Renault Duster was the car which curated the much-popular Compact SUV segment in the Indian market. If Renault had not launched the Duster in India, we may never have seen the Creta or the Seltos. The Renault Duster created a lot of hype and established the customer base for Renault in India. 8 years down the line, we still have the same first-gen Duster with innumerable facelifts being launched. European markets have already got the second-gen Duster whereas the development of the third-gen is ongoing. But with the new engine, does the Renault Duster make any sense. We tell you that and more along with the pros and cons of the Renault Duster.
Pros:
Finally a Turbo
Renault Duster was popular for its frugal and powerful 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine. The BS6 norms took the renowned engine from India and we were left with a 1.5-litre petrol engine only. The Duster was never a popular petrol SUV until the Duster Turbo arrived. Having a 1.3-litre turbo engineering by Nissan and Daimler AG, the Duster can't get any better. The performance is now the best in the segment and it's the cheapest 156hp one can buy in the market. Moreover, the same engine will also power other cars like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and upcoming 2021 GLA.
Petrol Automatic
Along with the 6-speed manual, the 1.3-litre turbo petrol also comes with a 7-step CVT which is sourced from Nissan. Even the powertrain came first in the Nissan Kicks and then in the Duster. The X-Tronic CVT gives a perfect combination of power and efficiency. The much-criticised rubber band effect of the CVT box is well-contained and the tuning of the powertrain is also aimed at maximum performance. If you are in search of a reliable automatic SUV, the Duster comes out as a sensible option with affordability factor too.
Ride Quality
Out of many pros of the Duster, the ride quality is one of the best. Even after so many years passed, the ride quality of the Duster deserves a mention. The suspension of the Duster is very mature and irons out bumps very silently. It's not like the market doesn't have better and more comfortable cars, but the Duster still offers the perfect blend of ride and handling. You can not only go fast on speed breakers and broken paths but also in the corners.
Compact SUV at the Price of Subcompact SUV
Renault Duster has been in the market for long and Renault has made it affordable drastically. For an instance, the GTX+ Kia Sonet is priced at Rs 11.99 lakh ex-showroom and the Duster RXZ Turbo is also priced at Rs 11.99 lakh ex-showroom. For the same money, you are getting a much bigger car with a bigger boot and space along with an engine you can hoon around with all day. The other side of this will be shared in Cons!
Cons:
Looks and Feels Dated
As we told earlier, Renault has launched innumerable special editions and facelifts of the Duster in India. While the global markets are about to get the third-gen Duster in some years, Renault is still offering the first generation of the Duster in India. Renault tried to change the looks of the Duster through facelifts but the silhouette of the car is still the same. In the age when cars are becoming more than just four wheels with an engine, the Duster lacks by a mile and calls for a replacement.
Lack of Features
Remember the comparison of the Duster with Sonet we drew in pros, here is the other side of the coin. While even the lower segment cars are brimmed with features unheard before (air-purifier with virus scanner), the Duster has lost features instead of gaining. While it's still a dream to start your Duster without a key, even the number of airbags are reduced. The Duster lacks a lot of features like keyless entry and go, electric sunroof, rear AC vents, bigger and better touchscreen infotainment and more. These features are the basics in 2020 and even smaller cars are getting features which are unheard in cars of bigger segments.
No AWD or Diesel Engine
The Duster was a hit because of two main reasons - the fantastic 1.5-litre K9K diesel and all-wheel-drive. Sadly, both these USPs have been ruled out from the Duster completely. The Duster was the only SUV in its segment to offer all-wheel-drive, that too at a sensible price. Even if Renault decided to drop the diesel range for reasons best known to them, the French-marque could have continued to offer AWD with turbo petrol.
Poor After-Sales Support and Expensive Repairs
There is no doubt that Renault has really worked on improving its reach in Tier II and Tier III cities. Renault opened over 90 service and touchpoint outlets in less than a year in the Indian market. But still, there is still some distance left to achieve the level of competitors. Also, the service costs of the Renault Duster are not cheap and it will be on par or more with its arch rivals.
So here are the pros and cons of the Renault Duster and if you have any more to share, feel free to mention them in comments and also join our whatsapp group by clicking here.
