Renault Duster Facelift: What To Expect

The Duster is getting a major overhaul on the inside and out, and will be safer than ever

• The 2019 Renault Duster will launch on 8 July.
• Will carry forward the same 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines. 
• Likely to be priced slightly higher than the current range of Rs 8-13.09 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). 
• This is the second major aesthetic makeover of the Duster since its launch in 2012.
• Will continue to rival various subcompact and compact SUVs. 

Update: Renault has launched the Duster facelift in India with cosmetic updates and safety features being the main additions. Read about it here.  

Renault is all set to give the Duster a new lease of life, with a thoroughly updated version scheduled to launch on 8 July. The 2019 model will get an aesthetic makeover as well as additional features, while no mechanical changes are expected. 

With its competitive prices (Rs 7.99 lakh to Rs 13.09 lakh), the Duster rivals both subcompact and compact SUVs. These include SUVs like the Ford EcoSport, Mahindra XUV300 to even the Hyundai Creta and Nissan Kicks. Here’s what we expect from the soon to be launched facelifted model.

Design

• The front sees the majority of changes including a redesigned bumper, subtly different hood, bigger grille with more chrome inserts and updated internals for the headlights. 
• The headlights will feature projectors for low beam and multi-reflectors for high. The daytime running lights will be LEDs instead of bulbs. In fact, the entire setup will mimic that of the second-gen Duster sold in Europe. 
• In profile, it will remain largely unchanged, except for a set of new dual-tone, multi-spoke machine-finished 16-inch alloy wheels.
• The rear end will get an additional black cladding on the tailgate, which could be a bit polarising.
• There’s also a new shade of blue that we’ve seen in the teasers as well as spied images.
• Like its front fascia, the cabin too will undergo noticeable changes. For starters, there’s a new steering wheel (same as Nissan Kicks, Renault Triber and the second-gen Duster) which replaces the outdated and chunky unit offered in the current version.
• The dashboard layout has been revised, and will feature fewer storage decks on top, thus, looking cleaner than before. 
• There will also be an exterior colour-coordinated insert on the co-passenger side of the dash now.
• The redesigned central console will pack rectangular AC vents instead of the round vents seen on the outgoing model.
• There will be premium looking brushed metallic finish highlights inside the cabin, similar to the Platine Edition of the Captur.

Features 

• The Duster will now finally offer dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, front seatbelts reminder and pretensioners as well as load limiters as standard because of the new safety norms (from 1 July 2019). Besides these, it is now expected to pack up to four airbags, same as the Captur and Kicks as well as the Triber, which will be positioned below the Duster.
• Other features like cruise control, auto climate control with rear vents, 7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (the sound system will get additional tweeters), electronic stability control (with automatic variants), LED tail lamps will be carried forward.

Powertrain 

The updated Duster will be powered by the same set of 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines. However, Renault has hinted that it is planning to pull the plug on the diesel version of the SUV come April 2020. If greenlighted, the AWD (all-wheel-drive) version (only Duster offers an AWD option in the monocoque subcompact and compact SUV space) will also be discontinued. 

Price 

The outgoing model is currently priced between Rs 8 lakh and 13.09 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). According to a leaked image, the base price of the 2019 SUV will remain unchanged. However, it is expected to witness a slight price hike in higher variants, given the expected additional features and other changes.

Read More on : Renault Duster 2016-2019 AMT