The Renault Duster, which was discontinued in 2022, has returned to the midsize SUV segment, a category it helped establish in 2012. Currently, this space is dominated by popular models such as the Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Victoris, Kia Seltos and Toyota Hyryder. Does the newly revealed third-generation Renault Duster have what it takes to compete with its well-established rivals? Let’s compare the specifications of all the midsize SUVs to find out.
2026 Renault Duster vs rivals: Dimensions
Duster offers the best boot space in the midsize SUV class
^Pre-facelift Skoda Kushaq dimensions, except for the boot space
*Tata Sierra’s boot space is measured till the roof, unlike the others, which have measured it till the parcel shelf.
With a length of 4,343mm, the new Renault Duster is shorter than competitors such as the Seltos (by 117mm), Hyryder (by 23mm) and Victoris (by 17mm) but 13mm longer than the segment leader Creta. It’s 23mm wider than the Creta and 18mm wider than rivals from Maruti and Toyota. The Tata Sierra is the widest and tallest one here, surpassing the Duster by 28mm in width and leading in wheelbase length as well. Overall, the new Duster fits in between, as it is not as big as the Tata Sierra but also not as small as the midsize SUVs from Skoda and Volkswagen.
In ground clearance, the Duster ranks second (212mm), behind the Honda Elevate (220mm). Moreover, it has the best boot capacity up to the parcel shelf, with 518 litres of space available. The Duster features 18-inch wheels, the same as the Creta and Seltos, while the Sierra gets larger 19-inch wheels.
2026 Renault Duster vs rivals: Powertrain options
Duster gets the most powerful turbo-petrol and strong hybrid engines
*P = Naturally-aspirated petrol; T = Turbo-petrol; H = Strong hybrid; D = Diesel; C = CNG
^DHT = Dedicated Hybrid Transmission
The Renault Duster features a 163hp 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine, the most powerful in the segment. The Tata Sierra, Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq offer the higher-spec turbo-petrol engines only with an automatic transmission.
Even among strong-hybrid offerings, the Duster’s is the most powerful, producing 21hp and 31Nm more than rivals from Maruti Suzuki and Toyota. The Duster line-up also has a 1-litre turbo-petrol engine, which produces 10hp and 18Nm less than the similar capacity units on the Skoda-VW twins.
The Duster doesn’t offer a diesel engine option, unlike some of its rivals; the Sierra’s diesel mill is the most powerful here. In the naturally aspirated petrol category, the Honda Elevate leads, followed by the MG Astor, Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. The Victoris, Grand Vitara and Hyryder are the only ones to offer CNG and AWD powertrains.
2026 Renault Duster vs rivals: Price
Duster, Kushaq prices not revealed; Sierra is the most expensive midsize SUV
*Expected prices of Renault Duster and Skoda Kushaq
While the Renault Duster and Skoda Kushaq facelift prices haven’t been announced yet, the Citroen Aircross currently stands as the most affordable midsize SUV, both in its entry-level and top-end variants. However, it lacks certain features that are quite common in the segment, like a panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree camera and Level-2 ADAS.
The MG Astor is the second most affordable, followed by the Honda Elevate. On the other end of the spectrum, the Tata Sierra is the priciest option, with its fully loaded variant priced at Rs 21.29 lakh.
How does the 2026 Duster stack up against rivals?
Looks strong on paper, but pricing will be the key factor next
In terms of specifications, the Renault Duster looks like a very competitive option in the midsize SUV segment. If Renault manages to price it attractively, the Duster could give stiff competition not only to the segment leader, the Creta, but also to popular new entrants like the Sierra, Seltos and Victoris. The Renault Duster prices will be revealed in March 2026.
All prices are ex-showroom, India.
Uday Singh
Rivan RS 
Saumil Shah
Viraaj Bhatnagar
