Renault Duster
Renault Duster - Fast Facts
- Unveiled at Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi
- Three engine options and 2 transmission options
- Available in eight variants with optional package
- Base variant is priced at Rs. 7.19 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi)
- Is fourth product by Renault after it parted ways from Mahindra
- Is expected to be the most successful Renault product in India
- RxL variant will comes with optional package of extra features
- Available in six attractive shades
- Renault Duster is manufactured in 5 countries
- No 4x4 variant of Duster in near future for Indian market
Renault Duster is a characteristic SUV with aggressive
looks and power. With Renault Duster the French auto major is looking
forward to change its fate in the Indian auto industry. Duster is sold under Dacia badging in Europe, Algeria, Turkey, Morocco, Ukraine, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon.Built on Logan platform, Duster will have an overall length of 4.31 meters,a width of 1.82 meters. Considering its size and high ground clearance
of 205 mm, The height of this SUV is 1695 mm. The total kerb weight of Duster is 1235 kg with a wheelbase of 2673 mm.Renault Duster is fit for city as well as the off roading and
has the nature of a true 4x4 SUV, though India doesn’t have the 4x4
versions. Renault Duster’s front has a rugged and sturdy appearance. The
front grille is clad in chrome. The side view in turn also enhances the
SUV appearance of Renault Duster besides high ground clearance. Renault
Dacia Duster is the one of the cheapest SUV. Dacia, a Romanian car
maker happens to be a completely owned subsidiary of Renault. The
Renault Duster was tested aggressively in almost all the terrains round
the globe before it was first launched in 2010. Together, they will form
the most youthful line-up on the Indian market. The suspension system
as well as the underside has been strengthened to handle any road
including off-road. The low weight of the new Renault SUV as well as its
compact size makes it agile on any piece of land.
Renault Duster made available in both petrol and diesel options. The petrol driven Renault houses a 1598cc I4 DOHC engine that produces 100.3bhp at 5850 rpm and a maximum torque of 145Nm at 3750 rpm.
The diesel powered Renault Duster is powered by 1461cc Turbocharged
Diesel I4 SOHC engine that is able to deliver two different power
figures: 108.3bhp and 83.5bhp power and a torque of 248Nm and 200Nm
respectively to the wheels. Duster has two transmission options-
five-speed manual and another six-speed manual (108bhp).
Among the safety features Renault Duster comes equipped with engine
immobilizer, door open warning lamp, central locking and engine
protective under guard as standard features. Anti-lock Brake System,
Emergency Brake Assist besides Electronic Brakeforce Distribution,
stability control module, two front airbags and three-point seatbelt
tensioners features are incorporated as per the version.
price- Rs. 7.19 - 11.29 Lakhs
Renault Duster Petrol RxE
1598cc, Manual, Petrol, 13.24 kmpl
Rs. 7,49,000*
Renault Duster 85PS Diesel RxE
1461cc, Manual, Diesel, 20.46 kmpl
Rs. 8,39,000*
Renault Duster Petrol RxL
1598cc, Manual, Petrol, 13.24 kmpl
Rs. 8,49,000*
Renault Duster 85PS Diesel RxL
1461cc, Manual, Diesel, 20.46 kmpl
Rs. 9,39,000*
Renault Duster 110PS Diesel RxL
1461cc, Manual, Diesel, 19.01 kmpl
Rs. 10,39,000*
Renault Duster 85PS Diesel RxL Pack
1461cc, Manual, Diesel, 20.46 kmpl
Rs. 10,39,000*
Renault Duster 110PS Diesel RxZ
1461cc, Manual, Diesel, 19.01 kmpl
Rs. 11,39,000*
Renault Duster 110PS Diesel RxZ Pack
1461cc, Manual, Diesel, 19.01 kmpl
Rs. 11,69,000*
Exterior
Undoubtedly, the car does look like a complete SUV. It stands tall and handsome giving a macho look.
Renault Duster India looks like a perfect off-roader in appearance.
Duster is based on Logan platform and falls under D segment of cars.
Renault Duster is designed to grapple all types of roads and tracks.
Wide wings and a tall stature reveal its personality. The roof rails,
chrome wide grille, the skid plate, antenna, high ground clearance and
the alloy wheels render it a much sporty look. The rugged exteriors of
Duster are marked by three slat grille which ingrains a big Renault
badge in the centre. Although the engine of this off-roader is not-so-powerful to actually do a serious off-roading,
still it has been given claddings all around to protect the vehicle’s
body from any and every angle. Renault Duster horizontal grille is held
by a pair of double optics headlamps. Renault Duster is quite lengthy
according to the trend of crossover SUVs and do not qualify the sub-4
meter excise levy. A sleek body color bumper in the front gives way to
black plastic cladding which houses round fog lamps on either side. A
nudge bar holds the number plate in its centre. The bonnet is all flat
with no curves however some characters lines are visible. Tinted large
windshield gives way to the high roof. The roof antenna is an example of
aerodynamic design and helps reduce wind noise and turbulence.
The side profile is the most interesting one with lot of contours.
The beltline is very sharply cut. Body color door handles, wing mirrors,
fuel lid can be seen. The two windows are followed by a quarter glass
though no third row is present inside. The most noticeable part is the
wheel arches which are very prominently seamed. Under the large wheel
arches are the large 16 inch alloy wheels.
The rear side is marked by a curvy boot lid, skid plate, vertically
placed tail lamps with D-Shaped curve alongside, high mount stop lamp,
hexagonal windshield (having six sides) with a rear viper, Renault badge
and reflectors. The boot lip opener has a Duster written plate over it.
Just below it is the number plate. The rear bumper is also not very
wide but is painted in body color.
Interior
The interiors of Renault Duster are much inspired by Renault Logan. Though it is an SUV, it can seat only 5 passengers. All black-theme in the interiors take away the luxury quotient but renders a sporty look.
The 3 spoke steering, which bears Renault’s logo, is electrically
powered but can be a bit too heavy on turns. The dash is quite curvy and
looks sporty. The AC vents on shiny brown central console and either
sides of dashboard can be closed completely. The rear seat passengers
can have individual AC vents outlined with shiny brown color for their
comfort. The instrument console has large dials akin to SUV and is
illuminated in red. A lot of interior equipments looks like borrowed
from Logan. The same semi hooded instrument cluster cover with its
chrome polished dials with a digital display in the center all comes
from Logan. The gear lever is a bit stubborn like the steering. The
glove box is quite big for storage.
Renault Duster’s flat seats will surely be comfortable in Indian car
with the usage of high quality materials having a premium touch to it.
Even the material used on the door sills is up-market. The music system
is integrated well in the central console and looks modish with its
Bluetooth and aux input functions. Front seats are two electrically
programmable but without memory functions. Power window switches for the
rear passengers are most likely to be on comfortable door pads. The
shiny brown door handles will be large to hold while turns and jerk.
Interior Comfort
Duster has a large, comfortable interior. Interior comfort is
provided by cushioned seats in the SUV. One will surely get good head
room, leg room and shoulder room as added benefits. Renault Duster will
have ample space at the rear for luggage so that the car will be perfect
for long drives and touring. Manual Air conditioning with climate
control is an expected feature. Practical and functional, its passenger
compartment can hold 5 passengers and provides up to 475 litre of space
in the boot (d -pending on version), easily providing enough space to
carry all their luggage and leisure equipment. With the back seat folded down, the space available goes up to 1,636 litre.
Folding the front passenger seat down enables objects as long as 2.65
meters to be carried in the passenger compartment. Because drivers and
their families have different expectations, Duster offers equipment
which concentrates on the essential without being superfluous.
Engine and Performance
- 102 PS 1.6 litre petrol
- 85 PS diesel
- 110 PS diesel
Renault Duster comes with 1.5 dCi diesel engine that has been taken from
Nissan Micra and comes coupled with a five-speed manual gearbox in
diesel variant RxE and 84bhp RxL and six speed manual gearbox in
108.5bhp RxL and RxZ. The 1461cc engine is tweaked in
two different ways so as to produce two different power outputs: 83.8bhp
and 108.5bhp. The one delivering 83.8bhp will churn out 200Nm of torque
and the one with higher power sheds out 248Nm. Renault Duster is also
be powered by a 1.6 litre petrol engine. The petrol driven Renault will house a 1598cc DOHC engine
that produces 100.5bhp at 5850rpm and a maximum torque of 145Nm at 3750
rpm. The SUV comes with two wheel drive option. Moreover, the
refinement would be on another level and going by how damped the engine
is in both the Logan and Micra, one can expect the same levels of NVH
(Noise Vibration and Harshness) factoring in the Renault Duster in India
Power
The diesel powered Renault Duster is powered by a 1461cc common rail direct injection dCi SOHC engine that is able to deliver 83.8bhp and 108.5bhp power. The 1.5-litre diesel machine has been taken from Nissan Micra. The engine delivering 108.5bhp is the Step 4 version of K9K engine. Both these versions are said to provide for high torque figures i.e. 200Nm and 248Nm and would be highly spirited to drive. The petrol driven Renault houses a 1598cc, Multi-point fuel injection system that produces 100.5bhp at 5850rpm and a maximum torque of 145Nm at 3750 rpm.
Acceleration & Pick-Up
Renault Duster SUV gives you a butter smooth drive in its comfort zone of 2000-4000rpm. However you need to wait for the engine to go up to the 2000rpm as there is a decent turbo lag. Duster no doubt will give a decent performance as the kerb weight is marked at 1308kg translating into the engine giving a better performance.
Wheels,Braking & Handling
Renault Duster will be equipped with large size wheels that will give it a perfect SUV look. Thus 16 inch alloy/steel wheels are incorporated in Duster for better gripping and stability. The tyre size of Duster is universal in Renault Duster variants and figures is 215/65 R16 tubeless. The alloy wheels nut-cover comes with anti-theft key.
Renault giving safety a high priority have incorporated hydraulically operated diagonal split dual circuit braking in Duster SUV with disc brakes in front and drum at the rear end. Disc brakes are very effective in application of emergency brakes. Renault Duster is fit for city as well as the off roading experiences SUV are built on an extended Logan platform. It applies a monocoque chassis and one which gets independent Macpherson strut with coil springs and anti-roll bar suspension in the front and there is a deflected torsion beam axle with coil springs and anti-roll bar at the rear. This setup is alike most hatchbacks and the advantage of the same is its simple construction and significant cost savings. But then weights have been bestowed on to deal with the more hefty SUV body. The Steering wheel in petrol variant is Hydraulic power assisted and in diesel ones is Electro Hydraulic power assisted.
Handling & Safety
Among the safety features Renault Duster comes titivated with Anti-lock Brake System, Emergency Brake Assist besides Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and a stability control module, impact sensing door unlock and engine protective under guard. Front fog lamps and rear de-fogger incorporated in Renault Duster helps you get a better vision of the road after dark and in cold temperatures; fog lamps also increases the conspicuity of the vehicle and gives the follow driver on road an information regarding the vehicles attendance, location, size, direction of traveling and speed. It also comes with two front airbags (front driver and passenger) and three-point seatbelt pretensioners depending on the version. Its sturdy and reassuring appearance are a reflection of its equipment. An SUV is ought to have top-notch security and in its first SUV in India, Renault has paid special attention to safety in order to grab a niche.
Stereo & Accessories
The music system will do it duty quite religiously in Duster SUV. It will also have Bluetooth and aux input support. Radio CD and MP3 player will be present with remote control.
VEHICLE SUMMARY | ||
| Name: | Duster Petrol | |
| Model: | RxE | |
| Car Body Type: | SUV | |
| Segment: | D Segment | |
| Top Speed: | 164 | |
| Fuel Consumption: Highway | 13.00 kmpl. | |
| Fuel Consumption: City | 9.00 kmpl. | |
| Warranty: | 2+2 years or 80,000 km | |
VERDICT | ||
| FOR | Looks Price Fuel efficient diesel engines | |
| AGAINST | Build Quality | |
OUR RATINGS | ||
| Appearance: | 4.5 out of 5 | |
| Comfort: | 4 out of 5 | |
| Features: | 4.5 out of 5 | |
| Performance: | 4 out of 5 | |
| Value for money: | ||
ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS | ||
| Displacement: | 1598cc petrol | |
| Engine Type: | Petrol | |
| Maximum Power: | 100.6 bhp @ 5850 rpm | |
| Maximum Torque: | 145 Nm @ 3750 rpm | |
DIMENSIONS | ||
| Length: | 4315 mm | |
| Width: | 1822 mm | |
| Height: | 1695 mm | |
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1 comment:
Excellent reviews.Renault Duster got a huge success in India as its a perfect blend of style and power.It has spacious and classy interior and aggressive exterior.
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