Renault Duster spotted testing ahead of Jan 26 debut

The Renault Duster is set to make its comeback in India this year. The automaker will take the wraps off the SUV on January 26. It will go on sale in the weeks following its grand reveal. Ahead of its debut, the Duster was spotted testing in Tamil Nadu. The India-spec version of the model will get some notable changes over its international counterpart.

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Renault Duster: What to expect?

The Renault Duster test mule spotted in Tamil Nadu was completely camouflaged, but the cutouts for its LED headlamps and grille give some cues about its design. The LED headlamps will rock sleek LED DRLs. The automaker will ditch the Y-shaped DRL design found in the international-spec model for a flatter form factor on the India-spec version. This was confirmed in the first teaser drop for the SUV last week. 

The test mule also reveals three air intake slits on the bumper, just below the grille. A small camera cutout can be spotted on the grille, which means the SUV could come with a 360-degree camera system. The windscreen has a radar sensor for ADAS. This will make the Duster the first Renault offering in India to come with this feature. The profile shot reveals a boxy silhouette and thick body cladding along the wheel arches. The rear door handles are mounted on the C pillar. We could not make out the alloy wheel design due to heavy camouflage. At the back, the LED tail lamps are connected by a sleek light bar, as confirmed by the teaser drop.

Renault Duster’s interior layout and creature comforts still remain a mystery. The SUV could feature a triple-screen setup on the dual-tone dashboard. Its international counterpart rocks a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 7-inch driver’s display. It supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. These connectivity features will be retained on the India-spec model. It will also get automatic climate control, rear AC vents, wireless charging, an Arkamys 3D sound system, and an ADAS package.

Renault has kept the Duster’s powertrain details and specifications under a tight lid. The international model comes in 3 powertrain options – 1.0L petrol, 1.2L petrol hybrid, and 1.3L turbo petrol. The 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine is offered with the entry-level variants of the SUV. It produces a maximum power output of 120hp. Meanwhile, the other two engines produce 140hp and 170hp, respectively. The hybrid powertrain gets regenerative braking and a 1.2kWh battery pack. The India-spec model is expected to come with 2 petrol engine options.

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Final Thoughts

Renault will begin accepting pre-bookings for the Duster soon after its grand reveal. Its prices will be announced upon launch. We expect its prices to start at Rs 10 lakh. The Duster will also spawn a Nissan counterpart in Tektone. The two SUVs will rival Tata Sierra, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Hyundai Creta, Skoda Kushaq, and Honda Elevate.