The Renault Duster served as a staple in India’s compact SUV market. Unfortunately, the move to BS6 emission standards forced Renault to discontinue the diesel variants powered by the proven 1.5-liter K9 K diesel engine and the Duster became a petrol-only product powered by the 1,5-liter petrol engine of the firm. In February, Renault unveiled the Duster Turbo powered by a 1.3-liter turbo-petrol engine at the 2020 Auto Expo as an alternative to the torquey diesel engine. The French carmaker has now introduced the SUV with the option of a manual transmission and CVT.
Renault is offering the new turbo-petrol engine right out of the Duster entry-level variant. It comes over the naturally aspired 1.5-liter petrol unit at a premium of up to Rs 2 lakh. The CVT-auto model is available from mid-spec and adds a premium of Rs 1.6 lakh over the 6-speed manual version of the turbo-petrol. This turbo-petrol model acts as a replacement for the BS6-era diesel engine thus providing more power and torque than the 1.5-liter Duster diesel model (110PS/245Nm).
The 1.3-liter turbo-petrol, thanks to the Renault-Nissan partnership, is the same powertrain provided at the Nissan Kicks Turbo. It makes both the Duster and the Kicks the market’s most powerful compact SUVs. In order to improve fuel efficiency, the more efficient models are fitted with idle start-stop too. This makes the turbocharged engine more frugal than the 1.5 liter version.
Now the Duster gets remote cabin ventilation with features such as auto AC, cruise control, hill start assist, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through the key-fob. Even the latest Turbo models get some cosmetic changes on the grille, tailgate, roof rails and around the fog lamps, including red highlights. As of the mid-spec variant, it also gets new 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.
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