Renault Duster 1-litre Turbo Petrol Driven: A Surprise All-Rounder

Renault’s Duster has been making headlines among enthusiasts lately, given its powerful 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine, an excellent ride-and-handling setup, and the butch looks. But what has been overshadowed in the much-hyped launch is the smaller 1-litre engine, which may turn out to be a popular choice for buyers who want a city-friendly powertrain and place a larger focus on affordability.

Three months on since launch, we finally got to experience this engine and see how it performs in the real world, and here are our observations:

Don’t Go By The Figures

Producing an output of 100 PS and 166 Nm of torque, the Duster 1-litre has some of the lowest power figures in the segment, and with about 1.4 tons of SUV to move, you start doubting its abilities before even getting into the driver's seat:

But that is not the case in the real world at all. Although seen on the Kiger previously, Renault has reworked the engine management software and given the gearbox an extra cog, making the entire experience a lot nicer. The cabin insulation has been improved as well, and overall, the engine does not feel compromised.

Ideal For The City Folk

If you love driving manuals, this powertrain will feel a lot easier to potter around urban confines with. Unlike the larger engine, the clutch feel here is nicer and easily manageable, and you won’t stall the Duster 1-litre easily. You also have good levels of insulation inside, and while the engine does not particularly sound sporty or effortless, there is enough power on offer at all times.  

Not The One For Proper Thrills

What becomes quite obvious when you take it to the highways is that this is a driver-friendly powertrain but not enthusiastic one. It takes its own sweet 13-14 seconds getting up to 100 kmph. At highway speeds, while overtaking is generally not effortless, it doesn’t need much planning either. Overall, this powertrain feels easy to drive, but for the smile on your face, we suggest upgrading to the 1.3.

An Efficient Commuter

In terms of efficiency, Renault claims that the Duster 1-litre can deliver up to 19.42 kmpl (ARAI). However, in our short time with the car, it sipped fuel at a rate of around 15 kmpl in mixed city and highway conditions. This is a respectable figure for a car of its size, and most buyers will find no reason to complain.

The Puzzle’s Missing Piece

Overall, then, the Duster 1-litre has made a positive impression. It is reasonably smooth, affordable, offers good performance levels, and, in general, leaves no room for complaints. That said, what we miss here is an automatic transmission that would go a long way in increasing its appeal, especially given that most Duster customers would drive a lot in the city.

The Duster 1-litre can be had in three trims: Authentic, Evolution and Techno, which offer a good spread of features, at price points that feel reasonable. And while most lower-end buyers would be happy with the package, a higher-spec Techno+ or Iconic variant with this powertrain could also have potential to add some serious sales.  

Which engine of the Duster would you pick? Let us know in the comments below!