Renault Duster

Renault has made few prominent additions to the new Duster, but has played smart when it comes to pricing with the line-up priced between Rs 8.46 lakh to Rs 13.56 lakh. What sets it apart from other SUVs is the robust stance. The aggression is visible on the front profile and it does lend a manly stance to the SUV. Thankfully, the muscularity hasn’t lost over the last couple of updates. Quickly going through what has changed in the latest version, the SUV gets tweaked head lamps, revised bumper up front and a redesigned dual winged radiator grille. Getting back to the design, Duster wears a macho design, face gets a black honey-comb backdrop ornate by thick split up chrome grille meeting the large head lamps. Lower bumper features a silver skid plate, black cladding and small rounded fog lamps enclosed in black housing. Wheel arches are notable and wheels are meaty but the gap between both looks awkward. Flanks feature a side stepper, prominent character lines, ORVMs and alloy wheels. Rear gets skid plate, single exhaust, chrome garnish on the boot lid and suave tail lamps.

Duster Interiors

Cabin has not received any vital styling change, but the feature list has been revised. The dual tone colour theme is enveloped inside. Dashboard too is draped in dual tone colour palette and gets circular AC vents on sides as well as up on the centre console. The tri-pod instrument cluster is large and uncluttered avoiding commotion. There are practical storage points within the cabin and boot space is decent enough. Quality of plastic used inside does not seem compromised and there is enough room for passengers in front and rear rows. Renault has added few vital features inside like automatic climate control, rear view camera with guidelines, new media navigation, auto-up/down power windows etc.

Duster Engine Specifications & Transmission

New Renault Duster range is available in three engine options, one petrol and two diesel powertrains. Powering petrol variant is a 1.6 K4M, four cylinder, in-line petrol engine developing 104 PS at 5750rpm along with 148Nm at 3750rpm. The 1.5 litre dCi, four cylinder, in-line diesel engine is available in two states of tune- 85 PS and 110 PS. The 85 PS version produces top torque of 200Nm at 1750rpm, whereas the 110 PS version engenders 245Nm of torque at 1750rpm. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual gearbox, a six-speed manual tranny and a six-speed automated manual transmission. The six-speed AMT transmission is available only on the RxS 110 PS diesel variant, base petrol and diesel trims feature five-speed manual gearbox and rest of the grades come mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Range topping diesel 110 PS variant gets the all-wheel-drive system while rest of the trims feature two-wheel drive system.

Duster Features

Features that have been packed in new Duster are new dual winged front grille. New hawk eye cluster head lamps, dual tone front bumper, new firefry fog lamps, chrome exhaust pipe finisher, door side sill, new waterfall LED tail lamps, new kayak roof rails, body painted outside door handles & outside rear view mirrors with turn indicators on the outside. Interiors feature soft touch dashboard and door trim, dark chrome finished centre fascia and chrome inside door handles (on top spec trim).

Duster Performance & Mileage

Petrol powered Duster delivers 13.06 kmpl, base diesel trim returns 19.87 kmpl whereas the 2WD six-speed manual and AMT are capable of running up to 19.6 kmpl. The top-of-the-line AWD Duster is tuned to yield ARAI rated fuel economy of 19.72 kmpl. Renault Duster Accessories and Infotainment An integrated 2 DIN audio system with MP3/AM/FM support, USB & AUX-IN, Bluetooth for audio and telephone control is provided RxL and RxS variants along with four speakers. Top spec AWD trim on the other hand houses an integrated 7-inch touch screen with MediaNAV and audio system with MP3/AM/FM support, USB & AUX-In, Bluetooth for audio & telephone controls, navigation, smartphone voice recognition for iOS, AHA service and four speakers.

Duster Braking & Handling

Stopping force comes from hydraulically operated diagonal split dual circuit disc brake in front and drum brakes at rear. Other braking features that add further dint to the stopping power are anti-lock-braking system along with electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist and rapid deceleration are standard across model range save for the base variant.

Duster Safety & Security

Safety equipment such as electronic stability program and hill start assist are available only on the AMT and AWD versions. Airbags are missing in the base petrol and diesel variants and only the top-spec trim gets an additional co-passenger airbag along with the driver side airbag. Reverse parking camera with guidelines is exquisite to AWD trim, while engine immobilizer, remote central locking and door open warning sign are standard across Duster range. Other vital features like speed sensitive auto door locking, impact sensing auto door unlock, rear defogger, rear wiper and washer and driver seat belt reminder are missing in the standard and RxE variants.

Renault Duster Comfort & Convenience

Comfort goodies on board include air conditioner with heater, tilt adjustable power steering, power windows with illuminated switches in front as well as rear except for the base trim, rear seat centre armrest with two cup holders, rear reading lamps and versatile rear parcel shelf with storage space. Equipment available exclusively on the high end AWD variant are driver side auto up-down anti-pinch power window, front driver seat armrest, height adjustable front seats with lumbar support for driver seat and illuminated glove box.

Renault Duster Wheels & Tyres

The 215/65 R16 tubeless radial tyres are fitted all around, standard trim has to make do with the steel wheels, whereas the mid-range variants feature full wheel covers and range topping grades get new gun metal alloy wheels.

Renault Duster Competition

In the compact SUV space, Duster has a couple of popular models to battle out with. From the recent additions to the segment, Hyundai Creta has emerged the strongest rival donning Hyundai’s contemporary Fluidic design language. Other than Hyundai Creta, Nissan Terrano and Maruti S-Cross are the potential rivals in the segment. Although there are other names too in the SUV space but contemplating the dimensions and engine capacity they offer they fall beneath Duster in the hierarchy. Moreover, the addition of an AMT in the line-up was rational as arch rivals offered this option, hence were eating up on the sales of Duster. Similarly, the AWD variant has strengthened Duster range giving it the much needed edge.

Pros

Additional features, tweaked exteriors, AMT tranny and AWD system

Cons

Cramped boot space in AWD version