If there is one vehicle or nameplate that defines Renault’s journey in India, it has to be the Duster. Launched in 2012, it ushered in the monocoque C-segment SUV space in the 4.3 meter range. What started with the Duster has now grown considerably, with over a dozen contenders today, making it one of the highest volume segments in the Indian auto industry.
Now, this iconic nameplate is making a comeback in the form of the 2026 Renault Duster. Renault claims that this is the most premium and best equipped Duster ever. We drove the new Duster in Dehradun, Rishikesh and Tehri during the national media campaign and here’s what we thought about it.
2026 Renault Duster First Drive Review
It was unveiled on January 26, 2026, and the launch took place on March 17 with the R Pass at a starting price of Rs 10.29 lakh (ex-sh), which is still valid till March 31, 2026. Congratulations to Renault India for launching the vehicle before the start of the media drive. We drove the new Duster TCe 160 MT (1.3L turbo petrol) in Dehradun on March 18.
The trim hierarchy starts with the Authentic, followed by Evolution, Techno, Techno+ and the top-spec Iconic trim. There are three powertrain options to choose from, thus making around 22 standard variants with the 2026 Duster. There are six monotone shades to choose from – Mountain Jade Green, Stealth Black, Sunset Red, River Blue, Pearl White and Moonlight Silver.
Even though Mountain Jade Green is the hero color of the 2026 Duster, we thought Pearl White looks the best. As far as design is concerned, the Duster is a beautiful machine and has a butch-like stance. The 18-inch wheels and 225-section tires further enhance this effect. There is something about it that attracts everyone’s attention and we saw this happening for the first time in Dehradun.
The front fascia features bold Duster badging instead of the Renault logo. Its attractive appeal is enhanced by large headlights, sleek LED DRLs (not connected), bull-bar-like faux skid plates, air intakes below the headlights, fog lights below them, a flat clamshell bonnet with lots of muscular creases and power bulges, thick wheel arch cladding, roof rails and connected LED tail lights.
The side silhouette is like a textbook SUV which gives it an impressive and luxurious road presence. The rear door handles are on pillars, which is an interesting choice while the front door handles are traditional. There are no request sensors as the Duster has proximity based lock and unlock functions. The Duster’s keys are the smoothest in its segment, but nowhere as smooth as the Captur’s keys.
Interior and Equipment
On the inside, the new Renault Duster has a sense of occasion that you can’t fully explain in words, but needs to be experienced firsthand. There is a carbon fiber effect panel on the dashboard and door panels, followed by soft touch elements in green shade with metallic silver accents and yellow contrasting stitching. Even the stitching is not traditional and has a wavy pattern. The iconic launch edition gets fancy floor mats with geological terrain patterns.
The green and black color combination also extends to the seat upholstery and we can also see some yellow piping along with yellow stitching. The dashboard features a 10.1-inch infotainment screen with Google services built-in, including Maps. Below this is a row of tactile physical buttons for dual-zone climate control and other features. Behind the steering wheel, we still get a stock media control which is very convenient.
We just wish the Arkamis-tuned music system had a little more oomph, especially in the bass frequencies. The power window switches (all four auto up/down) are well damped, with two stages of activation with metallic accents for a luxury car feel. The buttons on the steering wheel were reasonably tactile and clicky. Renault is also introducing the Qi2 wireless charging pad, which has a magnetic built-in for proper alignment and faster charging capability as per Qi2 standards.
The interior cabin lights are LED and they are activated by capacitive touch, like a luxury car. Special mention should be made of the 10.25-inch TFT instrument cluster, which has some of the best infographics and animations in the segment and is some of the highest configuration, even allowing big-screen Google Maps view.
Both front seats are electrically operated, ventilated and have adjustable lumbar support. Even the co-driver seat has electric seat height adjustment, which is quite rare in this segment. There are also vanity mirrors and lights on both front sun visors. Features like panoramic sunroof, rear AC vents, Type-C port, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers, level-2 ADAS with adaptive cruise control, 360-degree camera, front and rear armrest, ISOFIX seat mounts are also noteworthy.
Location and practicality
The Duster has always been a roomy vehicle and the new 2026 model is no different. There is ample space for front row passengers, even for someone as tall as me (182 cm tall). The steering wheel is good to grip and headroom is more than adequate. Even when the seat height was at its lowest, I could still see the bonnet, which gives confidence when driving in tight spaces.
The second row seats are also quite comfortable with ample head and leg room. The seat bench recline angle and under thigh support are also perfect. We just wish Renault had created a little more knee room. The headline figure for boot space is 700L when you load it up to the roof. The rear parcel shelf is in two parts and only one part goes up with the tailgate. Speaking of the tailgate, it’s a powered unit, which only the Sierra and Curve currently offer.
Similar to the Captur, the new Duster also has all its equipment neatly hidden inside a closed cavity. Unlike the Captur, there is no spare wheel, at least not with the Launch Edition version we drove. There are some hooks and a boot lamp for practicality. The boot floor is flat and the overall shape is square, which makes it more convenient.
Drive and Dynamics
Renault Duster has been one of the most, if not the most, awaited car to be launched for the Indian market in 2026. From what we’ve experienced so far, the wait was probably worth it. We say this because the new Duster is extremely enjoyable to drive and is also a proper driver’s car. We drove only the 1.3L TCe 160 turbo petrol engine around the hilly and mesmerizing Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
Since we were driving in Dehradun with excellent air quality, our windows were down which made us realize how well this engine can sing. The engine is thoroughly refined as it is a 4-cylinder unit and it packs a nice turbocharger. With the throttle on, this turbo revs with a nice whistle and there’s also a satisfying turbo blowoff sound when you lift off the throttle. If you have a mental age of 9 like me, Turbo Noise can be addicting.
Despite having a capacity of only 1.3 litres, the engine has plenty of performance with 160 PS and 280 Nm. Acceleration is brisk and this engine is quite eager to rev. We felt that the manual gearbox could have been tuned better as the gap between second and third gear is quite wide. It’s not noticeable on highways when you’re in high gear and accelerating slowly. But on the hilly roads around Dehradun, one can easily see that there is too much torque in second gear and not enough in third gear.
Also, the clutch calibration for the manual gearbox could have been better. Cutting with this paddle starts very early and will take some getting used to. Higher gears are impossible at low speeds without clutch and throttle input. The 6-speed DCT will suit the city and mountain roads better. It should be noted that only the DCT variant gets rear disc brakes, electronic parking brake and the full range of ADAS features.
Renault has always got the suspension setup right and the new Duster is no different. The steering geometry is slightly dead-centre. Apart from that, the new Duster is a thoroughly enjoyable car. It’s a proper driver’s car and its handling is commendable. It can also be cornered, something we quickly discovered on the roads of Dehradun. Bump absorption is excellent and the segment-high 212 mm ground clearance didn’t give us any issues.
Should you buy one?
The new Renault Duster is closer to perfection than most others in this highly competitive segment. For starters, it looks objectively right and Renault India has learned from the Captur. It has the largest claimed boot space and highest ground clearance in the segment. On the inside, it has the right amount of features and equipment to attract most of the target demographic.
Built-in Google services are a boon to save your phone’s battery and the TFT cluster is one of the best to use. The Duster has a proper European car-like charm on the inside and even feels properly plush and premium. We felt the Duster was one of the best vehicles in the segment as we didn’t hear any rattles from the dashboard and door trims on the bumpy stretches of Dehradun roads. It has a good ride and great performance.
It’s not all sunshine for the new Duster. We wished there was more bass in the music system and a little more knee room for the second-row occupants. The manual gearbox could have been better tuned for this engine and it could have also had rear sunshades. Diesel is not yet obsolete in this segment and the diesel Duster could be attractive.
The price is the icing on the cake with the Renault Duster. With the R Pass, the Duster can be bought for as low as Rs 10.29 lakh (ex-sh). The Duster also offers a turbo engine as standard, which most of its rivals do not have. You don’t have to be a genius to realize that there’s a lot to like about the new Duster and the criticisms are negligible. So, if you have a Duster in mind and don’t want a diesel, you should probably go ahead and buy one right away.
