After a four-year hiatus, the Renault Duster is back in India! Say hello to the third-generation Duster, which is gearing up to take on segment regulars in the compact-SUV space — the Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Kia Seltos, Tata Harrier, Škoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun and Honda Elevate.
To make a strong comeback, Renault has thrown everything at the new Duster. It sports sharper, more modern styling, a significantly upgraded cabin packed with new features — including a few segment-firsts — and, for the first time, the option of a strong hybrid powertrain, alongside two turbo-petrol engines.
Pre-bookings are now open at ₹21,000, with prices set to be revealed in March. Deliveries of the turbo-petrol variants will begin in April, while the strong-hybrid version is scheduled to arrive before Diwali 2026. Here’s everything you need to know about the all-new Renault Duster starting with the design.
2026 Renault Duster design, interior and features
The India-spec Renault Duster carries over the boxy proportions of the third-generation global model (which made its debut in 2023) but features several bespoke elements. At the front, it continues with an upright bonnet with indentations. The LED headlights are sleeker and have single-piece DRLs. The grille gets large ‘Duster’ badging, replacing the Renault logo – another India-specific element and the front bumper gets a silver insert, inspired by the original Duster. It also has square fog lights.
Along the sides, it has black cladding around the wheel arches and rear door handles which are housed in the C-pillar. It rides on 18-inch alloys and gets functional roof rails which are rated to take up to 50kg of load. The new Duster has a very good 212mm of ground clearance and more India-exclusive elements like the Himalayan-themed graphics on the front fenders and a yellow ‘Iconic’ accent on the body cladding.
The back of the Duster is adorned by triangular tail-lamps, an LED light bar with the new Renault logo in the centre, a roof spoiler, and just like the front – a silver bumper. It has a 700-litre boot space (measured to the roof) and a first-in-segment electric tail gate. The SUV boasts a 26.9-degree approach angle and a 34.7-degree departure angle.
Step inside, and the first element that's noticeable is the dual screen setup on the dashboard. The infotainment duties are handled by a 10.1-inch unit which supports wireless connectivity and has in-built Google Maps. The driver gets a 10.25-inch digital cluster which is configurable and even streams live maps. Other features include a panoramic sunroof, 6-way powered and ventilated front seats, wireless phone charger and dual-zone climate control. The India-spec Duster gets a bespoke dash layout. It has silver accents and contrast green stitching on the inside, plus a slidable front armrest with storage and a rear armrest with two cup holders.
On the safety front, the new Duster comes well equipped with six airbags as standard, a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, tyre-pressure monitoring (TPMS), Level 2 ADAS and disc brakes on all four wheels. Built on Renault’s new RGMP (Renault Global Modular Platform), the SUV is targeting a full five-star crash safety rating. Renault has also announced a class-leading standard warranty of seven years or 1.5 lakh kilometres.
2026 Renault Duster engine and gearbox options
Renault is offering three engines with the new Duster – a 1-litre turbo-petrol, a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol, and a 1.8-litre strong hybrid petrol. The range kicks off with the smallest unit of the lot – the 999cc, three-cylinder mill – which makes 101bhp and 160Nm. It’s the same engine that’s on offer in the Kiger, and can be had only with a 6-speed manual. The 1.3-litre mill generates 160bhp and 280Nm which are best-in-segment figures. It can be paired to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed DCT. And finally, the all-new 1.8-litre strong hybrid four-cylinder engine which is backed by a 1.4kWh battery which Renault says, should ensure that it stays in EV mode for 80 per cent of the time in the city. This unit will produce about 158bhp and 172Nm of peak torque. It will be offered only with an automatic transmission.
2026 Renault Duster price and launch details
Pre-bookings for the new Renault Duster are currently open, at ₹21,000. The official price announcement is expected in March, with the SUV likely to fall within the ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh range (ex-showroom). Deliveries of the turbo-petrol variants will begin in April, while the strong-hybrid version is scheduled to arrive before Diwali 2026.
Once launched, its key competitors will include the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Toyota Hyryder, and Skoda Kushaq, along with upcoming and refreshed offerings like the Tata Sierra and Maruti Suzuki Victoris.
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