Renault Duster Facelift Variants: Which One Should You Buy And Why?

The Renault Duster comes in four variants, with two engine and three transmission options. Which one makes the most sense for you?

The Renault Duster facelift has been launched with prices almost unchanged, ranging between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 12.50 lakh. Its variant count has been increased from the earlier three to four now: RXE, RXS, RXS (O) (new) and RXZ. The engine and transmission options remain unchanged but their accessibility has taken a hit. Which variant makes the most sense for you? Read on to find out.

Colour options

• Mahogany Brown (New)

• Caspian Blue (New)

• Cayenne Orange

• Moonlight Silver

• Slate Grey

• Outback Bronze

• Pearl White

Variant-wise ex-showroom prices

All prices are ex-showroom (pan-India).

Standard Safety Features

• ABS with EBD

• Engine immobilizer warning

• Dual front airbags

• Driver and passenger seatbelt reminder

• Rear parking sensors

• Speed sensing door locks

• Impact sensing door unlock

• Rapid deceleration warning 

Renault Duster RXE Variant: Bare bones; buy only if you can’t stretch your budget further

Exteriors: Projector headlamps, dual tone front bumper, black cladding on tailgate, LED tail lamps, 16-inch steel wheels with full covers, roof rails and black finished: side sills, ORVMs and door handles. 

Interiors: Dual tone grey colour shade with black fabric and black door handles.

Convenience: Manual AC with heater, remote keyless entry and central locking, tilt steering adjust, front and rear power windows, one touch turn indicator, rear parcel tray, passenger vanity mirror and reading lamps. 

Verdict

The aggressive pricing for the Duster comes at the cost of some features. While it has a decent set of goodies, it misses out on an audio system and some convenience features like height adjustable driver’s seat or electrically adjustable outside rear view mirrors. You may buy this variant only if you are stretching your budget from a smaller car and can’t spend any more. It covers basics but will require some aftermarket fitments (audio system and more) to become a complete car by contemporary standards.

Renault Duster RXS: Overpriced for what it offers

Exteriors: LED DRLs, body coloured ORVM with turn indicators and door handles 

Interiors: Brown seat fabric, blue backlit instrument cluster with Eco mode and gearshift indicator.

Convenience: Rear reading lamps, electrically adjustable ORVMs, cooled glovebox, rear seat armrest with cupholders and rear defogger. 

Audio: 7-inch touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, radio, Bluetooth, voice recognition, 4-speakers and steering mounted audio control.

Verdict

This variant adds just a few necessities but commands a heavy premium for the same. While the 85PS diesel version can be had for Rs 70,000, the more powerful 110PS version commands a whopping Rs 1.90 lakh premium over the previous variant, which is too steep in our opinion. Even the additional premium for the petrol buyers is quite high given the extra features you get. Buyers looking for the AWD diesel and CVT petrol drivetrains will anyway have to step up their budget. For that reason, we suggest you to skip this variant and look at the next variant. 

Renault Duster RXS(O): Only option for AWD and petrol CVT buyers

Safety: Electronic stability control and hill start assist. 

Exteriors: 16-inch dual tone alloy wheels

Convenience: Gearshift indicator only on AWD 

Verdict

If you were eyeing the AWD hardware with your Duster, this is the variant to go for. That said, it’s quite basic in terms of features although it is more affordable than before (~ 60K as it was previously available with the top-spec RXZ) and the only option in its segment.

Petrol buyers of this variant can get the two-pedal convenience for an acceptable premium of Rs 80,000 over the manual. In fact, if you were already stretching your budget for the RXS variant, we would recommend you to consider the RXS (O) with CVT. Wondering about the diesel automatic option? It is available only in the top variant.  

While the premium for these variants are acceptable, they miss out on some must-haves like height adjustable driver seat and auto up/down driver window, which should have been part of the package. Moreover, being an automatic variant, the petrol-CVT sorely misses out on cruise control as well as a driver’s armrest, which you get only in the top RXZ variant. 

Renault Duster RXZ: Diesel-only variant, Our choice as a modern day SUV 

Exteriors: Fog lamps, chrome exhaust pipe finishing, satin finished roof rails and side sills and power folding ORVMs.

Safety: Speed limiter, reverse parking camera with guidelines and rear washer and wiper.

Interiors: Blue interior fabric and chrome inside door handles.

Convenience: Automatic climate control, front driver armrest, driver side power window with anti-pinch and auto up/down function, height-adjustable seatbelts and driver seat with lumbar adjust, illuminated glove box, cruise control, gear shift indicator only in the MT.

Sound system: Two front tweeters.

Verdict

It is the top variant of the Duster that makes the most sense. It might seem a little pricey over the RXS variant but does enough to come across as a modern day car. Problem is, it will be sold only with the diesel powertrain. If you want an automatic, the RXZ offers the AMT at quite an affordable price. If you want your Duster to be diesel-powered and decently loaded, this is the variant to go for.

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Read More on : Renault Duster AMT