Nissan’s Duster-based SUV to be positioned higher than its Renault sibling

France-based Renault and its Japanese partner Nissan are working on bringing their midsize SUV contenders, the new Duster and its yet-unnamed Nissan counterpart, to the Indian market by 2025. While teasers and our exclusive on the models' powertrain options, had revealed some details, we now have new information indicating that Nissan’s offering will be more upmarket than the new Duster.

1. Duster’s starting price to be lower than the Nissan SUV based on it
2. New Nissan SUV to get more features than Duster
3. While both SUVs are marked for export, Nissan’s would be more focused on overseas markets 

Renault Duster, Nissan SUV: feature differences

The two SUVs will share a lot under the skin, from the heavily localised CMF-B platform to the likely three petrol engine options, which could include the 1.0-litre HR10, the 1.3-litre HR13 turbo-petrol, and a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol. 

Obviously, the SUVs will be differentiated with brand-specific styling cues—outside and inside. Moreover, in a move akin to the Maruti-Toyota partnership, Renault and Nissan will further separate their respective offerings with differences in features and variant line-ups. Sources tell us that Nissan’s SUV will have more upmarket features and specs than the Duster and fewer variants. 

Even the seven-seat versions of the all-new Duster—shown as the Bigster concept and expected to launch in India by 2026—are likely to see a similar treatment, with Renault’s offering being more affordable than Nissan’s. These SUVs would rival the Hyundai Alcazar.

Renault Duster, Nissan SUV: design differences

Thanks to the teasers released in March, we know that the upcoming Renault Duster for India bears some similarities with the model that has gone on sale abroad. However, it gets a tweaked headlight design and a restyled front bumper. Meanwhile, the Nissan SUV features L-shaped LED DRLs that are connected by an LED light bar running across the nose. 

All prices, ex-showroom, India

*Prices, ex-showroom, Delhi