17 Small But Very Significant Things About The New Renault Duster
Renault has launched the third-generation Duster in India with an ex-showroom starting price of Rs 10.49 lakh. We recently got to drive the new Duster from Mussoorie to Tehri, and thus got to spend some quality time with it. The SUV seems to be well-packaged. Here are 16 interesting features that you would spot and love on the new Duster.
Roof rails have become common finds in the mid-size SUV space. In most cases, however, they are mere styling elements, incapable of serving their actual purpose- carrying loads or racks. Just a few compact SUVs come with functional rails, and the Duster is one of them. Another example is the Tata Sierra. Having functional roof rails can be very useful considering the outdoorsy nature of the Duster.
These are unusual finds in the mid-size SUV segment. Most players come with conventional (framed) wipers. The new Duster is an exception. It is equipped with frameless wipers that deliver better cleaning and quieter operation than conventional units.
Like the previous Duster, the new model also gets hydraulic struts for the bonnet. This makes it easy to open and close the hood and access the engine bay.
The new Duster features a sleek access card ( the key fob) that can be kept with the driver. He/she doesn’t need to press buttons to lock or unlock the car. The vehicle gets automatically unlocked when the driver walks towards it with the access card and locks when he walks away. This can be very useful in real life.
Thanks to the RGMP platform that underpins it, the new Duster comes with built-in Google integration. A lot of vehicle functions are now software-driven. Once you log in with your Google ID, the system will automatically load and sync your saved settings- from seat positions to playlists and maps. This personalised experience is something most people would appreciate.
Another feel-good feature is the powered tailgate. On the new Duster, it hasn’t been kept exclusive to higher trims alone. You will get this from the Techno trim onwards.
Highlighting its duality of character, the new Duster comes with coat hooks integrated into the B-pillars. This is in fact, a minute detailing that many would appreciate during ownership.
Another major highlight of the new Duster is its boot. The SUV offers 700 litres of boot space, measured to the top. 518 litres measured to the parcel tray. This is the biggest boot in the segment. The new Tata Sierra now takes the second spot with 622 litres.
All four windows on the new Duster get one-touch operation- both up and down. This is a great feature to have and something that most mid-size SUVs miss out on.
Higher variants come equipped with a level 2 ADAS suite. Renault has given the Duster a one-press button to quickly disable ADAS features, if the need be. You’ll find this toward the right hand side of the dash.
The SUV also comes with a cooled glove box under the front arm rest. This can be a great feature to have in India’s hot, humid conditions.
The front seats get power adjustments and even come with ventilation function. More importantly, they offer lumbar support, a feature that is usually seen on cars that are much more expensive. Interestingly, lumbar support is not electric. You use a knob mounted on the seat’s side to adjust the support.
The centre console area is cleverly designed. It offers ample room inside and has a flexible design. There are ridges on its walls and plastic pieces that come along.These can be used to convert it to cupholders from large storage areas. Clever touch in terms of design.
The new Duster comes equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It is paired with a six-speaker Arkamys audio. The touchscreen is set in a way that it doesn’t protrude much. This prevents it from intruding into the driver’s outward visibility.
The SUV also gets a one-touch 'AC Max' mode for its air conditioning system. Pressing this button will run the AC at full speed, facilitating faster cooling. This is similar to the ‘Xpress Cool’ function offered on some Tata Motors cars. It is very useful in the Indian weather.
In the mid-size SUV segment, many players offer Dual Clutch transmissions (DCTs). Those are, however, dry clutch units. The Duster comes with an AISIN-sourced six-speed wet-clutch DCT automatic gearbox. It is claimed to offer better thermal management and have high reliability and longevity.
The Duster comes with 10.25-inch HD digital instrument cluster. It gets Maps projection, making it easier for the driver to navigate.