Q.New Car Advise - Renault Duster 85PS/110PS or Maruti Suzuki S-Cross 1.6 ?

I recently took delivery of a 1.6 Silver Alpha variant and am quite pleased with the car. The only change I made was to replace the stock JK 205/60/R16 tyres with Goodyear 205/65/R16. It handles very well. I live in the Mudumalai Forest area and the ground clearance lets me get by comfortably. The only issue I'm facing is the turbo lag in low torque, especially while climbing up the winding road from Masinagudi to Ooty. I'm going to try @Roshun's tip of revving the engine to 2000+ rpm before letting go of the clutch - I recently had a couple of scary moments when the car begin rolling back during a hairpin bend.

This is great news [USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] , expect to see a thread on your buying and ownership experience of the S-Cross soon!

[QUOTE=Roshun;n9762] You are getting Rs. 1.60 lakh off on the Zeta version! That more than makes up for any notional loss in resale value. I would recommend going for the Zeta as you get more features in it as well. [/QUOTE] @​Roshun Thank you I have booked the S-Cross 1.6 Zeta, have to inspect the vehicle on Saturday and make the payment.:)

[USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] at 12.5L it's as good as a deal you're gonna get. The car although has been sitting around for more than 6 months or so, do take a proper look. No downsides as such on the 2015 model.

[QUOTE=nav87in;n9756] [USER="20"]NikilSJ[/USER] , Thanks NikhilSJ my mom is okay with both Duster and S-Cross. :) Today morning I got a call from the Nexa RM he said he has a white colour 1.6 Zeta late 2015 model. He said he can give a best price of 12.5L on road for the zeta, 2016 Zeta costs 14.1 L and 2016 Delta costs 12.9 L on road, I was actually looking for S-Cross 1.6 Delta. I just paid the initial booking amount so I don't miss out on this offer. Is this a good deal ? is there any downsides on buying a 2015 model now ? :eek:[/QUOTE] You are getting Rs. 1.60 lakh off on the Zeta version! That more than makes up for any notional loss in resale value. I would recommend going for the Zeta as you get more features in it as well.

[QUOTE=NikilSJ;n9757][USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] as far as I know, there isn't anything new in the 2016 model. The S-Cross we drove to Kasol too was a 2015 one. This seems like a good deal, you should go for it.[/QUOTE] [USER="20"]NikilSJ[/USER] Thanks NikilSJ, I have booked the vehicle today, Will be checking the vehicle coming Saturday. Pretty excited as this being my first car / Crossover :D

[QUOTE=Ronny;n9700] TD both back to back to know the difference. But what i have observed with friends & fellow people waiting for TD. Duster commands a good road presence & the newly added Orange color is a looker whereas S-Cross blends easily in traffic & doesn't look fresh. Regards[/QUOTE] [USER="155"]Ronny[/USER] Thanks a lot Ronny, I did TD Duster 110PS and SCross 1.6 this weekend, as you said Duster has a good presence, top end was good but it completely lost on the interiors and there was no premium value. Also my mom felt the leg room was not that great compared to S-Cross as per my seat adjustment. (my height is 6.2). She also felt 3 person can sit comfortable in Duster. In S-Cross the punch I got was awesome, the RM also took me to a stretch with no tarmac and it did pretty well. My mom felt interiors was much better in S-Cross and had a good leg room after adjusting the seat to my comfort. But she also felt 3 persons wont be comfortable in S-Cross. Duster 110 Base Variant RxL costs 13.6 on road here in Chennai and no discounts except for an exchange bonus of 20k and yes the orange colour is a looker. As we plan to keep to car for 6+ years I kinda feel S-Cross will bring more VFM factor keeping in mind Maruti Network.

[USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] as far as I know, there isn't anything new in the 2016 model. The S-Cross we drove to Kasol too was a 2015 one. This seems like a good deal, you should go for it.

[QUOTE=NikilSJ;n9657]​[USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] good luck convincing your mom about the S-Cross. [USER="18"]MotuSid[/USER] too recently had to go through the same. Also, the price you quoted above, does it include dealer discounts as well. You should probably push them to offer you a discount. Or at the least some free accessories for the car.[/QUOTE] [USER="20"]NikilSJ[/USER] , Thanks NikhilSJ my mom is okay with both Duster and S-Cross. :) Today morning I got a call from the Nexa RM he said he has a white colour 1.6 Zeta late 2015 model. He said he can give a best price of 12.5L on road for the zeta, 2016 Zeta costs 14.1 L and 2016 Delta costs 12.9 L on road, I was actually looking for S-Cross 1.6 Delta. I just paid the initial booking amount so I don't miss out on this offer. Is this a good deal ? is there any downsides on buying a 2015 model now ? :eek:

1.6 S-Cross is a much more matured car. It's the combat of two national engines of India. Both of them reliable, powerful & frugal, so no point discussing again & i'm sure much of your technical queries must have been discussed above. Now talking about turbo lag, 1.6 has a hint of turbo lag which is a bit manageable but not always whereas 1.5L 110 HP has s better top end where it truly excels. What lacking in the duster though is the quality interiors. Not to remind that Duster has extra ground clearance than S-cross so it has a better road presence, Since looks are subjective its upto you. S-Cross has much mature handling than the Duster & feels premium inside out. What's in support with S-Cross is unbeatable Maruti network So no worry for maintenance part. Renault is still a Hit or Miss. TD both back to back to know the difference. But what i have observed with friends & fellow people waiting for TD. Duster commands a good road presence & the newly added Orange color is a looker whereas S-Cross blends easily in traffic & doesn't look fresh. Best of luck for your decision Regards

​[USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] good luck convincing your mom about the S-Cross. [USER="18"]MotuSid[/USER] too recently had to go through the same. Also, the price you quoted above, does it include dealer discounts as well. You should probably push them to offer you a discount. Or at the least some free accessories for the car.

[QUOTE=MotuSid;n9635] Best of luck with that - from experience I know that it is very hard to make people change their mind once they like something, even if you show them an infinite number reasons why something else may be better. Anyway, good luck. [/QUOTE] [USER="18"]MotuSid[/USER] he he yeah that is correct, my mom was not that satisfied with the Duster interiors so I hope making her sit inside the S-Cross will bring some change in her head. Hoping for the best, Thank You.

[QUOTE=Roshun;n9592] The S-Cross 1.6 should not be a problem at all on slopes. It has loads of torque. But yes, there's a technique to make use of that. Since you do have a bit of turbo lag, especially if you are at high altitude, you will need to hold it on the brakes / handbrake and rev it till 2000 rpm before letting in the clutch to climb a steep slope. This is an issue with all diesel cars at high altitude. After that you don't need to worry as it has enough torque to carry it up the slopes effortlessly, as long as you keep the turbo spinning above 1700 rpm. [/QUOTE] [USER="6"]Roshun[/USER] Thanks a lot Roshun, this is my first diesel vehicle so that is why I am pretty curious and worried about. The vehicles I have driven extensively were not as heavy as S-cross. I have driven only petrol vehicles, we owned a Hyndai Santro and Tata Indigo and I have driven i10 extensively in the hills but never driven a heavy diesel vehicle.

[QUOTE=nav87in;n9633] I have arranged for a TD so my mom is convinced about S-Cross as she likes Duster more :o but I hope maybe if she gets to see the S-cross interiors she will prefer S-Cross. [/QUOTE] Best of luck with that - from experience I know that it is very hard to make people change their mind once they like something, even if you show them an infinite number reasons why something else may be better. Anyway, good luck.

[QUOTE=MotuSid;n9565][USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] give me a day or two - my room-mate has got one for a few days. Will take it to the steepest hill I can find in G̶u̶r̶g̶a̶o̶n̶ Gurugram, maybe make a video and show it you. I can assure you though, it won't be a problem.[/QUOTE] [USER="18"]MotuSid[/USER] Thanks a lot MotuSid so very kind of you for your help. I have arranged for a TD so my mom is convinced about S-Cross as she likes Duster more :o but I hope maybe if she gets to see the S-cross interiors she will prefer S-Cross.

[QUOTE=NikilSJ;n9558][USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] I'm glad I could be of some help. Would love to see pictures of your S-Cross when you get your hands on it. [USER="6"]Roshun[/USER] can you help you out with your query on starting the car on a steep slope. By the way, what colour are you going to choose?[/QUOTE] Thanks [USER="20"]NikilSJ[/USER], will definitely post pics once I get my hands on it. But first my mom should be convinced as she likes the duster. Have arranged for a TD this saturday specially for my mom to experience the S-Cross. I like to get the white colour and I will be going for Delta variant as in Chennai it costs 12.9L on road and zeta costs around 14.2L. So probably I will go for delta variant and buy Alloy wheels :D

[QUOTE=NikilSJ;n9558][USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] I'm glad I could be of some help. Would love to see pictures of your S-Cross when you get your hands on it. [USER="6"]Roshun[/USER] can you help you out with your query on starting the car on a steep slope. By the way, what colour are you going to choose?[/QUOTE] The S-Cross 1.6 should not be a problem at all on slopes. It has loads of torque. But yes, there's a technique to make use of that. Since you do have a bit of turbo lag, especially if you are at high altitude, you will need to hold it on the brakes / handbrake and rev it till 2000 rpm before letting in the clutch to climb a steep slope. This is an issue with all diesel cars at high altitude. After that you don't need to worry as it has enough torque to carry it up the slopes effortlessly, as long as you keep the turbo spinning above 1700 rpm.

[USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] give me a day or two - my room-mate has got one for a few days. Will take it to the steepest hill I can find in G̶u̶r̶g̶a̶o̶n̶ Gurugram, maybe make a video and show it you. I can assure you though, it won't be a problem.

[USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] I'm glad I could be of some help. Would love to see pictures of your S-Cross when you get your hands on it. [USER="6"]Roshun[/USER] can you help you out with your query on starting the car on a steep slope. By the way, what colour are you going to choose?

[QUOTE=NikilSJ;n9305][USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] the S-Cross 1.6 is a brilliant car. It has one of the best diesel engine in the market right now and Maruti is offering huge discounts on the crossover. We have taken the S-Cross up the hills all the way to Kasol and beyond and didn't face much of an issue with regards to turbo-lag. In fact, the S-Cross proved to be the right car for the trip with a well sorted suspension and great cabin and boot space. It also returned a fuel efficiency of 21kmpl (with incorrect tyre pressure. Pressure sorted, it returned about 24km to the litre). Even the 1.3-litre MultiJet/DDiS engine delivers only 23kmpl. If you are planning a trip to Leh-Ladakh or any other high altitude destination, any turbo-charged car will suffer due to the thin air but there are ways to get over it. But rest assured, as a daily driver, the S-Cross is all the car you'll ever need. [USER="18"]MotuSid[/USER] drove the car extensively during our trip to [URL="http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/posts/4866-in-search-of-nirvana-with-the-maruti-suzuki-s-cross"]Kasol/Malana[/URL], he will be able to help you out better.[/QUOTE] [USER="20"]NikilSJ[/USER] Thank you NikilSJ. Your saying on S-Cross proved to be right car for the trip really boosted my confidence to go for the S-cross 1.6 thank you once again :).

[QUOTE=Akshat Pokhriyal;n9412]Just to boost your confidence regarding the S-Cross. The car with 1.6 litre engine is brilliant. The engine itself is great, and the low end lack of torque is always muffled by the surge of it above 2000 rpm. Do remember to post some pics once you get the delivery.[/QUOTE] [USER="1677"]Akshat Pokhriyal[/USER] , Thank you will definitely post pics once I get the delivery.:)

[QUOTE=MotuSid;n9307]If the budget you have quoted is for the on-road price [USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] (and I am assuming you are in Delhi), then you can choose between the Renault Duster 85PS RxZ MT (Rs. 13.5 on road without discounts or benefits) and the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross 1.6 Zeta (Rs. 13.3 on road without discounts or benefits). Since you seem to not be worried about features and stuff - I am not going to talk about them (the Duster is slightly better, because top-of-the-line model). But in terms of performance, handling and fuel-efficiency - the S-Cross is way better than the Duster 85PS. Performance - it is not exactly turbo-lag that affects the S-Cross [USER="21"]JijoMalayil[/USER] , it is the general lack of torque at low rpms that make it feel sluggish below 1,500rpm. This is a general trait of the Fiat MultiJet motor - whether it be 1.3-litre one or the 1.6-litre one - in my experience. If you are in the ghats, you would change gears more often in the Duster 85PS than in the S-Cross 1.6. The lower centre of gravity and stiffer suspension also allows for a better drive-feel in these situations in the S-Cross - you don't have to fight body-roll, which means you don't slow down much in the S-Cross. I should tell you that the Duster does have a better ride-quality though - the softer setup does allow for a comfortable ride. Since you plan on going for longer trips - the fact that the S-Cross has a six-speed transmission vs the Duster 85PS's 5-speed gearbox should also help. A relaxed drive on the fast highways and the peace of mind knowing you are burning less fuel should make you feel better. Hope this helped.[/QUOTE] [USER="18"]MotuSid[/USER] , thank you, this really boosted my confidence on S-cross as my main concern was how it would handle the ghats as I would take it for trips and usually it would be to the hills. I just have couple of queries. How would S-cross perform if it has to start from a standstill in a slope ? Ride quality is also important for me as my parents will be accompanying me for most of the trips, just for the better ride quality of Duster should I miss out the the S-Cross 1.6? I am from Chennai and here for my budget I could only get Duster 85PD RxS and Maruti Suzuki 1.6 Delta. Thank you once again it was really helpful :)

[QUOTE=JijoMalayil;n9303]Hi, Assuming that the Duster 110 PS AWD is out of the picture. The 1.6 S-Cross gets a cracker of an engine. There is a noticeable turbo-lag in the S-Cross, but you will learn to work around it, quite soon! :) S-Cross handles brilliantly, slightly better than the Duster. Only cause of concern is the ground clearance, the S-Cross only gets 180 mm, while the Duster stands tall at 205 mm. If that doesn't bother you, S-Cross will be a better package at that price, and will be within your budget.[/QUOTE] [USER="21"]JijoMalayil[/USER] , Thank you, I guess the extra ground clearance wont be as issue until I take it off road.

Just to boost your confidence regarding the S-Cross. The car with 1.6 litre engine is brilliant. The engine itself is great, and the low end lack of torque is always muffled by the surge of it above 2000 rpm. Do remember to post some pics once you get the delivery.

If the budget you have quoted is for the on-road price [USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] (and I am assuming you are in Delhi), then you can choose between the Renault Duster 85PS RxZ MT (Rs. 13.5 on road without discounts or benefits) and the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross 1.6 Zeta (Rs. 13.3 on road without discounts or benefits). Since you seem to not be worried about features and stuff - I am not going to talk about them (the Duster is slightly better, because top-of-the-line model). But in terms of performance, handling and fuel-efficiency - the S-Cross is way better than the Duster 85PS. Performance - it is not exactly turbo-lag that affects the S-Cross [USER="21"]JijoMalayil[/USER] , it is the general lack of torque at low rpms that make it feel sluggish below 1,500rpm. This is a general trait of the Fiat MultiJet motor - whether it be 1.3-litre one or the 1.6-litre one - in my experience. If you are in the ghats, you would change gears more often in the Duster 85PS than in the S-Cross 1.6. The lower centre of gravity and stiffer suspension also allows for a better drive-feel in these situations in the S-Cross - you don't have to fight body-roll, which means you don't slow down much in the S-Cross. I should tell you that the Duster does have a better ride-quality though - the softer setup does allow for a comfortable ride. Since you plan on going for longer trips - the fact that the S-Cross has a six-speed transmission vs the Duster 85PS's 5-speed gearbox should also help. A relaxed drive on the fast highways and the peace of mind knowing you are burning less fuel should make you feel better. Hope this helped.

[USER="2279"]nav87in[/USER] the S-Cross 1.6 is a brilliant car. It has one of the best diesel engine in the market right now and Maruti is offering huge discounts on the crossover. We have taken the S-Cross up the hills all the way to Kasol and beyond and didn't face much of an issue with regards to turbo-lag. In fact, the S-Cross proved to be the right car for the trip with a well sorted suspension and great cabin and boot space. It also returned a fuel efficiency of 21kmpl (with incorrect tyre pressure. Pressure sorted, it returned about 24km to the litre). Even the 1.3-litre MultiJet/DDiS engine delivers only 23kmpl. If you are planning a trip to Leh-Ladakh or any other high altitude destination, any turbo-charged car will suffer due to the thin air but there are ways to get over it. But rest assured, as a daily driver, the S-Cross is all the car you'll ever need. [USER="18"]MotuSid[/USER] drove the car extensively during our trip to [URL="http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/posts/4866-in-search-of-nirvana-with-the-maruti-suzuki-s-cross"]Kasol/Malana[/URL], he will be able to help you out better.

Hi, Assuming that the Duster 110 PS AWD is out of the picture. The 1.6 S-Cross gets a cracker of an engine. There is a noticeable turbo-lag in the S-Cross, but you will learn to work around it, quite soon! :) S-Cross handles brilliantly, slightly better than the Duster. Only cause of concern is the ground clearance, the S-Cross only gets 180 mm, while the Duster stands tall at 205 mm. If that doesn't bother you, S-Cross will be a better package at that price, and will be within your budget.

"I am confused between these 3 compact SUV's/crossovers, my budget is around Rs 12-13 lakh. I will be having the car for at least 8 years or more. I like to drive and I will be making lot of trips in the car in highways and ghats too, would love to buy The Renault Duster AWD but its way out of my budget. I have driven S-Cross 1.6 and its a beast but I am afraid it will be a pain in the ghats or slopes as it has lot of turbo lag. The Duster is perfect but for my budget but I guess I can get only 85PS variant. Will this be enough for touring ? I even have plans of driving from Chennai to Leh-Ladakh. Experts please help me, this confusion :confused: is driving me crazy :) ?" Have booked S-Cross 1.6 Zeta and will be delivered on June 4th 2016 :)