Model arrives in Asia in the first half of the year; under the same platform as the Kardian and Boreal, it promises to fit in between SUVs
Renault has been gaining space in the market with its latest SUVs launched. Both the medium Boreal and the compact Kardian were elected Car of the Year by Quatro Rodas magazine in 2025 and 2024, respectively. Now, to fill a space among its SUVs, the French manufacturer presents a new generation of the Duster — a strong and emblematic name, which promises to remain relevant and competitive in this new phase.
Like its SUV “brothers”, the new Renault Duster will also arrive in Brazil, although without an official date set. In India, the model begins its commercialization by the end of the first half of the year, with a later launch in South Africa and the Gulf countries. The Indian market, currently the third largest in the world, plays a strategic role within the brand’s global plan, the so-called Renault International Game Plan 2027.
SEE ALSO:
The new Renault Duster is even more in line with the Kardian and Boreal. The SUV is built on the CMF-B platform, the same used by its siblings, which reinforces the sharing of technologies and structural solutions. Still, the model maintains important differences in dimensions. When spotted in Brazil at the end of last year, the Auto Segredos portal revealed that the new Duster is slightly longer in length, with 4.34 meters (against 4.31 m of the current generation), but loses a few centimeters in the wheelbase, which becomes 2.65 m (compared to 2.67 m). On the other hand, it grows in height, reaching 1.69 m (previously 1.65 m), while the width is 1.81 m (compared to 1.83 m).
Visually, the Duster also inherits several elements from Renault’s other SUVs. The taillights refer directly to the Kardian, while the headlights are clearly inspired by the Boreal, with emphasis on the LED signature — an important novelty for the model. Overall, the SUV is much more sophisticated and modern than previous generations, evidencing the aesthetic evolution of the brand. The use of the same structural base as the other launches also helps to align the Duster with Renault’s new global visual portfolio.
In the mechanical set, the SUV uses the well-known 1.3 turbo gasoline engine with 163 hp and 28,5 kgfm of torque, always associated with the six-speed dual-clutch automated transmission — the same set as the Boreal. The big news, however, is the confirmation of a hybrid version of the HEV type, which combines a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine, 1.4 kWh battery and eight-speed transmission with two electric motors. Although the official figures for this configuration have not yet been released for India, in other markets the system delivers about 160 hp.
Inside, the new Duster also evolves significantly. The panel now has two screens integrated into a single piece, a solution similar to that seen in the Boreal, in addition to a multimedia system developed in partnership with Google. Sharing the platform also allows for the sharing of driving, connectivity and driver assistance technologies, reducing development costs and expanding the SUV’s technological package.
The launch of the new Renault Duster in India represents more than just the presentation of a new generation. There, the model carries a strong symbolic appeal: originally launched in 2012, the Duster inaugurated the compact SUV segment in the country and has already surpassed the mark of 200 thousand units sold. Now, it returns completely renewed to compete for space in a market dominated by SUVs, which today represent almost 55% of car sales in the country.
Produced at the Chennai plant in India, the new Renault Duster is a key part of the brand’s growth strategy outside Europe, including markets such as South America.
