Renault has unveiled the new Duster in India and it is the third generation of the SUV after it first became the pioneer of the compact SUV segment back in 2012. The new Duster has several changes inside and out; but adheres to the familiar body style, just like the previous generations.
On the inside, you have a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10.25-inch digital driver cluster paired with a button-rich steering wheel. On the outside, the Duster features new headlamps, a fresh front fascia, new alloy wheels, a new tail lamp setup, an electric-powered tailgate and a fresh-looking sleeker logo.
Renault is offering three powertrain options; a 1.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 101PS and 160Nm mated with a 6-speed manual transmission and a larger 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine making 163PS and 280Nm paired with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed DCT gearbox. However, Renault is also offering a en engine strong-hybrid system consisting of a 1.8-litre petrol engine, a 1.4kWh battery and two electric motors.
The pre-bookings for the new Duster have already commenced and you can book one paying ₹21,000. Deliveries for the ICE-only models start in April, while delivery of the strong hybrid is expected to happen during the festive season.
The price of the new Duster is still under wraps and is company says it will be revealed in March. However, our speculations place it in the ₹10-20 lakh price bracket, putting it head-to-head with heavy-hitters like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Sierra, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Škoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, and the Maruti Suzuki Victoris.
