Categories: Car News

Renault Duster to get more affordable automatic variants soon

Renault Duster hit the Indian market back in March at an introductory starting price of Rs 10.29 lakh. Since its launch, the midsize SUV has sold over 5,000 units in India. To give its sales a boost, Renault will soon be adding an automatic transmission to lower variants of the Duster. Currently, the Evolution trim has the most affordable automatic variant.

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Renault Duster: What lies ahead?

The Renault Duster is available in 5 trim levels – Authentic, Evolution, Techno, Techno+, and Iconic. There are 2 engine options on offer – 1.0-litre turbo petrol and 1.3-litre turbo petrol. The former is only available with a manual transmission. Meanwhile, the most affordable 1.3L turbo petrol DCT variant is available on the Evolution trim. It is priced at Rs 14.49 lakh. To make the automatic gearbox more affordable, Renault will add it to the 1.0-litre turbo petrol trims. It remains to be seen whether it will be available with the entry-level Authentic trim.

In terms of features, the Renault Duster packs a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Other features include dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, ventilated front seats, and more. On the safety front, it gets 6 airbags, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, and more.

Higher variants are available with a Level 2 ADAS package. This suite comprises 17 functions, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Active Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition, and more.

The 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine generates a maximum power output of 100hp and 160Nm of torque. It can be mated to a 6-speed manual transmission only. This powertrain has a fuel economy of 19.4km/l. 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 engine have an ARAI-tested mileage of 17.75km/l. Meanwhile, the automatic variants offer 18.45km/l.

Renault will add a strong-hybrid petrol engine to the Duster’s lineup this festive season. The e-tech setup will work in conjunction with a 1.8-litre petrol engine. It will be linked to a 1.4kWh battery pack.

Final Thoughts

The Duster is available in 6 colour options – Jade Mountain Green, Pearl White, Moonlight Silver, Stealth Black, Sunset Red and River Blue. Its prices start at Rs 10.49 lakh and go up to Rs 18.49 lakh. It rivals the Tata Sierra, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Hyundai Creta, Skoda Kushaq, and Honda Elevate in India.

Utkarsh Joshi

Utkarsh is a seasoned writer who seeks to simplify complex concepts and bring the latest in technology to a broader audience. You can catch his exhaustive 'How to' guides, deep-dive feature articles, cutting-edge news stories, and comprehensive tech reviews on Gadgetbridge.com. Apart from dabbling in all things tech, Utkarsh also enjoys watching club football, adding to his TBR pile of books, and making Spotify playlists. Automobile enthusiasts and motorheads can also catch his articles on Motorbridge.com.