Renault Duster and Skoda Kushaq Facelift Arriving Soon to Rival Hyundai Creta

Two of the most-awaited midsized SUVs are set to go on sale in the month of March 2026. Renault will officially announce the prices of the new-gen Duster SUV on March 17, 2026. On the other hand, Skoda will launch the Kushaq facelift before the end of this month. Both SUVs have already been revealed, and most of the details including engine options, features and variants are already out. 

New Renault Duster

Renault has already started dispatching the new Duster to dealerships for customers preview. Interested customers can pre-book the new SUV online or at authorised Renault dealerships by paying a token amount of Rs 21,000. Deliveries for the new model will commence from April 2026. The new Renault Duster is expected to carry an aggressive price tag, thanks to the inclusion of the 1.0L, turbo petrol engine and high localisation levels. We expect the new Duster to cost somewhere around Rs 9.50 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, ex-showroom. 

The new Renault Duster will take on the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Maruti Grand Vitara, Kia Seltos, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Tata Sierra. It will be available with two turbo petrol engines, including a 100hp, 1.0L, 3-cylinder, turbo petrol and a 163hp, 1.3L, 4-cylinder turbo petrol. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual as standard and a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic with 1.3L turbo unit.

The SUV will also get a hybrid version, which is scheduled to be launched by October 2026. It will get a 109bhp, 1.8L, 4-cylinder petrol engine paired with a 49bhp electric motor, a 1.4kWh battery pack and a 20bhp hybrid starter generator (HSG). The combined power and torque output stands at 160bhp and 172Nm, respectively.

New Skoda Kushaq Facelift

The new Kushaq comes with cosmetic design and interior changes along with a longer list of features. It will be available in 5 trims - Classic+, Signature, Sportline, Prestige, and Monte Carlo. Except for the base variant, the SUV now comes with a new front parking sensors. It comes with a fresh look, featuring a new bumper, a new grille with segmented LED inserts, and updated headlamps. It comes with a newly styled 17-inch alloy wheels, new LED tail-lights with a connected light bar and a redesigned tailgate. 

Inside the cabin, the 2026 Skoda Kushaq gets massage function for the rear seats, an electric sunroof (base variant), a panoramic sunroof on higher trims, ventilated front seats, a 10.25-inch driver’s display and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment unit. It is available with two engine options - a 1.0L, 3-cylinder turbo petrol and a 1.5L, 4-cylinder TSI petrol. It also offers three transmission options - a six-speed manual, a seven-speed DSG, and a new eight-speed torque converter automatic.

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