The big, tough Renault Duster is finally making its comeback in India. Renault has locked the official launch date as 26th January 2026 (Republic Day drop, smart move). Until then, camouflaged test cars are popping up everywhere, and the latest batch of pictures โ shot by car spotter Gaoutham โ gives us a proper full-circle look at the beast.
Even under that wild factory camouflage with giant Renault logos plastered all over it, the new Duster looks seriously muscular. The overall shape is almost identical to the global model (sold as Dacia Duster in Europe), but this one was rolling straight out of the Chennai plant, so itโs definitely our India-spec version.
How the New Duster Looks in Real Life
- Front end gets sharp Y-shaped LED daytime running lights, chunky polygonal headlamps, and a proper rugged bumper that screams โI can go off-roadโ.
- Massive โRENAULTโ lettering will sit across the grille โ no missing that from a mile away.
- Square wheel arches, thick black cladding all around, silver roof rails, body-coloured ORVMs with blinkers, and those cool rear door handles hidden in the C-pillar โ classic Duster move.
- Alloy wheel design might be different from the international car (test mule had covers on, so weโll wait and see).
- Rear gets a sporty notched spoiler, deeply recessed number-plate area, big Renault logo in the middle, shark-fin antenna, and heavily raked windscreen for that fastback vibe.
- Tail lamps will have the same quirky Y-shape as the DRLs, but the test car was running temporary small units โ production ones will look much sharper.
Inside Story โ India Might Get Something Special
One of the earlier spy shots showed something very interesting: a possible three-screen dashboard (digital driver display + infotainment + passenger screen). No global Duster has this layout, so Renault could be cooking up an India-exclusive tech-loaded cabin because we Indians love our gadgets.
Globally, the new Duster comes with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, 7-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control, OTA updates, six airbags, 360-degree camera option, ADAS suite, and electronic stability program. It scored 3 stars in Euro NCAP, which is decent for the segment.
Engines โ Petrol First, Hybrid & Hybrid Later
At launch, expect only petrol powertrains (most likely the new 1.3L turbo and maybe the 1.0L turbo three-cylinder). Strong hybrid versions will follow a few months later, and thereโs a good chance weโll get a factory-fitted CNG option too โ something Renault already offers as LPG in other countries.
Also Read – Maruti Suzuki Smashes 3 Crore Home Sales Record โ The Only Car Maker in India to Pull It Off!
Price & Rivals
Word on the street is Renault wants to kick things off below โน11 lakh (ex-showroom) to shake up the compact SUV war. Main rivals will be Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun, Honda Elevate, and the upcoming new Tata Curvv and Citroรซn Basalt.
Bottom line โ the 2026 Renault Duster is shaping up to be a proper value-for-money, tough-looking, feature-packed SUV with serious road presence. If Renault nails the pricing and after-sales this time, it can easily become a segment disruptor again, just like the original Duster was back in the day.
