7-seater Renault Duster spotted in Chennai, launch next year

The Renault Duster went on sale in India back in March. Renault is currently working on a 7-seater version of the SUV. It has been spotted on road tests on multiple occasions this year. The recent spy shots, which have emerged from Chennai, give a clear look at the SUV’s profile for the first time. The 7-seater Duster will launch in India in early 2027.

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7-seater Renault Duster: What to expect?

The test mule of the 7-seater Duster that was spotted in Chennai recently was draped in heavy camouflage. Its profile revealed a longer roofline and a larger rear quarter glass window, confirming the 3-row layout. The SUV had a considerably longer rear overhang than the standard Duster. It has a dominating presence and looks dimensionally closer to the Dacia Bigster. When it comes to design, it will be identical to the Duster.

The feature list of the two SUVs will be identical, too. The 5-seat Duster packs a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. There’s support for wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other features include dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, ventilated front seats, and more. On the safety front, the SUV comes with 6 airbags, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, and more. There is a Level 2 ADAS package on board.

No changes will be made under the hood either. The 7-seater Duster will be made available in 3 engine options – 1.0-litre turbo petrol, 1.3-litre turbo petrol, and 1.8-litre strong hybrid. The 1L engine generates a maximum power output of 100hp and 160Nm of torque. It can be mated to a 6-speed manual transmission only. Renault claims a mileage of 19.4km/l on this engine.

The 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine produces 163hp and 280Nm. It can be linked to a 6-speed manual or DCT gearbox. The manual variants of this powertrain have an ARAI-tested mileage of 17.75km/l. Meanwhile, the automatic variants offer 18.45km/l. The 1.8L strong hybrid engine is set to make its debut on the 5-seat SUV this festive season. It will be linked to a 1.4kWh battery pack. The first batch of this powertrain has already sold out in India.

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Final Thoughts

Prices for the 5-seat Duster start at Rs 10.49 lakh and go up to Rs 18.69 lakh. Renault is currently planning to introduce more affordable variants of the SUV. The 7-seater model will demand a significant premium. It will carry a different branding than the Duster. Upon launch, it will rival the Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari, Mahindra Scorpio N, and Mahindra XUV 7XO.