The Dawn Of The Duster Could Be Close

After nearly ten years, the first-gen Duster could finally call it a day by October in the country, likely paving the way for the second-gen model.

Renault first brought the Duster to India in 2012. The compact SUV segment was yet to see a boost in sales, and the Duster being one of the OGs, contributed to the popularity of the segment as it is today. With age comes the inability to keep up with the competition, which with the lack of significant updates, has caused the Duster to fall down the pecking order.

In India, there have barely been any updates to the SUV, save for the two minor facelifts and the addition of the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine. Meanwhile, its European counterpart saw a generational update followed by a facelift in 2021. Word from Renault is that it is working on the next-gen model, which could eventually come to our shores. However, till then the Duster badge will most likely be axed.

The French carmaker’s subsequent introductions have brought quite a bit of success to the table in India. Its Kwid hatchback did good business both in its manual as well as CVT avatar, with its second generation picking up right where its predecessor left off. Additionally, there is also the Triber, with its flexible seating option, and the prospect of three rows of seating within a four-metre footprint. Finally, its latest offering, the Kiger sub-4m SUV, has garnered a lot of interest thanks to its competitive pricing. 

Currently, the Duster retails from Rs 9.86 lakh to Rs 14.25 lakh (ex-showroom). The old head competes with the likes of the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, and Nissan Kicks.

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