I have a Duster RXZ 110PS petrol top-end manual transmission. I have completed 49,000 km and am planning to replace it, but my budget is limited as I cannot afford a bigger down payment. With the Duster being an icon, which car would you suggest? My budget for an automatic only is ₹12 lakh.

Autocar India

•7w

Unfortunately, we will not know the price of the new Renault Duster for at least 6 to 8 weeks. Worse still, Renault has chosen not to offer an automatic gearbox option with the smaller, less powerful 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, even though the same engine is offered with a CVT in the smaller Renault Kiger.

However, Renault has been known to undercut rivals in each of the segments it operates in, and there may be a chance that the new Duster with the 1.3-litre turbo petrol and DCT auto could fit in your budget of Rs 12 lakh.

If not, you could consider other compact SUVs, such as the Maruti Suzuki Brezza or the Tata Nexon, which are similarly tough SUVs that will get you an automatic at your budget, albeit in a slightly smaller size.

Explore cars mentioned

Renault

Duster

from ₹12.43 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Brezza

from ₹9.70 Lakh

Tata

Nexon

from ₹8.61 Lakh

Got a suggestion for Arun?

Add a Comment

More questions on similar cars

Prashant

•2d

Is the Renault Duster 1.3 Techno manual transmission a good choice, or should I consider other cars?

Autocar India

•1h

Choose the Renault Duster 1.3 Techno MT if you specifically want a tough, manual SUV and like driving.The new Duster’s suspension is one of its big strengths: it rides beautifully over broken roads, has 212 mm of ground clearance, and feels robust, which really suits Indian conditions and frequent highway use. It has a very large boot and is well-equipped for the price, making it a solid family and touring car.The 1.3 turbo-petrol is among the most powerful engines in the segment, so performance is strong once the turbo is on boost. However, in the manual, you will feel some turbo lag at low revs, and you do need to downshift to keep it in the meat of the powerband, especially in slow city traffic or on inclines. The gearbox itself is light, with positive shifts, and the clutch effort is friendly enough for daily use.

Renault Duster

Rajendra Chitara

•1w

I had selected the Kia Seltos IVT to buy, but now the Duster DCT turbo 1.3 has been launched. Is the Duster a good choice? I have heard that it comes with a wet-clutch DCT that does not heat up. Is this gearbox good and suitable for all types of driving conditions? Please guide me on overall performance in traffic, highway, hills, mileage, etc. My driving conditions are mixed.

Autocar India

•22h

Go for the Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT. For your mix of city, highway, hills and bad roads, it combines strong punch, planted suspension and a heat‑resistant wet‑clutch gearbox.Your concern about DCT heating is valid in dry‑clutch units. The Renault Duster’s wet‑clutch design is oil‑cooled, so it tolerates prolonged crawling and hill starts better. The turbo motor helps on steep climbs with passengers, and overtakes at 80–100 kph feel effortless. The Duster’s long‑travel suspension shrugs off broken roads that unsettle softer crossovers.The one thing you give up is the Kia Seltos IVT’s ultra‑smooth low‑speed creep. Below 10kph, the DCT can feel a touch jerky and needs gentler throttle modulation while parking.

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

Shashank

•1w

Hello experts, I want to know if the new Duster 1L turbo engine will be good for city driving, or if it will feel underpowered, as my driving is 85% in the city.

Autocar India

•1d

The new Renault Duster 1.0 turbo-petrol should be acceptable in the city, but it is not the most effortless choice for predominantly urban use like yours.The 1.0 turbo makes about 99hp and 160-166Nm, and the torque comes in from around 2,000rpm, so performance at low revs will feel merely adequate rather than strong. You will need to work the gearbox to keep the engine in its power band, especially with a full load or on inclines, and that can get tiring in bumper‑to‑bumper traffic. The good bit is that the clutch is light and the engine reasonably refined, so it won’t feel cumbersome or heavy in daily use.However, there is no automatic with the 1.0 turbo. It comes only with a 6‑speed manual, which is a drawback for an 85% city‑running profile. If you prioritise smoothness and ease over outright punch, an automatic CVT in this segment will suit you better.The Kia Seltos 1.5 iVT offers seamless, jerk‑free power delivery and feels very smooth and responsive in typical city driving. Similarly, the Hyundai Creta 1.5 petrol CVT, which has the same gearbox as the Seltos, is another good option. Both the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta make urban driving more relaxing, even if performance is only adequate rather than exciting.

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

View all Posts