Renault Duster-based Nissan Compact SUV Spied: Hyundai Creta-Challenger Lined Up For 2026 Launch

SUVs and their popularity not just in the Indian market but globally have gone up in the last couple of decades. Nissan, which has been dormant in our market for quite some time, has also announced its new strategy. As part of their plans, they will be launching multiple SUV models in India in the coming years. One such SUV is a Duster-based compact SUV. Nissan has already announced this SUV, but now the upcoming Creta challenger has been spotted on Indian roads for the first time.

The video has been shared by an Instagram user named Anoop Raveendran on his Instagram page. In this video, we see a heavily camouflaged SUV parked on the shoulder of the highway. It was being tested alongside a Skoda Kushaq.

The SUV looks bigger and more butch than the Skoda Kushaq. This is Nissan’s C-segment SUV, which will compete with the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Kia Seltos, and other SUVs. The Skoda Kushaq seen next to the Nissan SUV is also being tested, probably for benchmarking purposes.

Coming to the test mule, this is the first time Nissan’s C-segment SUV has been spotted testing in India. As the SUV was completely covered, we cannot clearly say much about the design. However, from what is visible, it looks like Nissan will be offering a wide Nissan Patrol-inspired front grille for the SUV with Nissan’s new logo in the center.

We can see portions of the headlamps with LED DRLs on top. If we go by the teaser image that Nissan had released at the time of the announcement, it looks like the LED DRLs will get a drop-down design.

The front bumper appears muscular in the video, and we also see a five-spoke alloy wheel which is also completely wrapped. The side profile gets a boxy design, and if you notice, the rear door handles are actually integrated into the C-pillar.

This is similar to what we have seen in the Renault Duster. Apart from that, we also see roof rails, and at the rear, there are LED tail lamps. When compared to the Renault Duster, Nissan is likely to make major design changes to ensure that the SUV has a character of its own.

Nissan’s upcoming SUV is going to be a rebadged version of the Duster, and that is something known to everyone who has been following car news. However, Nissan will always try to make their model look different from Renault’s - for example, the Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger.

While the SUV may get a different-looking exterior, the interior or the cabin design and features are likely to be the same as the Renault Duster. While we do not have many details about the features, we believe that the test mule seen here is missing the ADAS feature as well.

Coming to the engine and transmission options, the Nissan SUV will be offered with a petrol engine only. A hybrid engine option is expected to be offered at a later stage. Now that Nissan has started testing this SUV in India, it is expected to go on sale by mid-2026.