2026 Renault Duster unveiled in India! New generation after 14 years!
Renault's best-selling mid-size SUV, the Duster is back in India for a new generation, after being discontinued since 4 years
Renault India unveils the India-bound third-gen Duster on Republic Day 2026
India's favourite Renault Duster has returned after a four-year long hiatus, before which the best-selling Renault mid-size SUV was only sold in India in its first-gen avatar and only received minor revisions over its decade-long run. The 2026 Duster has finally arrived in India and is now at par with the third-generation Duster sold in the global markets under Renault and Dacia identities. Former Mr. India and actor, Milind Soman was also present at the homecoming party of Renault's Duster.
2026 Renault Duster design
The third-gen Renault Duster is more blocky and squared-off than ever, with its accentuated wheel arch cladding, which is filled up by a set of 18-inch machined-face alloy wheels. It has prominent character lines on the front wings and rear quarter panels.
The muscular styling hides its 2657mm wheelbase in profile. On the contrary, the bonnet features subtle bulges in the flanks with a central power-bulge element. The face of the French SUV carries a flat nose, wherein the grille spells out 'Duster' in bold lettering, instead of any Renault branding. The headlight units are more elongated compared to the first-gen model and get an interesting Y-shape DRL signature. Its lower front area receives a chunky cladding that mimics an extended skid-plate look with the contrasting satin finish. The rear sports a smoked and chunky tailgate shroud which houses the LED light bar with the Renault wire-frame logo in the centre and the Duster lettering in yellow on the lower half, below the license plate.The original Duster was already a handsome looking SUV and this latest model only builds upon its legacy in its rugged and purposeful visual language.
2026 Renault Duster interior and features
The Renault Duster’s cabin layout and plastic quality also sees a big step up from before. It features a fighter-jet-like dashboard layout and packs tactile physical buttons, a driver-oriented 10.1-inch central Infotainment display which is powered by Google.
The interior features a fighter-jet-like dashboard layout and Google powered screens
It also gets a 10-inch digital cluster with navigation projection. Other features include a panoramic sunroof, seat ventilation, electric front seats with six-way power adjustability and manual lumbar, automatic dual-zone air conditioning, an AQI display with PM2.5 filter, electric parking brake with auto-hold, and an electric powered tailgate.
2026 Renault Duster engine, transmission and platform
The new Renault Duster gets a new 1.3-litre, 4-cyl, turbo-petrol engine, capable of putting out 160bhp and 280Nm of torque. It will be available with a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox with an electronic gear selector or a 6-speed manual ’box. There’s also a 1-litre, turbo-petrol option with a peak output of 98.6bhp.
The 2026 Duster gets three powertrain options two turbo-petrol variants and a strong-hybrid variant
Renault India has also introduced a third, strong-hybrid variant of the Duster, which is equipped with a 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder, NA petrol engine. It will be coupled with an 8-speed dual-motor hybrid transmission (DHT) and a 1.4kWh battery pack to deliver a combined peak output of 158bhp and 172Nm of torque. The brand claims that this new strong-hybrid variant will carry out about 80 per cent of city driving needs, in EV mode alone. The Duster gets three drive modes – Eco, Comfort and Perso (custom mode).
As for the chassis, the latest Duster is underpinned by the Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP), and the brand claims that upto 90 per cent of the development has been done with diverse Indian road conditions in mind. The SUV’s construction has been engineered to earn it a 5-star crash safety rating.
2026 Renault Duster availability and rivals
The Duster is being produced at Renault's Chennai facility and will get an assuring 7-year or 1,50,000 kilometres warranty under the brand's Renault Forever Program. Renault India is yet to reveal the prices of their latest Duster and will be announcing the same sometime in the middle of March, 2026. Regardless of the pricing, the 2026 Duster will compete in the fully packed mid-size SUV segment with the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Tata Sierra, 2026 Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq facelift and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara as well as the not so old Victoris. Bookings for the Duster are now for a sum of ₹21,000, which will include an R Pass that will unlock special introductory prices, priority delivery along with official merchandise and a Renault India plant tour. Deliveries for this latest French mid-size SUV will commence in April, 2026.
