Renault launches the new Duster at Rs 8.47 lakh

Renault has launched the facelifted version of the Duster SUV starting at Rs 8.47 lakh ex-showroom, New Delhi. This is the first major cosmetic update to the compact SUV since its launch in 2012. Renault Duster is the first modern compact SUV to be brought in India and since then has opened up a new segment in the Indian market. The updated car was showcased at the Auto Expo held in Delhi last month. It gets a new front grille, reworked headlamps and tail lamps along with a few nips and tucks to the bumpers. The interior gets under the knife with a new centre console, a touch-screen infotainment system and a two tone dashboard. The roof-rails now have duster embossed on it and the adjuster for the electrically retractable wing mirrors doesn’t hide under the handbrake lever anymore.

New Renault Duster

As for the mechanicals, the underpinnings and the powertrain remain almost the same with the 1.5-litre four cylinder turbocharged K9K mill being offered in the same two states of tune. You can get the 84bhp version mated to five-speed manual transmission and with a front-wheel-drive setup. You can buy it in all trims including the newly introduced RXS trim which sits below the top end RXZ. The 109bhp setup of the Duster gets two transmission options – the manual six-speed gearbox and the six-speed AMT. If you want to get the torque-on-demand four-wheel-drive option, you cannot have it with the AMT and is available only in the top-spec RXZ trim. The 109bhp car is not available in the base and RXE variants. The Duster is also available with a petrol engine mated to a five speed gearbox in the RXE and RXL trims.

Safety features and driver aids like ABS with EBD and brake assist, dual airbags, ESP and hill start assist are available depending upon the trim you opt for. Renault also offers rear-view camera for parking assist, power windows with auto up/down function with anti-pinch and automatic climate control with the new Duster. The Duster is now available with the new cayenne orange colour option along with the existing white, silver, grey, blue, black, green and brown options.

Priced at Rs 8.47 lakh for the RXE petrol, the new Duster will cost you Rs 9.27 lakh for the base diesel in the 84bhp setup going all the way to Rs11.47 lakh for the top spec RXZ. The 109 bhp setup with manual transmission will set you back starting Rs 11.07 lakh to Rs 13.57 lakh for the AWD. The RXZ diesel AMT will cost Rs 11.67 lakh for the RXL and Rs 12.87 lakh for the RXZ ex-showroom, Delhi. The Duster competes with the Nissan Terrano, Maruti S-Cross and the Hyundai Creta.