Production-Ready Renault Duster Spotted On Test Ahead Of India Launch
Renault is gearing up for a much-awaited launch in the Indian market. The new generation Duster will go on sale in the first quarter of 2026. A series of spy pictures and videos had surfaced previously, giving out details of some of the features to expect on the India-spec. These were heavily camouflaged. Now, the SUV has been spotted on test again. The new video shows the stance and road presence of the new Duster.
This video was shared by Motor World India on Instagram. It starts by showing the test mule making a turn and exiting a piece of land. A couple of trucks are seen parked on this ground. Watch carefully, and you will see a second mule parked nearby. The SUV slowly exits the ground and enters the main road.
We can see the sculpted body panels, alloy wheel design, LED DRLs, and C-pillar-mounted rear door handles. The test mule features the same alloy wheel design as the global model. Most of the design cues of the global car seem to have been kept safe. Roof rails are also visible, and the SUV seems to be equipped with a sunroof. This video clearly shows the new Duster’s bold stance and high ground clearance.
More Details Of The Upcoming Renault Duster
Let’s start with the dimensions. The new Duster will measure 4345mm in length, 1822 mm in width, and 1660 mm in height. It will have a wheelbase of 2658mm and a ground clearance of up to 212mm. The SUV will come with all-LED lighting. As seen in the new video, it will have LED DRLs. The headlamps and taillamps will have Y-shaped elements. It will also have squared wheel arches, bold body cladding, new bumpers, and a large grille.
The third-generation Duster will come well-kitted. It will have a fresh cabin design and features like a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, 7-inch colour driver display, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, six-speaker Arkamys Classic audio system, hands-free key card, wireless charger, panoramic sunroof, and level 2 ADAS. It will have parking sensors at the front, rear, and sides, and will come equipped with a 360 camera.
Buyers in the mid-size SUV segment look for many of these features while making a choice. Most vehicles in this segment offer most of these tech. Packaging the Duster (and its variants) right will be critical in defining its fate here.
In international markets, the new-generation Duster offers several engine options- a 1.3L petrol EDC which makes around 130hp, a 1.2L 48V mild hybrid petrol producing 140hp, and a 1.6L strong hybrid petrol paired with a 1.2 kWh battery pack and two electric motors. The carmaker is expected to bring all these to India. Both manual and DCT automatic transmissions will be offered on the production model. The global SUV offers 4x4 hardware on some of the higher variants.
It will be underpinned by the CMF-B modular platform, jointly developed by Nissan and Renault. This will also underpin the upcoming Nissan Tekton.
Even on the safety front, there will be little room for complaints on the new Duster. It will be equipped with multiple airbags, electronic stability control, hill-hold assist, electronic parking brake, 3-point seat belts for all seats, seatbelt warning lamps, and more.
India Launch Plans
In India, the five-seater Duster will enter a fiercely competitive segment, dominated by the Creta. Renault will bring the seven-seater in 2027, under the name Boreal. At the time of launch, the new Duster will have the turbo-petrol and mild hybrid engines on offer. The strong hybrid will join later.