Renault Duster Turbo Launched; Prices Start At Rs 10.49 Lakh

The Duster now gets the choice of the most powerful engine in the segment with a CVT automatic option too

• The Duster Turbo shares its 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine with the Nissan Kicks Turbo.

• This engine makes 156PS and 254Nm, making it the most powerful in the segment.

• Duster Turbo gets two transmission options: 6-speed manual and a CVT automatic.

• New turbo-petrol engine adds a premium of upto Rs 2 lakh over regular Duster.

• Gets new features like cabin pre-cool via the key fob as well as engine idle stop-start.

The Renault Duster has been a staple in the compact SUV segment in India. Sadly, the switch to BS6 emission norms forced Renault to discontinue the diesel variants powered by the proven 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine, and the Duster became a petrol-only offering powered by the company’s 1.5-litre petrol engine. As an alternative to the torquey diesel motor, Renault showcased the Duster Turbo powered by a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine at the 2020 Auto Expo in February. Now, the French carmaker has launched the SUV with the choice of a manual and CVT transmission. Here’s how much the 156PS Duster Turbo will cost you:

All prices are ex-showroom, pan-India

Renault offers the new turbo-petrol engine right from the entry-level variant of the Duster. It comes at a premium of upto Rs 2 lakh over the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol unit. The CVT-auto option is available from the mid-spec variant onwards and adds a premium of Rs 1.6 lakh over the turbo-petrol’s 6-speed manual variant. This turbo-petrol unit serves as a replacement for the diesel engine in the BS6 era while offering more power and torque than the Duster’s 1.5-litre diesel unit (110PS/245Nm).

Here’s a quick comparison between the two petrol engines of the Duster:

The 1.3-litre turbo-petrol is the same powertrain offered in the Nissan Kicks Turbo, thanks to the Renault-Nissan alliance. It makes both the Duster and the Kicks the most powerful compact SUVs in the market. The more powerful variants are also equipped with idle start-stop to aid fuel efficiency. That makes the more powerful turbocharged engine more frugal than the 1.5-litre unit.

This turbo-petrol engine makes 16PS and 12Nm more than the next-best turbo-petrol engine available in the segment: the Hyundai Creta’s and Kia Seltos’ 1.4-litre unit. Plus, the performance is more accessible thanks to the significantly lower pricing of the Duster. Its aggressive pricing brings it into contention of the smaller sub-4m turbo-petrol SUVs too, like the Hyundai Venue, Kia Seltos and Mahindra XUV300.

The Duster now gets remote cabin cooling via the key-fob along with features like auto AC, cruise control, hill start assist and a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new Turbo variants also get some cosmetic updates like red accents on the grille, tailgate, roof rails and around the fog lamps. It also gets new 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels from the mid-spec variant onwards.

The new Duster Turbo is bound to attract a bit more attention thanks to the powerful engine and the option of a CVT automatic. However, the BS6 Duster still misses out on one key segment exclusive drivetrain option of the BS4 version: all-wheel drive (AWD). It continues to rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Nissan Kicks, the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross as well as smaller sub-4m SUVs like the Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV300.

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