2026 Renault Duster makes India debut

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Duster is Back!

The Indian roads today might be filled with Creta and Seltos chappris, but a decade ago, it was the reign of the Renault Duster. Although it’s not a sports car, it turned heads. That’s how popular and desirable it was. An AWD variant was also introduced for adventure enthusiasts. Sadly, it was dusted away by the competition and a few newcomers, and the second-gen model never made it to India. But that’s okay. Renault has decided to introduce the third-gen Duster in India, and what we’re seeing here is the India-spec model.

Pricing will be announced closer to its launch date, which is expected to be in mid-March. However, pre-bookings are officially open for a deposit of INR 21,000.

But anyway, the India-spec model has some styling revisions, as you can probably tell. The bumpers are different, the grille is different, and the light signatures are different, just to name a few. The front doors get a Himalayan-inspired plaque. These revisions might be passed on to the other markets as well in the name of a facelift.

Powertrain options for the Indian market include a 1.3L 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 120 kW (163 metric hp) and 280 Nm (206.5 lb-ft), paired with either a 6-MT or a 6-DCT (wet). For those who want a bit less, there’s a 1.0L 3-cylinder turbo petrol with 73.5 kW (100 metric hp) and 160 Nm (118 lb-ft), paired with a 6-MT. Later in October, a hybrid option (1.8L variant) will join the lineup. Nope, don’t expect any AWD option for the Indian market this time around.

Key highlights inside include a 10.2-inch full-digital cluster, a 10.9-inch infotainment system with Google built-in, dual-zone auto AC, a wireless smartphone charging pad, a PM2.5 filter, electric & ventilated front seats, and an electric panoramic sunroof.

ADAS suite includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Active Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, and a 360-degree camera system.