Renault Duster - New Details From the Launch Event
Renault made a comeback to India with the Duster. Today, they officially launched their all-new SUV in the market. The starting price for the new Duster is Rs 10.49 lakh, and it competes with SUVs like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, and Skoda Kushaq in the segment. The official launch has happened, and now we know what the SUV offers. Here are the important details from the launch event that you should know.
The Renault Duster is available with three engine options, and prices have only been announced for the 1.3-litre turbo and the 1.0-litre turbo. The hybrid variants will be launched by the festive season later this year.
The Duster is currently available in Authentic, Evolution, Techno, Techno+, and Iconic variants. The 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine is available with the Authentic, Evolution, and Techno variants. Prices for these variants are Rs 10.49 lakh, Rs 11.69 lakh, and Rs 13.49 lakh, ex-showroom, respectively.
The 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine is available with a manual and a 6-speed DCT gearbox. The prices for the MT variants start at Rs 12.99 lakh, ex-showroom, and go all the way up to Rs 16.99 lakh, ex-showroom. The price for the automatic variants starts at Rs 14.49 lakh, ex-showroom, and goes up to Rs 18.49 lakh, ex-showroom. The 1.3-litre turbo engine is available in Evolution, Techno, Techno+, and Iconic variants. The prices announced today are introductory.
R Pass was a pre-booking programme for the new Renault Duster, where customers could book the vehicle by making a payment. This amount will then be adjusted against the final price of the vehicle.
At today’s launch event, Renault also announced a special price for customers who had made the pre-booking or had the R Pass. The starting price of the Duster for those customers is much lower than the standard ones. The price for customers with the R Pass starts at Rs 10.29 lakh and goes all the way up to Rs 18.09 lakh, ex-showroom.
One of the major reasons why many people buy SUVs is to tackle rough and pothole-filled roads in the city and on highways. Renault offers 212 mm of ground clearance, which is not only ample but also segment-leading.
Renault has also taken care of the storage department in the new Duster. The SUV comes with ample space for five occupants and at the same time offers one of the segment’s largest boots. The Renault Duster gets 700 litres of boot space, while its competitors like the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta offer boot space under 500 litres.
The 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine may seem small when compared to its Korean competitors, but Renault has tuned it in such a way that it is currently one of the most powerful SUVs in the segment. It generates 163 PS and 280 Nm of peak torque. It is available with a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed DCT gearbox.
The gearbox is also special, as it is the first in the segment to come with a wet clutch. It is actually suitable for Indian conditions, as it is considered to be more durable and offers better heat management.
As mentioned above, Renault will be launching a strong hybrid version of the Duster by Diwali this year. It is expected to be one of the biggest hybrid engines in the segment. It will be offered with a 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine paired with a hybrid system.
Renault claims that the system comes with a 1.4 kWh battery pack, which is also among the biggest in the segment. Using this system, the Duster can be driven as an EV up to 80 percent of the time in city conditions.
Renault is offering a warranty of 7 years or 1.5 lakh km on the new Duster. Unlike other brands, this warranty is transferable to subsequent buyers as well. Renault has made this move to ensure that the Duster’s resale value remains strong.
Renault had already started bookings for the Duster, and as per the data collected from dealerships, Renault announced that 91 percent of the bookings received so far have been for the 1.3-litre turbo variants. People living in metro cities 39 percent to be precise have opted for the hybrid variant, which is yet to be launched.
Renault also announced that the hybrid variant of the Duster has been sold out for 2026, and looking at the demand, they are aiming to boost production. Deliveries for the 1.0-litre turbo and the 1.3-litre turbo variants will commence from April.