What the 2026 Renault Duster has to live up to

In the run up to the launch of the 2026 Renault Duster in March, the French brand has revealed nearly every detail of the new Hyundai Creta rival. When the original Duster arrived in July 2012, it created the mid-size SUV segment, offering something unique in almost every aspect. Here we take a look at the standards set by the first-gen Duster, and where the new model meets them, and where it may not.

2026 Renault Duster exterior design

Looks large and rugged like the original Duster.

 

 

The original Duster always gave the impression of being a rugged, robust SUV that looked larger than it was. And in many ways, the 2026 Duster continues that tradition with its muscular design. The flared wheel arches, the black body cladding, muscular bumpers and upright stance of the third-gen model hold up to the original’s beefy appearance. In fact, the overall silhouette is familiar, giving the new Duster a visual link to its predecessors.

2026 Renault Duster interior and features

Far less utilitarian than its predecessor.

 

 

One of the drawbacks of the original Duster were its plasticky and utilitarian interiors. It was something we had noted in our first-gen Duster review, and something that became more prominent as competition in the mid-size SUV increased, as in the face of newer rivals, the Duster’s cabin looked even more dated. Despite Renault giving the Duster periodic feature updates, rivals had moved the game far forward, which meant the French SUV lagged behind.

The 2026 Duster takes a different approach when it comes to the interior. The cabin is far less utilitarian with premium-looking trim inserts, soft-touch materials and leatherette upholstery on offer, at least on higher variants. The dual-screen setup – a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster – also help give the new Duster’s interior a modern and techy feel.

It is well-equipped by class standards.

Speaking of techy, this is another area where the new Duster betters its predecessors. With feature highlights such as a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate control, a powered tailgate and 6-way powered and ventilated front seats, the 2026 Duster is well-equipped even compared to the likes of the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, both of which are known be be feature-loaded.

Even the safety suite is more than adequate, especially on the higher variants. While 6 airbags are standard across the range, a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, an electronic parking brake and disc brakes on all four wheels are on offer. This SUV is also the first from Renault India to offer an ADAS suite. 

2026 Renault Duster powertrain and performance

Does not have AWD at launch; a hybrid will arrive by November.

A highlight of the first get Duster was its powertrain. Renault’s then ubiquitous 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine helped the relatively light-weight (just 1,308kg) SUV perform quite well. In fact, in its higher 110hp state of tune, the engine helped the Duster post better in-gear acceleration times than the more powerful Mahindra XUV500 with its 2.2-litre diesel engine. What made the Duster unique was that it offered an AWD option with the stronger diesel engine.

There was also a lethargic 1.6-litre petrol engine at first, though with the advent of BS4 norms in 2020, all engine options were replaced with a punchy, but thirsty 156hp 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine. 

Although there’s no diesel or AWD at launch, the 2026 Duster will be offered with two turbo-petrol engine options – a 100hp, 160Nm 1.0-litre unit and a 163hp, 280Nm 1.3-litre unit. What should help the new Duster be at least as exciting to drive as its predecessor is that its kerb weight starts at a relatively low 1,411kg. In addition, the 2026 Duster will also break new ground for Renault India come November: a hybrid powertrain. The Duster hybrid will be powered by a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated engine combined with a 1.4kWh battery pack that powers a 20hp starter generator, and a 49hp front axle-mounted motor. The total system output is 160hp and 172Nm. While a hybrid mid-size SUV isn’t new – Maruti has the Victoris and Grand Vitara, while Toyota has their badge-engineered sibling, the Urban Cruiser Hyryder – the Duster marks Renault’s foray into this is area.

It should be noted that an automatic gearbox option came late to the Duster, arriving in 2016. The Duster AMT (only available with the 110hp diesel engine) was considered to have one of the best automated manual gearboxes in its day, but gearshifts were expectantly not as fluid as on the likes of the Creta, with its more sophisticated torque converter automatic transmission. The present-day Duster has a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox option for the more powerful 163hp 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine. 

2026 Renault Duster ride and handling

The original’s ride quality was class-defining, even after a near-decade on sale.

 

 

Another highlight of the original Duster was the excellent ride quality that it offered. One of our Duster long term reviews noted its pliant suspension shrugged off surprise potholes and sharp ruts like they were nothing, and even at highway speeds, the Duster remained composed and free from any undue up-and-down movement. 

An area where the new Duster needs to improve over its predecessor is the handling; the first-gen model lacked the agility you’d expect from a monocoque SUV, and the electro-hydraulic steering didn’t provide enough feedback. As the new and old model share a similar suspension setup – independent front suspension with McPherson struts and a semi-independent rear suspension with a torsion beam axle – the new Duster’s electric power steering will be a key differentiator.

2026 Renault Duster price

If prices are as competitive as its predecessor, the Hyundai Creta may have serious competition.

With 2026 Duster prices expected to start around Rs 10 lakh and go up to Rs 20 lakh for the top-spec hybrid model, it seems like Renault India has quite an aggressive target, like it did for the first-gen Duster. For reference, prices for most rivals in the segment start a little higher, but end at about the Rs 20 lakh mark.

There will be greater clarity when prices for the Duster turbo-petrol variants are announced in March, but, for now, it seems like the third-gen model may be able to leave a similar mark on the mid-size SUV segment that it predecessor did.

from Autocar India https://ift.tt/v1NUFne