Delhi

•14h

Hi Autocar, I’m unable to decide between the Renault Duster 1.3 petrol DCT Iconic and the Duster Hybrid Emotion. While I like what the hybrid has to offer, the current discounts on the petrol variant put the on-road price difference at close to Rs 3 lakh, which makes me question whether the hybrid’s additional upfront cost will ever pay off. My usage would be around 60 percent highway and 40 percent city, and I expect to drive about 7,000 km a year. Beyond the pure price equation, is there anything about the hybrid that should make me consider it?

•25m

With your annual running of just 7,000km, the Duster Hybrid's extra Rs 3 lakh is unlikely to be recovered through fuel savings alone. However, the hybrid does have a significant advantage in city driving: based on our tests, the real-world fuel efficiency difference between the 1.3 turbo petrol DCT and the hybrid can be around 10kpl in the city. That is a substantial gap, especially if a third to two-fifths of your driving is in town.

The hybrid also has advantages beyond economy. Its 160hp powertrain is more powerful and refined, delivering strong acceleration while keeping the ride and handling excellent. It's also a good highway cruiser, so you're not sacrificing performance for better mileage.

However, because you cover 60 per cent of your distance on highways, the fuel saving will be smaller than it would be for someone who drives mainly in the city. The petrol DCT is also significantly more efficient on the highway than in town, returning 13.47kpl in our test, but its overall tested average was 10.47kpl.

If you value the hybrid's refinement, performance and city efficiency, it is worth considering. But at just 7,000km a year, the Rs 3 lakh premium is difficult to justify on fuel savings alone.

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Renault

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•3m•

Venue owner

Good recommendation 👍

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•23h

I am using a 2019 Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol Manual NA and am happy with this car. I am planning to change the car. I am considering buying the Duster hybrid now and am also considering waiting for Seltos/Creta hybrid by the end of 2027. We are a family of 3 so the current Seltos is perfect. I use an HTK variant as we are not into extra features. I am a driving enthusiast and have an inherent passion for fast acceleration, perfect handling and highly engaging car that is also easy to maintain and extremely reliable over a period of 7-years. What should I do? I also have a garage limitation of 1700mm height for any car.

•21h

Since the Renault Duster hybrid is already on sale, it deserves a serious test drive before you decide whether to replace your Seltos or wait for the next generation of Seltos or Creta hybrid. For a driving enthusiast, the Duster hybrid is an unusually appealing option. In our review, its 160hp powertrain delivered strong acceleration, while the steering, high speed stability and ride comfort impressed us. We also saw 16.9kpl in city driving. The main compromise is practicality. The Duster hybrid's rear seat is less spacious than the Seltos, and its boot shrinks to 372 litres because of the battery. Since you are a family of three and already find the Seltos' space ideal, check whether these compromises matter to you.

Dear Autocar team, I have just returned to India and am looking to purchase a compact SUV just for the two of us for 60-40% city and highway split. I want a car that feels lovely to drive and is engineered well. I am not into "features" for the sake of it. I almost bought the Sierra/Creta EVs, then realized that I don't want to spend so much, and haven't seriously thought about highway charging. I've tried the Kushaq/Taigun and really loved their built and handling. This is when I realized that I really care about the feel of driving. Only issues are firmer suspension and fuel economy. I've also booked the Duster hybrid which should solve these two problems, but I haven't test driven the petrol Duster long enough to know if I get a similar feeling on the drive. What I did feel was a cramped cabin on the duster as my left knee was on the center console and right knee was on the door. This was not a concern with the Kushaq and Taigun. I'll try the Duster petrol again, and then also the hybrid. But I wonder if I should just get the Skoda/Volkswagen since I love them. I should perhaps think about resale, maintenance etc.

•21h

If you loved driving the Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun, go with one of them rather than settling for the Duster hybrid purely for its expected fuel efficiency and softer ride. You have already discovered that driving feel matters to you, and that is something you will notice every time you use the car. The Kushaq and Taigun feel solid, handle confidently and have well sorted turbo petrol engines. In our opinion, the ride is on the firmer side, but perfectly acceptable, and fuel economy for the 1.5 turbo petrol is not bad either, with around 9kpl possible in the city.Resale and maintenance costs matter, but they should not outweigh comfort and enjoyment in a car you intend to keep for years. Drive the Duster hybrid and the Kushaq or Taigun back to back, including a rough road stretch and some highway driving. If the Duster still feels cramped and the VW twins put a smile on your face, trust that feeling. You do not need to buy a more expensive EV or the newest hybrid simply because it promises better efficiency.

Hi, my usage is around 2400 km monthly which includes 95% running on highways with 2 long family trips annually. I have shortlisted Grand Vitara Zeta (O) AT Smart Hybrid, Seltos Diesel AT HTK+(O) and Carens DCT HTK+(O) {for 7 members who travel occasionally). I am looking for lesser running costs, better service quality and peace of mind as I tend to keep the vehicle for very long as I am close to retirement. I drive quite a lot. Also since I have been using Citroen C3 for 4 years, I expect the same wonderful suspension which is best on both highway and within city. I am not looking at EV as the upfront price is high and I don't see that I will be having huge savings considering the additional insurance cost and tire change frequency. Kindly advice.

•1d

Given that you're upgrading from a Citroen C3, and looking at an excellent highway cruiser while keeping running costs in check, we'd strongly recommend you to consider the Renault Duster Hybrid Evolution variant, which is priced similar to other cars that you've shorlisted. The hybrid powertrain will be very efficient, and Duster's excellent suspension tune makes it ideal for your kind of usage. Sure, cabin space is not as generous as the Kia Seltos, and Renault's service network isn't as widespread as Maruti's. If you want to pick from the cars you've shortlisted, the Kia Seltos diesel-automatic is the one to get - it feels thoroughly modern; it gives you the most premium feel of the lot; and its diesel engine is smooth, refined and efficient.

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•2d

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