The Renault Duster has made a comeback in India in its third-generation avatar. First launched in 2012, the Duster pioneered the midsize SUV segment in the country, a space now dominated by models such as the Hyundai Creta and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. With its latest iteration, Renault aims to reclaim lost ground by offering a modern design, a feature-rich cabin and a strong powertrain line-up comprising two turbo-petrols and a strong-hybrid engine.
- Pre-bookings open at Rs 21,000, with prices to be revealed in March
- Turbo-petrol deliveries start in April, strong-hybrid before Diwali
- Gets features like panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, ADAS, and more
2026 Renault Duster powertrain options
Offers two turbo-petrol engine options but without an AWD setup
We reported that the India-spec Duster will come with a strong-hybrid petrol engine, like its Maruti and Toyota rivals. Renault has now confirmed the powertrain, which pairs a 109hp 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 49hp electric motor and a 20hp hybrid starter generator (HSG), backed by a 1.4kWh (280 V) battery. This takes the total system output to 160hp and 172Nm. However, this powertrain will be introduced in India by Diwali 2026.
The new Duster is also available with a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 163hp and 280Nm, as well as a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that puts out 100hp and 160Nm. The bigger turbocharged engine is paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed DCT, while the smaller engine is mated with a 6-speed manual gearbox only.
2026 Renault Duster exterior design
Gets redesigned headlights and tail-lights compared to the global-spec model
While the overall silhouette of the India-spec Duster is similar to the third-generation global-spec model, Renault has made certain changes to the Indian model to suit local tastes. Among these are the redesigned headlights with eyebrow-shaped LED daytime running lamps (DRLs) that double up as turn indicators. The grille design is also different and features a big Duster badge, forgoing a Renault logo completely for the front end. The front bumper has a protruding silver surround like the first-generation model, and there are pixel-shaped fog lamps on the sides of the bumper.
In profile, the new Duster sports a rugged black cladding over the wheel arches and the lower section of the body. The rear door handles are mounted on the C-pillar. It also comes with functional black roof rails that have a 50kg load-bearing capacity, up to 18-inch black alloy wheels and a 212mm ground clearance. A few unique details exclusive to the India-spec model are the Himalayan motifs on the front fenders and a yellow strip on the body cladding with ‘Iconic’ inscribed on it.
At the back, the triangular tail-lights are connected by an LED light bar, which is missing on the global-spec model. Renault has also equipped the new Duster with a roof-mounted spoiler, and the licence plate bracket gets a unique textured finish. Lastly, the black rear bumper features a silver surround that helps break the monotony of an otherwise simple design. The car has a 26.9-degree approach angle and a 34.7-degree departure angle.
Here are the dimensions of the new Renault Duster:
2026 Renault Duster dimensions (in mm) | |
Length | 4,343 |
Width | 1,813 |
Height | 1,659 |
Wheelbase | 2,657 |
The Renault Duster offers 594 litres of boot space, and its kerb weight starts at 1,411kg.
2026 Renault Duster interior design
Uses leatherette material on the seats, dashboard and door panels
Just like the exterior, Renault has significantly redone the interior from the European-spec model to better suit Indian tastes. The India-spec Duster gets a completely unique dashboard with a dual-screen setup, premium-looking trim inserts and soft-touch materials. There’s a generous use of silver trims and contrast green stitching that help spruce up the cabin. Most importantly, the interior also strikes a good balance between digital and physical controls, with a stack of buttons on the centre console for essential vehicle functions. The front armrest is slide-adjustable and opens up to reveal a storage compartment, while the rear centre armrest features two cup holders. The Duster has a 518-litre boot space (measured till the parcel shelf).
2026 Renault Duster convenience and safety features
Gets dual digital screens, a 360-degree camera and ADAS
On the features front, the new Renault Duster is equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a panoramic sunroof, a wireless phone charger and dual-zone climate control. It also gets a powered tailgate and 6-way powered and ventilated front seats.
Its safety suite comprises six airbags (as standard), a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, a tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS), Level 2 ADAS, an electronic parking brake and disc brakes on all four wheels. Notably, the Duster is the first Renault car in India to get an ADAS suite. Renault has said it will be aiming for a full 5-star crash safety rating with the new Duster and will provide a class-best 7-year/1,50,000km standard warranty.
Pre-bookings are open, and prices will be revealed in March, which we expect to be in the Rs 10 lakh-20 lakh (ex-showroom) bracket. Deliveries are set to begin in April 2026. The new Renault Duster will rival popular midsize SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta, Tata Sierra, Maruti Suzuki Victoris, Kia Seltos, Toyota Hyryder and Skoda Kushaq.