TL; DR
- Although Renault hasn’t revealed the names of the 2026 Duster’s variants, the lineup could follow the company’s global nomenclature.
- The 2026 Renault Duster features a bold and aggressive front fascia that distinguishes it from the global model.
- The side profile of the new Renault Duster features prominent flared wheel arches and muscular haunches, giving the car a wide yet planted stance.
- At release, the new Renault Duster will be available with 1.0L and 1.3L turbocharged petrol engines.
- While the vehicle has been revealed, Renault has not yet disclosed the final price list. The official price announcement is scheduled for mid-March 2026.
Renault is gearing up to bring back one of its most iconic nameplates in an all-new avatar, and the 2026 Duster is shaping up to be a big deal for the compact SUV segment in India.
With a bold new design, a tech-loaded cabin, multiple turbo-petrol and hybrid powertrain options, and a strong focus on safety, the next-gen Duster aims to take on newer rivals while staying true to its rugged, go-anywhere DNA.
From expected variants and pricing to detailed design highlights and launch timelines, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming 2026 Renault Duster.
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1. Variants & Pricing
Although Renault hasn’t revealed the names of the 2026 Duster’s variants, the lineup could follow the company’s global nomenclature. Building up on that, the car could come in Authentic, Evolution, Techno, Emotion, and Iconic trims.
The ex-showroom pricing of the car could be between Rs. 10 and Rs. 21 lakhs (ex-showroom).
- While the 1.0L turbo petrol manual variants could be priced between Rs. 10 and 13.50 lakhs (ex-showroom).
- The 1.3L turbo-petrol manual and automatic variants could be priced between Rs. 13.50 and Rs. 17.50 lakhs (ex-showroom).
- Finally, the strong hybrid powertrain could be priced around Rs. 20 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Also Read: From 110% to 40%: Why European Luxury Cars in India May Soon Cost a Lot Less
2. Exterior Design
Front
The 2026 Renault Duster features a bold and aggressive front fascia that distinguishes it from the global model. The most notable change to the car is the inclusion of eyebrow-shaped LED DRLs, which sit above the main headlamps and also serve as turn indicators.
Then there’s the new front grille, which features the “DUSTER” lettering prominently, between the DRLs. A muscular bumper, finished with a large, chunky silver skid plate, pixel-shaped LED fog lamps, and the strong character lines on the bonnet add to the Duster’s road presence.
At the bottom, the car also features vertical air inlets, designed to improve aerodynamic performance and enhance its aggressive stance. If you ask me, the Duster’s front profile looks slightly busier than that of other segment options, but it surely has a strong, powerful road presence.
Side
The side profile of the new Renault Duster features prominent flared wheel arches and muscular haunches, giving the car a wide yet planted stance. Thankfully, the company has skipped flush-type door handles, which are considered a safety feature in critical situations (especially electronic ones). Anyway, the rear door handle is integrated into the C-pillar.
The higher trims feature newly designed 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, over which runs black body cladding that extends across the wheel arches and the lower part of the doors. What’s interesting is that the Duster maintains an unladen ground clearance of 212 mm, which is higher than any other car in the segment.
The roof rails are functional as well; they have a load capacity of up to 50 kgs.
Rear
The rear fascia of the Duster features connected LED tail lamps (via a horizontal LED light bar), a hunched boot lid with a rugged bumper and skid plate, a large roof-mounted spoiler, and an electric tailgate. Up to the parcel tray, the vehicle offers a boot capacity of up to 518 liters.
Moreover, the car maintains its strong character and road presence at the rear as well.
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3. Interior Features
The Duster gets a driver-focused dashboard, with the center console tilted 10° toward the driver. While global models use a darker gray, the Indian version features a Stone Beige and Black dual-tone theme to provide a sense of airiness, complemented by copper accents on the AC vents and center console.
The steering wheel features a modern octagonal/hexagonal design with both the top and bottom sections flattened. This “squircle” shape is intended to improve thigh clearance for the driver and provide a better grip for spirited driving. The wheel is “clutter-free” but functional, featuring physical buttons (rather than touch-capacitive ones), and sports both tilt and telescopic adjustment.
The higher variants are equipped with a 10.1-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system and a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster with customizable layouts. The system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with integration with the “My Renault” app for over 60 connected-car features.
Along with the screens, the car features a premium 6-speaker Arkamys 3D sound system. Additional features include dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, a longer seat base for rear passengers, ambient lighting, and physical buttons for the HVAC system.
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4. Powertrain Options
At release, the new Renault Duster will be available with 1.0L and 1.3L turbocharged petrol engines. These engines produce decent power and torque. While both of the engines are paired with 6-speed manual transmissions, only the 1.3L engine is paired with a 6-speed DCT transmission.
The company will also bring the E-Tech strong hybrid engine to India by November 2026 (around Diwali 2026).
| 1.0L Turbo Petrol (TCe 100) | 1.3L Turbo Petrol (TCe 160) | 1.8L Strong Hybrid (E-Tech 160) | |
| Engine Type | 3-cylinder | 4-cylinder Direct Injection | 4-cylinder Petrol Engine + Dual Electric Motors |
| Displacement | 999 cc (1.0L) | 1333 cc (1.3L) | 1789 cc (approx 1.8L) |
| Max Power (bhp/PS) | ~99 bhp (100 PS) @ 5000 rpm | ~161 bhp (163 PS) | ~160 bhp (163 PS) total output |
| Max Torque (Nm) | 160 Nm @ 2800 rpm | 280 Nm | 172 Nm (engine) |
| Transmission | 6-speed Manual (MT) | 6-speed Manual (MT) or 6-speed Dual-Clutch Automatic (DCT) | 8-step Automatic (DHT) |
| Drivetrain | FWD (Front-Wheel Drive) | FWD (AWD availability not confirmed for India launch) | FWD (operates in EV mode up to 80% in city) |
While there’s no diesel powertrain on the cards for the new Duster, the 1.3L turbo engine, which produces 163 PS and 280 Nm of torque, is a solid alternative for performance-oriented buyers. However, those who want both power and mileage should wait for the strong hybrid powertrain to arrive later this year.
5. Safety Features
The Duster comes with six airbags as standard, electronic stability control, hill start and descent control, ABS with EBD, a 360-degree surround-view camera with blind spot detection, and front (six) and rear parking sensors.
Like its modern competitors, the Duster also offers a Level 2 ADAS suite, which includes features such as autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition. Further, the car features all four disk brakes.
6. Bookings & Delivery
While the vehicle has been revealed, Renault has not yet disclosed the final price list. The official price announcement is scheduled for mid-March 2026.
- Official Pre-bookings: Open as of January 26, 2026.
- Booking Amount: Customers can book the SUV at authorized dealerships or through the Renault India Online Booking Platform for a token amount of ₹25,000.
- Priority Delivery: Renault is offering a “Priority Delivery” slot for the first 2,026 customers who book the “Launch Edition” (Himalayan Green color) before the price reveal in March.
Also Read: 2026 Hyundai Venue Sees A Price Hike of Rs. 10,000 For The HX2 and N-Line Variants
- 1.0L & 1.3L Turbo Petrol: Deliveries for the standard turbocharged manual and DCT (automatic) variants are slated to begin in mid-April 2026, immediately following the commencement of test drives in late March.
- 1.8L Strong Hybrid (E-Tech): Due to the high level of localization and battery assembly timelines, the Strong Hybrid variants are scheduled for delivery during the Diwali 2026 festive season (late October/early November).
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