New Renault Duster Arriving in January to Challenge Tata Sierra, Hyundai Creta

The long-awaited new-gen Renault Duster SUV will finally launch in India on January 26, 2026. Production of the SUV is expected to begin in December at Renault’s Chennai based manufacturing facility. It will directly rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Victoris and others in its category. However, the SUV will face its toughest challenge in the form of the Tata Sierra. 

Tata Motors is all set to launch the Sierra as a lifestyle SUV on November 25, 2025. The new SUV will measure 4.3 meters in length and will be a direct threat to all mid-sized SUVs in India. The new Renault Duster will also face the heat from Tata Sierra and Maruti Victoris. 

Renault will need to price the new Duster aggressively, as it will initially come with petrol engine only. On the flip side, most of its challengers are offered with multiple engine-gearbox combinations. Moreover, the Duster won’t get a diesel engine option. Diesels still accounts for close to 50 percent of the sales in the mid-sized SUV category, which is evident from the huge sales of Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. 

On the flip side, Maruti Suzuki is offering petrol, hybrid and CNG fuel options with the Victoris and Grand Vitara. Renault is also committed to hybrids, but the Duster hybrid won’t arrive before 2027. Similarly, Hyundai and Kia will also launch the Creta hybrid and Seltos hybrid in 2027. 

New Duster Key Details

The new-gen Renault Duster is based on the CMF-B modular platform, which is compatible with ICE and hybrid powertrains. The SUV is already on sale in select international markets, including Turkey, South Africa and Brazil. The India-spec model will look largely identical to the global-spec model. 

In terms of features, the SUV will have a large central infotainment unit with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a digital driver’s display, connected car tech, powered driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, automatic AC, panoramic sunroof and LEVEL 2 ADAS. 

The Duster will be powered by a 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine that produces up to 156bhp and 250Nm of torque. Transmission choices could include a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DCT. Renault could also offer the 1.0L turbo petrol engine in the lower-spec variants of the new Duster.

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