India-Bound Renault Boreal (7-Seater Duster) Unveiled
Following long anticipations by fans across the world, Renault has finally taken wraps off the Boreal- the seven-seater SUV based on the Duster, which will soon make an entry into the Indian market as well. The Boreal was revealed in an event held in Brazil.
Renault Boreal: Design
To start with, the SUV looks good and has a strong road presence. There is a strong design resemblance to the Dacia Bigster that's on sale in international markets, which again, stands close to the new-generation Duster on design grounds. In an exclusive, we had revealed the Boreal's design even before it was out officially.
As was mentioned in the previous article, the event car is finished in a shade of Cyan. Time remains before we get to see the full palette. Most of the available colourways are likely to be dual-tones. The Boreal follows all of Renault's present-day design ethos. We find smooth, curved surfaces and clean lines on the main bodywork. The LED headlamps and DRLs look sharp and attractive.
At the front, you also see a gloss Black trim connecting the headlamp units. Even the grille section looks fresh and appealing. The front bumper houses a large air dam.
The side view gives us a proper look at the alloy wheel design. The wheels (likely 19-inch units) resemble those on the global Bigster. Other things to notice at the sides are the Satin Silver trims near the rear quarter glass, Satin roof fails and C-pillar mounted rear door handles. Rugged Black cladding, a characteristic feature of the Duster family, can be found on the Boreal as well. Wheel arches are squarish, and this further highlights the vehicle's rugged nature.
At the rear, LED tail lamps, a chunky bumper with a Silver skid plate and a spoiler can be found.
Interior: What To Expect?
Renault hasn't revealed details of the Boreal's cabin and equipment levels. The vehicle is expected to get a flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel and have a proper seven-seater layout.
It will likely come with the likes of a large, 10-inch landscape central touchscreen, Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 7-inch digital instrument cluster, Panoramic sunroof, Powered front seats, Multiple terrain control modes (Snow, Mud/Sand, Off-Road, Eco and Auto drive), Wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control and Level 2 ADAS.
The safety suite will consist of multiple airbags, ABS, EBD, Electronic stability control (ESC), and more.
Globally, the seven-seater Duster will offer a range of powertrains- 1.3L, 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine, flex-fuel, hybrid and more. For the Indian market, Renault is likely to allot the 1.3L, 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 151bhp and 250Nm of torque on offer. Another possible option is a hybrid powertrain. The Duster will likely use a 94bhp, 1.6L petrol engine as the base for its hybrid powertrain. This will have a dual-motor setup, powered by a 1.2kWh battery pack, packing as much as 140 bhps.
The Boreal, on the other hand, could come with a more powerful hybrid powertrain. It could be based on a 108bhp petrol engine. Together with a dual-motor setup and a 1.4kWh battery pack, it will be able to produce up to 155 bhp. It remains to be seen if Renault India will offer AWD on the Boreal.
Renault Boreal: India plans
The Duster and Boreal will play key roles in reviving Renault's India sales. The five-seater will be the first to arrive. We expect it to be out in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026. The Boreal will follow in another 6-12 months. In our market, it will be placed squarely against the Alcazar, XUV 700, Safari and the Hector Plus.