine dives forward after 1800 RPM mark. The gearbox feels responsive even in first gear. Notably, it is the only SUV to offer optional AWD setup in the segment. All of these features help provide us with a very under-rated SUV which can put some full-sized SUVs to shame.
The balanced suspension setup ensures good ride quality and joyful driving, be it on the trails or the wide-open roads. Raised ground clearance is also a boon when it comes to Indian driving conditions and added under-body protection helps you stray onto the roads less travelled without a hunch. However, most of its competitors already offer torque converter and dual-clutch transmission. None of its competitors come close to challenging the Duster in terms of flexible driving dynamics, expect the Terrano, of course!
The Duster stops rather quickly for a car of the calibre without much effort. In our test ride, the brake anchors dropped at 30 kmph and it was great to see how the SUV brought itself to half with the bulky bodywork and taller ride height. Seeing the Duster fly quickly and stop at a fraction of second is the best thing. Even with the drum brakes at the rear, the ABS setup is smooth and works effortlessly.
With a light chassis and kerb weight of 1236 kg, the Duster quickly decelerates on braking and takes merely 13 feet to become stagnant. The ABS unit works flawlessly and doesn't show unwanted intervention. The top trims, however, could have been a better proposition with disc brakes all around as the asking price surely can afford it.
Model | Renault Duster | Nissan Terrano | Hyundai Creta | Ford Ecosport |
Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
Rear Brakes | Drum | Drum | Drum | Drum |
Curb Weight(kg) | 1,236 | 1,236 | 1,326 | 1,261 |
Renault has engineered the Duster well, as the lower kerb weight deeply helps the SUV to excel both on and off-roads and this is a feat which its competitors struggle to achieve. Hyundai Creta and Ford EcoSport weigh in on the higher end of this spectrum and that surely helps it stay put in high-speed runs but has a toll on its braking setup.
Renault Duster mileage ranges from 13.9 kmpl to 19.87 kmpl. The claimed ARAI mileage of Petrol Manual is reported at 13.9 kmpl and for the Diesel Manual is 19.87 kmpl. In automatic variants, the claimed ARAI mileage of Duster Petrol is 13.9 kmpl and for the Duster Diesel is 19.87 kmpl.
The impressive part of these figures is that they are vaguely the same in both transmission setups and that gives a consumer to not be choosy and lose out on the fun bit due to mileage figures. Renault has done this in a rather smart way of coupling manual gearboxes to the subtle engines and the more powerful ones get either an AMT or a CVT.
Model | Renault Duster | Nissan Terrano | Hyundai Creta | Ford Ecosport |
Mileage (ARAI)(kmpl) | 13.9-19.87 | 20.5 | 21.38 | 23 |
Fuel Tank Capacity(Litres) | 50 | 50 | 55 | 52 |
Range(km) | 993.5 | 1,025 | 1,175 | 1,196 |
The competition is, however, consistent and way ahead when it comes to efficiency and that is many because of frequent updation of powertrain options which the Duster lacks. EcoSport is the most vibrant of them all when it comes to balancing performance and efficiency. Hyundai Creta follows closely and surprisingly the very similar Terrano gives better figures.
The front fascia features a new tri-wing chrome grille and newly designed headlamp clusters with projector lamps integrated with new patterns for the LED DRLs. The front bumper gets tuned updates as well. So, the Renault duster front gets a renewed appeal, especially when the Duster is witnessed in Caspian Blue, one of the latest colours alongside two more colours on offer. The bonnet itself gets a few tweaks that give it a bold stance and chiselled look. It has been raised too, preferably to meet the pedestrian safety norms. The top-spec model, RXZ, also offers newly designed Everest diamond-cut alloy wheels, upscaling the premium quotient of the SUV.
On the other hand, the rear remains the same, more or less. It does get black plastic cladding close to the tail-lamps. So, yes! allover, there's something new with the Renault Duster this time and it gives a fresh appeal, thanks to the updated front fascia and the new alloys.
Model | Renault Duster | Nissan Terrano | Hyundai Creta | Ford Ecosport |
Curb weight | 1,236 kgs | 1,236 kgs | 1,326 kgs | 1,261 kgs |
Length | 4,331 mm | 4,331 mm | 4,270 mm | 3,998 mm |
Width | 1,822 mm | 1,822 mm | 1,780 mm | 1,765 mm |
Height | 1,671 mm | 1,671 mm | 1,665 mm | 1,647 mm |
Ground clearance | 205 mm | 205 mm | 198 mm | 200 mm |
Wheelbase | 2673 mm | 2673 mm | 2590 mm | 2519 mm |
The car has a very good road presence, thanks to the masculine look it offers. However, it has started to look dated, and cars like Ecosport and Creta have caught up since they have received regular updates by their respective manufacturers. But the Duster has surely aged like fine wine.
Exterior Features:
Those who know the old Duster will notice nice-to-hold new steering, neat new fonts for the instrument console and, the reworked dashboard. The centre console is completely revised and now features rectangular vents instead of older circular units, though the touchscreen infotainment system and climate control dials remain at the same place.
New to the Duster is a second cooled glove box that is located on the left side of the dashboard. An exterior body-coloured embellishment on the dashboard adds some colour to the cabin and the embossed patterns on the seats are appealing too.
However, the cabin appeal is still not at par with present-day SUVs in the market. To be honest, there is extensive use of hard plastic in the cabin and fit and finish is based on basic standards. The driver's seat with a height-adjust lever did not give an impression as well. The ergonomics have been better if the touchscreen is placed at a good height as it takes off your concentration while functioning. However, the standard feature on the Duster facelift from the mid-spec RXS trim upwards; as are the steering-mounted audio controls.
Interior Features:
Renault Duster infotainment comprises of a 17.64cm Touchscreen that comes integrated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Excluding the base trim, the MediaNAV infotainment will be offered on all other trims.
A bummer in the infotainment department is the awkward positioning of the touchscreen display which is way down on the centre control stack which makes it hard for both the driver and passenger to control it. The EcoGuide feature is interesting as it scores the driver based on their driving. The infotainment features are listed below.
In terms of comfort, there's nothing new to speak. You get a nice seating height, the flat seats are more supportive than ever and there is reasonable room inside too. As always, the 475-litre boot is large enough to accommodate large luggage and weekend family trail trips.
The tall and wide opening for cargo compartment makes loading and unloading tall and wide cargo much easier. The steep wheel arches also add cargo volume and the spare tyre is neatly tucked below the flat floor along with emergency toolkit which makes optimum use of the limited space.
Model | Renault Duster | Nissan Terrano | Hyundai Creta | Ford Ecosport |
Cargo Volume | 475 | 475 | 400 | 352 |
Duster scores here far and wide as it leaves its competition behind by a huge margin. The credit goes to its wider design language which is absent in its competitors except, of course, the Nissan Terrano!
2017 Renault Duster failed the NCAP crash tests badly. This hit the automaker hard and so, they brought a facelift and somehow this model secured a 4-star rating in the crash tests. Renault showed us that they can improve drastically on certain aspects and that gives up hope on the automaker's future in India.
Safety features are plentiful with a host of off-road specific ones as well to help you cross trails with ease. The Duster has one of the most comprehensive safety features bundle for the price point.
Safety Features:
Hyundai Creta was a late entrant into this segment, and nobody expected it to become a hit within a few months. While the Terrano was already struggling due to the Renault Duster, Creta’s arrivals dusted the hope of its revival. And why not? The Creta offers a more punchy engine, more variants (which gives more flexibility to the buyer’s), more upscale interior and strong reliability that’s associated with Hyundai’s.
This may sound like an Apple to Oranges comparison, however, the Ecosport and Duster have a lot in common. Duster was one of the first cars in its segment, and Ecosport too gave birth to an all-new segment of crossovers. Moreover, both of the cars falling in the same price bracket is a testimony to the fact that they are similar in more ways than one. With the Ecosport, you get a punchy diesel engine and a more upmarket cabin. Moreover, the Sync3 infotainment system available in this Ford is one of the best in the business. What tilts the matter in Duster's favour is its brilliant ride quality.
Well, siblings in different clothing! The Terrano’s failure can become a case study for management students, for how even a brilliant vehicle can fail if not priced or marketed well. When Duster came, it took the market by storm, and Terrano had a similar chance too. However, atrocious pricing and lack of aspirational (badge) value made the Terrano fail big time, so much that it’s on the verge of discontinuation. Choosing the Duster between the two is a no-brainer!
The Renault Duster might have not worked in the market as it was supposed to. With the recent facelifts, the company believes to bring more updates inside-out. With a price bracket of Rs. 7.99 to 12.49 Lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Duster is a complete value for money if the features are to be considered strictly. The 4.3 m long SUV is improving in the crash tests as well. A bummer is the discontinuation of the diesel engine which was a powerhouse but the petrol motor can also work wonders!