- The Renault Duster debuts in India with new styling and interior.
- It offers three powertrains, including a hybrid, but is FWD-only.
- The SUV is built in Chennai, India, with 90 percent localization.
The new Renault Duster has officially arrived in India. While its overall shape stays true to the familiar design, Renault has given it a fresh spin with styling details tailored to the local market and a more refined interior, aiming to stand out in the increasingly packed SUV segment.
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Visually, the Indian-spec Duster steps apart from its global siblings, thanks to a handful of distinct exterior tweaks. The headlamp units stick with the familiar casing, but the lighting signature drops the global Y-shaped motif for a simpler LED arrangement.
There’s now bold Duster lettering stamped across the grille, and the front bumper features a more aggressive look with an oversized, aluminum-effect skid plate and enlarged side inlets. Along the sides, the profile hasn’t strayed far from the template, but Renault-branded gills now replace the plastic trim on the front doors, and a vertical slit has appeared on the D-pillars.
At the rear, the taillights stick with the triangular shape but are now tinted and carry updated internal graphics. A new LED light bar stretches across the tailgate, and there’s a redesigned number plate housing with a reshaped bumper to match.
More Premium Cabin
While the exterior design leans toward what might be seen as a mid-cycle refresh, the interior tells a different story. Renault has completely reworked the cabin design, added more features, and updated key touchpoints for a more polished feel.
The digital setup includes a 10.1-inch central touchscreen paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrument display. Both units look more neatly integrated into the dash than before, and the infotainment system now runs Google’s built-in suite with voice controls and native navigation.
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A mix of leatherette inserts and upgraded seat upholstery gives the interior a more premium atmosphere, helped along by ambient lighting, redesigned air vents, and a cleaner center console layout.
In terms of features, the SUV now gets kit like a panoramic sunroof, an Arkamys-tuned audio system, power-adjustable ventilated seats, and an electric tailgate. Safety gets a major bump too, with six airbags and a full ADAS suite included as standard, a significant leap compared to what Dacia typically offers.
Renault also highlights practicality, with the Duster offering 518 liters of cargo space, expandable to 700 liters when packed to the roof.
Powertrains Cover the Basics
Underpinning the new model is Renault’s CMF-B platform, a modular architecture already in use globally. The Indian Duster gets three powertrain options, all front-wheel drive.
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The entry-level engine is a turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder producing 99 hp, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. Next up is a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 158 hp, this time mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. At the top of the range is a self-charging hybrid setup based around a 1.8-liter petrol engine and dual electric motors, delivering a combined 158 hp.
What’s missing, though, is any form of all-wheel drive. Unlike its European counterpart, the Indian-spec Duster sticks strictly to front-wheel drive, which might limit its draw among off-road enthusiasts.
Pricing To Be Announced
Renault has opened pre-orders for the new Duster in India, although pricing details are still under wraps. When it does arrive, it will go head-to-head with segment heavyweights like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun, MG Astor, and the upcoming Nissan Tekton, a closely related model.
Unlike the global versions built in Romania and Turkey, the Indian Duster will be produced locally at Renault’s Chennai facility. The company claims a 90 percent localization rate, meaning almost all components are sourced within India rather than imported as CKD kits.