Automotive journalists are always talking up the need for cheerful and least expensive back to basics transport. The all-new Renault Duster is what happens when we in fact get it. It is the cheapest compact sport utility vehicle available designed and developed by communists for providing as much as space as possible. Akin to its name, the Duster is a typical sport utility vehicle with robust 4x4 features. At front, you will notice rugged appearance combined with vigorous looking wheel arches. It is the cheapest sport utility vehicle to be ever produced by Renault that’s designed and engineered on Nissan B0 platform.

A sport utility vehicle that’s as powerful as it is elegant and sleek. A vehicle that’s won accolades across the world. It is the Renault Duster. With distinctive design, which is both compact and trendy, it will be changing the way India looks at sport utility vehicles. The current all-terrain sport utility vehicles are often synonymous with bulk; however it is a solution to that idea. With 1.82 meters wide and 4.31 meters tall, the Duster is quite compact, while its Megane size proportions make sure that it is as at home in built up regions. The Duster was designed and engineered for coping up with all kinds of track and road, across the globe. So as to meet these extensive needs, it will be offered in both 4x2 and 4x4 form.

The Renault Duster’s reinforced underside is best suited for all-terrain and loose surfaces, thanks to large clearance angles, 210mm of high ground clearance and short overhangs (820mm at the back and 82mm at front). It was born out of simple premise, which a real need existed in the world for a comfortable, rugged and affordable sport utility vehicle, a segment that’s at present not well served. To fill this gap, the Renault Group planned to design and develop a vehicle with all-terrain capability aimed originally at rising markets. In rising markets like Brazil, Russia and more, the middle segments aspire to owning a contemporary vehicle, which reflects their social status.

At first glance, the Renault Duster’s front conveys a sense of roughness, thanks to its high ground clearance, impressive sump guard and chrome grille and wide wheel arches. The passengers of Duster will surely appreciate its high standard of traveling comfort; it offers whatever the kind of terrain or road with its specific work on suspension (calibration, damper travel and springs) and high ride height. Comfort is further improved by its large 16 inch wheels and long wheelbase of 2.67m.

The Renault Duster is available in five different variants; these include:

Renault Duster 1.6 litre petrol that’s a base trim propelled by petrol 1.6 litre engine generating 105 horsepower with 145 newton meters of torque. The engine is mated to 6-speed manual transmission with 2 wheel drive system. It offers comfortable seating capacity for up to five passengers and is offered for Rs. 7 lakh.

Renault Duster petrol 4WD is likely to be motivated by a petrol 1.6 litre powerplant teamed up with the same 6-speeed manual gearbox, but with four-wheel drive system that sends power to all wheels.

Renault Duster 1.5 litre 85 diesel comes with a 1.5 litre DCi diesel powerplant like the one found in Nissan Micra. This powerplant is good for cranking out 95 horsepower with plenty of torque. The quality of Duster sport utility vehicle gives a tough competition to other models including BMW X1 and Skoda Yeti. It is available for the price range between Rs. 8-9 lakh.

Powering the Renault Duster 1.5 litre 110 diesel is a 1.5 litre diesel engine that generates 110 horsepower and offers five-passenger seating capacity. It also provides plush interior and is available for Rs. 9 lakh.

Those who are in the market looking for a sport utility vehicle that features a four-wheel drive system and is quite affordable, the Renault Duster diesel 4WD is a good choice. It is propelled by a 1.5 DCi diesel engine that produces 110 horsepower. It will be available between the price range of Rs. 10 to 11 lakh.

The all-new Renault Duster comes standard with plenty of safety features, which include EBV electronic brakeforce distribution, EBA emergency brake assist and Bosch 8.1 ABS. It also adds 3-point seatbelts with load limiters for front seats and 2 front airbags. Depending on the trim level, 2 lateral head/thorax airbags is fitted as standard as well as the front passenger and driver airbags. Introduced last year at Buenos Aires Auto Show, the Renault Duster is designed and engineered at Curitiba facility situated in Brazil and appeared on Argentinean and Brazilian markets in October last year.