2026 Renault Duster: What to expect from the SUVs comeback in India

New Delhi: Renault recently announced that the Duster SUV is close to returning to the Indian market with launch on Republic Day 2026. The Duster first made its appearance in the Indian market in 2012 and was one of the earliest examples of a mid-size SUV in the market. Since then, cars like Creta and Urban Cruiser have filled the market.

While the third-generation Duster was revealed in 2023, the car didn’t come to the country right away, and now, when it does, there are a few things that will be different in the model that is sold in India over the ones sold abroad. 

For the third generation of the Duster, the car comes with a far more rugged look, and the dimensions abroad are 4.3m in length, 1.8 m in width, 1.6 m in height and 2.6 m in wheelbase. It comes with sleek LED headlights and Renault branding on the front across the grille. The international version comes with a lot of cladding on the front bumper, circular fog lamps, and the bonnet gets sculpted lines as well, making for an aggressive front-end. 

The windows are similar to the previous generation, and the sides get quite muscular front and rear fenders, wheel arch, and doors get claddings all across and have diamond-cut alloys. 

At the back, it is the boxy, muscular theme that was always a feature of the Duster and gets a roof-mounted spoiler, C-shaped LED tail lamps and even thick dual-tone cladding as well. The tail comes with the Renault logo and the Duster branding at the low centre, and there a functional roof rails at the top. It is likely that most of the elements will be coming to India as well.

On the inside, you have the option of all-back or dual-tone choice, and the interior is much sharper on the inside with angular lines across the dash, with the centre console angled towards the driver and gets hexagonal-shaped AC vents as well, and the layout for the India-spec Duster is to be the same as the one seen abroad. 

In features, the Duster is likely to have a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a seven-inch digital driver’s display, wireless charger, an Arkamys 3D sound system, 360-degree camera and much more. It is also expected that Duster will be Renault’s first model in India with ADAS tech. We’ll know for sure on January 26th, 2026. 

The Duster will likely arrive with a petrol powertrain, which is a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol block, which in the international market is tuned to 156 bhp and paired with a six-speed manual or CVT automatic. Renault then might also launch a strong-hybrid powertrain later with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, which would have an output of 140 bhp and be paired with an e-CVT automatic.

There are no words for a diesel powertrain, and there is no word on the AWD system like the previous versions either. In pricing, it is likely to compete with the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq and the lot. There is a lot of anticipation for the SUV's re-entry into the market after a bit of a gap.