Renault unveiled the third-generation Duster in India on January 26th. The SUV got great response upon its return. Back then, we were told that the price announcement would commence in the coming months. We now have a date for the same. Renault will launch the Duster officially in India on March 17, 2026. Display units and demo cars have already started reaching dealerships across India. Deliveries will start commencing in April 2026.
New Renault Duster: What Is It?
The third-generation Duster has a distinct identity and is completely different from the model that was on sale here till 2022. Renault has designed and packaged it in a way that it aligns with the Indian customer’s expectations and preferences.
The India-spec Duster gets a design that’s slightly different from that of the global model. Changes can be seen in the front and rear bumpers, LED DRLs and in the tail lamp design. Another notable change is in the grille section. ‘DUSTER’ is spelled out there, instead of ‘RENAULT’ or the company’s logo.
The SUV has an upright stance and a strong road presence. It comes with functional roof rails, integrated rear spoiler, bold body cladding, and rides on stylish alloy wheels. The ORVMs, alloy wheels, roof and B and C pillars are finished in Black. Six colour options will be offered, including dual-tones- Jade Mountain Green, Pearl White, Moonlight Silver, Stealth Black, River Blue, and Sunset Red.
The new Duster’s cabin feels modern. The centre console has a driver-focussed design. Features include two large screens (functioning as the central touchscreen and driver’s display), a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, type-C charging ports, Arkamys music system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging bay, electronic parking brake with auto-hold, powered tailgate, dual-zone climate control, powered and ventilated front seats, 360-degree camera, and even level 2 ADAS.
It also comes with an adjustable front armrest, and 60:40 split rear seats. The new Duster also has a boot space of 700 litres, measured to the roof.
Engine, Gearbox And Platform
The new Duster is underpinned by the Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP). This is, in fact, a heavily localised version of the global model’s CMF-B platform, designed specifically for emerging markets. It is much better than the previous Duster’s underlying architecture- delivers better ride comfort, more body control and is safer too. Renault targets a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating with the new Duster.
Three engines are offered on the new Duster- two turbo-petrols and a strong hybrid. The turbocharged petrol engines include the 1.3-litre HR13 turbo-petrol that was offered on the previous generation and a smaller 1.0L turbocharged petrol sourced from the Kiger.
The former can be had with a manual and a 6-speed wet-clutch DCT automatic transmission, while the latter would be offered with a manual an likely a CVT automatic transmission. The 1.3L turbo-petrol makes 160hp- highest in its segment.
The strong hybrid powertrain pairs a 1.8L four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors and a 1.4kWh battery pack. One of these motors works as a generator while the other provides drive to the wheels. This setup has a combined output of 160hp and 172Nm.
On paper, the Duster’s powertrains seem to have an edge over its competition. The 1.3 turbocharged petrol is more powerful than the turbo-petrols of all of its rivals. The hybrid powertrain, again, appears to be better than that of models like Maruti Grand Vitara, Victoris and Toyota Hyryder, thanks to the larger battery pack.
The Toyota and Maruti models come with a 0.76kWh hybrid battery, while the Duster has a unit that’s almost double the size. More details of the powertrain, it capabilities and fuel efficiency are expected to surface closer to the launch.
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