When Renault India first showcased the Duster that was destined for the Indian market, I had the opportunity to go down to their factory and get behind the wheel for a special preview. Needless to say, I was impressed. It was ideal for the market and its only shortcomings at the time were the plastic dash panel and a slightly tight rear seat. However, it was a great looking vehicle and that is what I knew would really work in its favour.
I was right. Over the years, the Renault Duster has made a mark for itself in the SUV segment and continues to be a pivotal model for Renault in India. It carries that classic SUV stance with great proportions that are well suited for the urban environment and has received numerous tweaks to keep it looking modern and with the times.
With BS6 norms coming into play on the 1st of April 2020, the Duster has been tweaked to meet the norms. Powered by a 1.5 litre BS6 compliant petrol motor matched with a 5-speed manual transmission, the BS6 Duster continues to be a powerful yet fuel efficient offering. The 4-cylinder, 1.5 litre, multi-point fuel injection motor churns out a healthy 106 PS of power @ 5600 rpm and generates 142 Nm of torque @ 4000rpm. Offering a fuel efficiency of 14.26 kilometres to the litre, the Duster is quite the package.
The cabin carries the same familiar layout and offers ample room for 5 adults with a large boot that can carry up to 475 litres of luggage, making the Renault Duster a rather practical choice for many families.
Renault is offering the new BS6 Duster in a total of three variants, namely RXE, RXS and RXZ trims and will be available in seven colours that include Caspian Blue, Mahogany Brown, Cayenne Orange, Moonlight Silver, Slate Grey, Outback Bronze and Pearl White. The Duster has also been priced competitively as the prices range from INR 8.49 lakh to INR 9.99 lakh.