The Renault Duster with its solid diesel engine, practical interiors, driving manners and tough construction packed into the category of a compact yet rugged package, pioneering the segment of midsize SUVs almost a decade ago. With this entry-level SUV, Renault established itself in the Indian market and built a fandom of its own with its touring capability. The all-wheel drive system in the car made it a league of its own. Over time, the segment of compact SUVs grew and Duster was soon to be relegated to the side-lines. The emission norms and BS6 compliance compelled this car its 1.5 L diesel engine which had been its strong point. The new 1.5 L petrol engine is naturally aspirated and people wonder if this addition can bring back the attention that Duster got.

How’s the design?

The Renault Duster was facelifted in 2019 and there has been no major tweaks since then. The 2020 Duster has been launched in a new avatar with a few changes to be noted on its body. It has been revamped with a new lighting layout which features chrome inserts and projector lights and houses a couple of fog lamps. The updated grille is typical to the Duster model that comes with a three-slatted chrome affair while the Renault logo prominently sits at the centre. A chrome strip is added by the French Automaker under the grille to boost the premium appeal of the car. New elements have been added in between the individual segments of the wheels. The new car comes with square tail lights and the faux bash plate replaced the old bumper.

How does it perform?

The petrol variant of the new Renault Duster has an engine displacement of 1.5 L which has the capacity of generating a maximum of 105 bhp of power at 5600 rpm and 142 Nm of peak torque at 4000 rpm. On the other hand, the turbo petrol variant of the Duster comes with a displacement of only 1.3 L that dishes out a maximum of 154 bhp of power at 5500 rpm and 254 Nm of peak torque at 1600 rpm. The engine is mated with a 5-speed transmission unit. The tough road construction of the Duster makes it run smoothly on bad roads. The broken and uneven terrains that can easily make the Korean competitors of Duster wince almost immediately, fail to deflect the car from its intended line.

How’s the mileage?

The Renault Duster has a good fuel economy and, on the road, it can give you a maximum mileage of 13.1 kmpl. On highways, however, it can offer a stunning mileage of 16.6 kmpl.

How’s the driving experience?

AS mentioned earlier, the new Renault Duster has retained its construction strength and steady build. It remains stable and moves pretty seamlessly along uneven terrains. Broken or bad roads seem to be a piece of cake for this car which has an aura of indestructibility and zooms through like a hero. This road king is nice to drive and its impressive grip, light steering and high speed-manners give you that sense of surefootedness. The brakes play a crucial role in boosting the morale of the driver and the feedback from the hydraulic steering is pretty awesome. However, despite the decent feel, the steering violently passes on road shock, dampening the overall driving experience. This flaw is retained till now.

How is its off-road capability?

The Duster has a good off-road capability and the tough construction makes it stable on uneven terrains. The indestructible nature of the car makes it move pretty seamlessly over undulated roads. It has a ground clearance of 8.07 inches or 205 mm which is close to the recommended average ground clearance for off roading. The new Duster has retained the same ground clearance and the chassis is high up supported by steel wheels. The hill-start assist stops the car from rolling back and boosts the confidence of the driver while off-roading.

What’s the interior like?

The blacked-out interior endows a feeling of uniqueness. The modifications made to the interior of the new Duster are fewer than those on its exterior. A noteworthy addition is the start/stop engine switch which is placed right next to the 12v power socket. The Eco mode has been removed from this edition. The interior has a commanding driving position and a robust feel. The visibility over the bonnet is pretty good. However, in comparison to the other midsize SUVs of its kind, the interior lacks that expected finesse and feels pretty rudimentary. The USB wire almost dangles when connected and there is absolutely no place where you can securely place the smartphone. The absence of superior charging provisions and storage space make the cabin feel somewhat outdated.

Tech and infotainment

The Renault Duster has been endowed with the following technological specifications for making your ride fun and thrilling.

• LED DRL
• Hill-start assist
• Gear Shift indicator
• Apple CarPlay and AndroidTM infotainment
• ABS+EBD
• LED waterfall tail lamps.

Safety Equipment

The safety equipment that are included in the new Renault Duster are passenger airbags, front airbags, ABS, brake assist, hill-start assist, child safety locking, central locking, multi-information display and engine immobiliser.

Which variant to buy?

The top model which is RXZ 1.3 TUrbo Petrol CVT at Rs 14.25 lakhs will cost you Rs 5.66 lakhs more than the base variant. Is it worth it? The turbo Duster is of course more powerful and if you are prone to off-roading and looking forward to a high-end driving experience then you may buy this variant. However, if you have a tight budget then you can go for the lower variants too. So, it totally depends on your budget and preferences.

Which cars compete in this segment?

The other cars competing in the same segment with Renault Duster are Nissan Kicks, Hyundai Venue, Ford Ecosport and Maruti Brezza.

Verdict (Value for money)

The Duster Turbo is not one of the fastest cars of its class and it is pretty odd given its impressive power credentials. However, this does not mess up with the performance and thrill of the car. The naturally aspirated engine has been a massive step up as well. The force-fed motor has been reinforced and it feels zippy and refined enough for positioning itself between the discontinued diesel engine and the NA petrol engine.