Renault Duster 2016-2019

Features: If you like your SUVs tough, muscular and rugged, the Duster should appeal to you a whole lot. The design is nearly a decade old, but you’d admit - it does tug at your heartstrings with its bulbous wheel arches, high-set bonnet and large 16-inch alloy wheels. The facelift added a new pair of headlamps and tail lamps and redesigned bumpers but didn’t drastically alter the Duster’s aesthetics. It still looks like a purposeful small SUV that’s ready to take a beating. To say the Duster’s cabin looks a bit outdated would be an understatement. The design seems staid and the feature list isn’t as lengthy either. Highlights include a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system (without Android Auto or Apple CarPlay), automatic climate control, cruise control (with a speed limiter) and not much else. Quality levels could’ve been a tad better too. Space on offer is par for the course. The high-seating position and comfy seats make the Duster a fantastic road-tripper. The 475-litre boot is among the most cavernous in its class and can pack in a treadmill if you fold the rear seats down. Trust us, we tried.

Engine: You can choose between a 1.5-litre petrol or a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The diesel motor gets two states of tune - 85PS/200Nm and 110PS/245Nm, whereas the petrol makes 106PS and 142Nm. You can choose between a 5-speed manual or a CVT with the petrol motor, and a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed AMT with the more powerful diesel. Our pick would be the punchy 110PS diesel that seems at home on the open highways. Of course, it’s the only one in the pack to feature all-wheel drive. So, if getting dirty is your thing, the Duster is your only option for now.

Rivals: Maruti Suzuki S-Cross: Maruti's premium crossover suffers from the fact that it does not look like an SUV. It is a premium offering with a good amount of standard equipment, good space for five people and their luggage. Renault Captur: The Captur brings some style to a segment of boxy SUVs. If you want to stand out in the crowd or while munching highway miles, the big Renault is worth a dekko! Honda BR-V: Honda's offering in the segment is essentially a jacked up Mobilio with some mechanical changes to compensate for the raised stance. It is one of the only crossovers here which can seat seven people. Nissan Terrano: The Duster's better-looking cousin (for some), the Terrano suffers from being too overpriced for its own good. It does get a diesel AMT variant which is a good option for those looking for a convenient urban SUV. Hyundai Creta: There’s not much wrong with the Creta. It’s spacious, is built well inside out and drives well too. It’s got an appeal very few of its competitors can match.