Renault Duster

The Renault Duster has been around since 2012 and while past its prime, it still comes across as an honest, no-...

The Renault Duster has been around since 2012 and while past its prime, it still comes across as an honest, no-nonsense mid-size SUV. Price revisions of the model over the years also imply that it costs reasonable money today. The Duster has ditched its venerable 1.5-litre diesel engine and now comes with two petrol engine options - a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated unit for lower variants, and a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol on higher variants, which is also offered with a CVT automatic.

The Renault Duster looks tough and rugged, and SUV buyers will like it for that. Unfortunately, even the update...

The Renault Duster looks tough and rugged, and SUV buyers will like it for that. Unfortunately, even the updated cabin just doesn’t have the sense of occasion (or quality) seen in its newer rivals and it feels far behind them when it comes to modern features. Passenger space is good, while the 475-litre boot is well-shaped and accommodating. The Renault Duster’s 106hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine delivers humdrum performance, but the good news is that the new 1.3-litre turbo-petrol with its 156hp is not too much more expensive. What's more, the CVT auto on the turbo-petrol adds a lot of convenience. Confident as the Renault Duster feels, it doesn’t have the lightest steering and there is also some kickback on bad patches of road. However, the suspension does a brilliant job of flattening poor surfaces.