The Renault Duster Returns to India: A Familiar Face With Fresh Twists

The Renault Duster has carved a special niche in the Indian car market, revered for its ruggedness and practicality. While its production ceased a while back, Renault enthusiasts rejoice! The iconic SUV is making a comeback with a new-gen edition, and India is set to receive its own customized version.

A Global Debut, An Indian Twist:

The 2025 Duster has already been unveiled globally, offered by both Renault and Dacia. However, India will get a unique iteration, hinted at by recent teasers from Renault. Talented rendering artist Pratyush Rout has captured our imagination with a visualization of the India-spec Duster, showcasing subtle design tweaks compared to the global model.

Spot the Differences: India-Spec Design Elements:

Unique Grille and DRL Signature: The bold Renault lettering disappears from the grille, replaced by a distinctive LED DRL design that sets the Indian Duster apart. Headlights and DRLs remain housed together in a conventional style.
Headlight Adjustments: The India-spec render depicts a slightly taller upper grille, resulting in taller headlights as well.
Fog Light Farewell: Unlike the global model, fog lights seem to be missing on the Indian Duster, aligning with the Renault Kiger’s design.
Bumper Revamp: The India-spec render boasts a significantly different bumper compared to the global version. Fog lights are replaced by a silver-finished lower element, likely marketed as a faux skid plate. The vertical bumper slats seen globally are also absent.
Maintaining the Duster DNA: Despite these alterations, the essence of the Duster remains. The muscular bonnet creases, boxy silhouette, squared-off wheel arches, chunky claddings, wide rear haunches, and functional roof rails all contribute to the Duster’s characteristically rugged persona.

Beyond Looks: Performance and Powertrain Expectations:

Unique Alloy Wheels: The Indian Duster is expected to have its own set of stylish 17-inch alloy wheels, distinct from the global counterpart.
Powertrain Options: Base variants might retain the proven 1.0L Turbo Petrol engine (99 bhp) found in the Kiger and Magnite. Higher trims could see the introduction of more powerful motors. Speculation swirls around the possibility of hybrid powertrains and even AWD options.

A Legacy Set to Continue:

The Renault Duster was a pioneer in the Indian compact SUV segment, earning a loyal following for its well-rounded capabilities. It offered a comfortable ride, a fuel-efficient engine, a robust build, and decent handling, all at a competitive price. Even its off-roading prowess with AWD was appreciated. With its return, the Duster is poised to reignite the compact SUV battleground, and buyer sentiment is expected to be highly positive.

Will the Duster recapture its throne? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: the wait for this familiar face with fresh twists is definitely on!

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Gireesh

Gireesh has been reporting on cars for over 10 years. He might have a keen eye for all type of fuel cars but he has a soft corner for electric cars. Gireesh also enjoys a good drive or ride after a hectic day at work and like to watch movies.