Renault Duster Hybrid Launched At Rs 16.99 Lakh! Most Powerful Hybrid In Its Class!

Renault made a major comeback to the compact SUV segment this year with the new-generation Duster. Packed with features and a powerful engine, it impressed many thanks to the macho looks and the fun-to-drive quotient. However, Renault did announce that they had another trick up their sleeve with the announcement of a strong-hybrid powertrain coming later this year. And the time has come. 

Renault has launched the Duster hybrid at the price of Rs 16.99 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards. The new 1.8-litre naturally aspirated hybrid is the most powerful, fastest and most efficient hybrid in its class. Let’s explore everything that's new:

Price

All prices are ex-showroom

The Duster’s hybrid variants start from the Evolution variant at Rs 16.99 lakh and go all the way to Rs 19.99 lakh for the new Emotion top-end variant.

The Hybrid Powertrain

The Duster's new hybrid powertrain comes courtesy of Horse Powertrains, which has been supplying the Renault group with hybrid powertrains for its European models as well. This new powertrain is called the E-Tech 160.

It consists of a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with two electric motors and a 1.4 kWh battery pack. Powertrain specifications are as follows:

Renault claims that the Duster Hybrid can run for up to 80 per cent of the time in city driving on electric power only. This means it gets a combined claimed range of up to 1400 kms on a single tank of fuel with a claimed ARAI fuel efficiency of up to 29 kmpl.

What is also new with the Duster Hybrid is the inclusion of frequency-dependent damping (FDD), which widens the bump absorption capabilities of the Duster, improving its capabilities of handling slow-speed bumps and highway stability.

About The Renault Duster 

The second-generation Duster for India comes with a confident-looking design with a bold front end, yet has a traditional layout for the lighting and grille setup. What is new in the Duster Hybrid's design is the illuminated ‘Duster’ branding on the grille and an ‘E-Tech' badge on the front doors, adding some distinctiveness from its turbo-petrol versions.

The pronounced wheel arches and the chunky roof rails give it a proper SUV stance on the side as well. 

Over to the rear, the Duster gets a connected LED tail lamp setup and a chunky bumper with a silver insert. The Duster overall has an unmistakably unique and macho design, which is a strength among the densely packed compact SUV segment. 

The interiors of the Duster get a smartly designed black and dune brown colour theme, which also includes the leatherette seat upholstery. It also gets a free-standing dual-screen panel on the layered dashboard. The overall fit and finish are par for the course, with reasonably good space and practicality for the average-sized family.

Feature highlights of the Duster include a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a10.25-inch digital driver’s display. Other features include 6-way powered and ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof, a powered tailgate, a wireless charger, dual-zone climate control and connected car technology.

The safety highlights include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts, a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, all-wheel disc brakes, electronic stability control, tyre pressure monitoring system, an electronic parking brake with hill-hold control and Level-2 ADAS. The Duster has scored 5 stars in the BNCAP safety tests, further proving its safety credentials.

Rivals

The Duster Hybrid goes against a long list of compact SUV rivals including  Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, and Maruti Victoris. Other non-hybrid options in the segment include Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Honda Elevate,  Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Tata Sierra, MG Astor, Citroen Aircross X 

ZigSays…

The Duster hybrid comes at an interesting time of rising strong-hybrid options in the country. This will be the fourth strong-hybrid option in the compact SUV segment after the Toyota Hyryder, Maruti Grand Vitara and Victoris. Despite being priced at a premium, it will be on par with the soon-arriving hybrid options like the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta. 

These hybrid powertrains prove to be very versatile for Indian conditions. From densely packed traffic to long-distance journeys, these powertrains prove to be efficient and powerful but at the cost of a higher purchase price. 

For people who drive their cars a lot in the cities and on highways, stretching the budget to get the hybrid will make sense in the long term. 

What do you think about the Duster Hybrid? Let us know in the comments below!