2026 Renault Duster Launched In India At Rs 10.49 Lakh
Renault has launched the much-awaited Duster in India. Ex-showroom prices start at Rs 10.49 lakh and go up to 18.49 lakh. R-Pass prices will be adjusted from these. Five trims are available: Authentic, Evolution, Techno, Techno+ and Iconic. The 1.3 turbocharged petrol engine is available on all trims except the base-spec Authentic. A limited-run Iconic Launch Edition is also available.
The company is also offering a subscription model of ownership on the new Duster.
The Duster has entered an increasingly crowded segment- that of compact SUVs. It faces competition from the likes of Hyundai Creta, Tata Sierra, Maruti Victoris, Maruti Grand Vitara, second-generation Kia Seltos, Toyota Hyryder, Honda Elevate, Citroen Aircross and the MG Astor. The Duster has managed to match if not undercut most of its rivals with its pricing.
The new Duster comes with several India-specific touches in its design and packaging. The overall design is inspired by the global model. The India-spec, however, gets several unique styling details. At the front, it features sleek, eyebrow-like LED DRLs and ‘DUSTER’ spelled out on the grille section instead of ‘RENAULT’ or its logo. At the rear, the SUV gets connected LED tail lamps.
Other design highlights include large air intakes, fog lamps that sit on the Black lower bumper, 18-inch alloy wheels, bold body cladding, C-pillar mounted rear door handles, a unique front fender ornament, an integrated rear spoiler and more. Six exterior colours are offered on the new Duster- Jade Mountain Green, Stealth Black, Sunset Red, River Blue, Pearl White, and Moonlight Silver. Jade Mountain Green is the most unique of the lot.
Inside, the new Duster gets a dual-tone colour theme, and leatherette upholstery. All seats feature adjustable headrests and three-point seatbelts. Both rows get armrests as well. Renault know how important this product is for the revival of its India business and has packaged it well.
The feature list includes a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, six-speaker Arkamys sound system, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, built-in Google integration, electronic parking brake, powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, powered and ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, 360-degree camera, 48-colour ambient lighting, wireless charging bay, and more. 'In India, the conversation about cars is dominated by features'- says Francisco Hidalgo Marques, VP Sales & Marketing, Renault India.
The SUV offers 700 litres of boot space- the largest in its segment. It also has a ground clearance of 212 mm.
The safety suite is comprehensive. Six airbags are standard. Higher variants come with level 2 ADAS as well. Front and rear parking sensors and four disc brakes are also offered.
Interestingly, Renault is offering a 7-year or 1.5 lakh km warranty on the new Duster- an industry first! This is among the longest in the segment and will likely help Renault in regaining customer confidence in the brand.
The Duster sold abroad is based on the CMF-B platform. The Indian version, however, is underpinned by a heavily localised RGMP (Renault Group Modular Platform) platform. This platform is versatile and can support different body styles and vehicle lengths.
Thanks to the new platform, the India-spec Duster features a new electrical and electronics architecture co-developed with Google. Called the SoftWare Electric & Electronic Technology (SWEET 400), this has allowed the integration of more connected and software-driven features. This platform will also support future technology upgrades.
Two engines are on offer at launch- both turbo-petrols. A diesel engine used to be available on the previous Duster, which is not offered on the new model.
The first option is a 1.0L turbocharged petrol engine producing 98hp and 180Nm, while other is a 1.3L, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine capable of producing 160hp and 280Nm. A six-speed manual and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission are available on the 1.3L engine.
Renault says that 91% of total 'interests' generated through the R-Pass program were for the 1.3L turbo-petrol engine.
Renault has also confirmed that a 1.8-litre strong-hybrid powertrain will join the lineup by Diwali this year. This setup is expected to deliver a combined output of around 160hp. Results from the R-Pass program indicate strong demand for this powertrain. The carmaker even announced that hybrid Dusters have already been sold out.