Renault recently introduced the facelift version of its flagship Duster in India. First revealed at the Auto Expo 2016, the SUV gets some clever changes to the exterior such as revised headlamps and tail-lamps, new front bumper and grille and better equipment on the inside. The talking point, however, is that the Duster now comes with an option of an automated manual transmission.
Moreover, the facelift gets the addition of a base Standard trim and a mid-RxS trim, which brings the total number of trims to five. The AMT transmission is available on two trims; the mid-level RXL and the top RXZ.
Renault will be banking on the facelift version of one of its most successful models to revive volumes, which have slowed down in the past few months. The carmaker has sold over 1.4 lakh units of the SUV since its launch in 2012. Bookings for the Duster facelift commenced from March 3, 2016.
The facelift Duster will go up against the Hyundai Creta, which is has not only proved to be a successful model for the Korean carmaker, but is presently the top-selling SUV in the country, ahead of the longstanding Bolero. Also anticipated to give the Duster and the Creta a run for its money is the Honda’s soon-to-be launched promising BR-V crossover.
Here’s how the Duster facelift stacks up against the other two other SUV’s on paper.
Dimensions
In terms of the dimensions, the Duster is the tallest of the lot at 1,695mm and also has a longest wheelbase (2,673mm), albeit just by a narrow margin of 13mm, when compared to the BR-V. The SUV measures 4,315mm in length and 1,822mm in width.
Length-wise, however, the Honda BR-V is the longest in the segment. The SUV measures 4,456mm in length, 1,735mm in width, 1,666mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,660mm. What will also toughen up the competition is that Honda will be the only carmaker to offer a seven-seater in the small SUV or crossover segment when the BR-V goes on sale.
| Dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Renault Duster facelift | Honda BR-V | Hyundai Creta | |
| Length | 4315mm | 4456mm | 4270mm |
| Width | 1822mm | 1735mm | 1780mm |
| Height | 1695mm | 1666mm | 1630mm |
| Wheelbase | 2673mm | 2660mm | 2590mm |
| Ground clearance | 205mm | 201mm | 190mm |
Underlining the Duster’s capability as an off-roader is the 205mm ground clearance, largest of the three. The BR-V comes second at 201mm. Although the Duster scores higher on paper with respect to most dimensions, both the BR-V and the Creta also boast spacious cabins.