Renault Duster Review & Pictures

[GM88]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

Wow what a comprehensive review on the Duster 350Z sir. Even a 5 star rating would be less for this. Tremendous effort it seems has been done to give such minute details about this car. It took me almost 20minutes to read it only.

Now going about the Duster itself, Its a brilliant car no doubts about it. First of its kind in the Indian market. We are in the market for an urban SUV too and i was completely in love with the Duster. Fits the bill perfectly but the only let down i felt was the interior plastics are really not upto the mark,the metal sheet used is lighter to as compared to likes of my Ford Fiesta Classic and VW Polo.
Plus the outrageous price hikes that Renault has done seeing this car fly of the shelf seems very unethical to me.

One thing i feel is this car has tremendous Modification potential. Seen myself some brilliantly modded up Dusters here in Chandigarh itself.

Drive wise i would say it is miles ahead than the likes of Scorpio or Xylo. Drives impeccably and the steering feedback is also pretty good. Just the let down IMO is the price as per now.
Looking forward for the Ecosport to launch now and see how it fairs against this French beast. Will take the final decision then.

 

[Raja]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

I want to ask just one question . - why the hell have you not been writing reviews before ? I have not read such a comprehensive review of any car till date anywhere . This review can be published as a book on duster .
Kudos to you . Superb in depth review and stunning pictures . TAI has raised its standard with class and finnese .

We want ecosport review from you and only you .

 

[Vishwas]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

Wohoo the review is is just colossal!

Superb Vibhor! you have covered each and every aspects very well and the explanation for each of them was superb that i did not know duster carries many parts and features where even a common man doesn't (it's owners probably) know about it.

Though i feel duster isn't to my taste, i find it much appealing to the buyers of SUV's and the range it offers is very good (only thing which keeps some of them is the price), but anyway as an enthusiast i really appreciate Renault for super good selling strategy used behind and the out-come is a thing which they should party around.

Superb and the best review till date on TAI!!

 

[Gurrala74]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

@Vibhor,

Oh !! excellent review buddy, I am really impressed with it and wish to see many more reviews from you and yes look forward for the ES review from you.

Only thing I felt is timing of the review, based on Duster launch time the review is bit delayed Sir

 

[Iron Rock]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

Excellent Excellent stuff 350z blockbuster review for a blockbuster car! kudos !

 

[Surfer]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

Very good review 350Z. So many details and unknown facts covered. Very helpful to proposed buyers.

 

[350Z]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

Wow what a comprehensive review on the Duster 350Z sir. Even a 5 star rating would be less for this. Tremendous effort it seems has been done to give such minute details about this car. It took me almost 20minutes to read it only.

I want to ask just one question . - why the hell have you not been writing reviews before ? I have not read such a comprehensive review of any car till date anywhere . This review can be published as a book on duster . Kudos to you . Superb in depth review and stunning pictures . TAI has raised its standard with class and finnese .

Wohoo the review is is just colossal!
Superb and the best review till date on TAI!!

@Vibhor,

Oh !! excellent review buddy, I am really impressed with it and wish to see many more reviews from you and yes look forward for the ES review from you.

Excellent Excellent stuff 350z blockbuster review for a blockbuster car! kudos !

Very good review 350Z. So many details and unknown facts covered. Very helpful to proposed buyers.

Thanks for the compliments. It’s the beginning. Buckle up; we have a lot more action coming up shortly.

but the only let down i felt was the interior plastics are really not upto the mark

Yes, certain plastic bits are a thumbs down but Ecosport is no different in this aspect (at least from what I saw last month).

the metal sheet used is lighter to as compared to likes of my Ford Fiesta Classic and VW Polo.

Not comparing with the German, but Duster’s build is more rigid and better than my Fiesta Classic.

We want ecosport review from you and only you .

That’s a sure thing. I’m as much excited to test drive Ford Ecosport as you’re.

Only thing I felt is timing of the review, based on Duster launch time the review is bit delayed Sir

I accept the delay but hey, it’s better late than never. We thought to cover up a few major missed launches first and eventually roll to the news ones.

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[P3T3R]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

Excellent review of an excellent vehicle. Rated 5 stars.

 

[GM88]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

Yes, certain plastic bits are a thumbs down but Ecosport is no different in this aspect (at least from what I saw last month).

Not comparing with the German, but Duster’s build is more rigid and better than my Fiesta Classic.

Ok haven't checked out the Ecosport in person myself,but if the interior plastics are anywhere close to the ones in the new Fiesta which it shares its dash design with,i'll be more than happy.

Regarding build quality of the Duster, i did test drive the car like 5 times and every time, that solidity was missing. The way the doors shut is not at all confidence inspiring, its got a very tin box noise when you shut it. No rubber beading on the doors either. The headlamp rotatory switch felt as it would come in my hands only if i don't use it delicately, plus it had so many rough edges all around inside. The power windows switch on the driver's side feel so out of place and very cheap.It looks like an after market addition like the ones people used to get on their Maruti 800's earlier. Plus the metal sheet,specially on the front and rear fender,if you punch/push it a little it used to go inside on the one i tried on. That's why i felt the built quality on the poorer side. Of course its a no match to the German, but i felt even the Fiesta Classic felt a tad better built than this one.
Metal sheet used i would say was more on par with the likes of Japanese manufacturers like Honda or Suzuki and surely a no match to the solidity that you get with the likes of Fiat, Volkswagen, Skoda and maybe Ford too

P.S. - As you would be test driving the Ecosport soon,please compare its built quality against the Duster specially on the way the doors shut and the thickness of the metal sheet used all around.

 

[Gurrala74]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

I accept the delay but hey, it’s better late than never. We thought to cover up a few major missed launches first and eventually roll to the news ones.

Drive Safe,
350Z

@Vibhor, Sorry I am not trying to point you out here, but just felt that it would have been very useful for the prospective buyers and would have been a hit on the web space if it could have been done immediately after the launch. Anyway nice effort buddy and wish to see ES review immediately after its launch

 

[Raja]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

Ok haven't checked out the Ecosport in person myself,but if the interior plastics are anywhere close to the ones in the new Fiesta which it shares its dash design with,i'll be more than happy.

Regarding build quality of the Duster, i did test drive the car like 5 times and every time, that solidity was missing. The way the doors shut is not at all confidence inspiring, its got a very tin box noise when you shut it. No rubber beading on the doors either. The headlamp rotatory switch felt as it would come in my hands only if i don't use it delicately, plus it had so many rough edges all around inside. The power windows switch on the driver's side feel so out of place and very cheap.It looks like an after market addition like the ones people used to get on their Maruti 800's earlier. Plus the metal sheet,specially on the front and rear fender,if you punch/push it a little it used to go inside on the one i tried on. That's why i felt the built quality on the poorer side. Of course its a no match to the German, but i felt even the Fiesta Classic felt a tad better built than this one.
Metal sheet used i would say was more on par with the likes of Japanese manufacturers like Honda or Suzuki and surely a no match to the solidity that you get with the likes of Fiat, Volkswagen, Skoda and maybe Ford too

P.S. - As you would be test driving the Ecosport soon,please compare its built quality against the Duster specially on the way the doors shut and the thickness of the metal sheet used all around.

The doors shut with a nice thud and are quite heavy too in the ES . ES I can assure you is built much much better then duster . Iam saying this after seeing the ES more then 5 times .

 

[Raja]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

The compact crossover SUV has become a sensational hit and in fact it single handedly manages to keep Renault India in the front line. The Duster contributes to about 80% of the company’s total sales in India.

In the process, the mini SUV has dethroned the Mahindra Scorpio to become the best selling SUV in India. Business Standard reports that the Duster clocked over 6,300 units this March compared to Scorpio’s 4,700 units.

The Scorpio has been at the top of the table for quite sometime now but it’s been more than 4 years since the SUV got a refresh. Another interesting fact is that the Duster managed to snatch the supremacy in less than one year.
Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Sumit Sawhney, executive director, marketing and sales at Renault India, said: “The Duster is a very well accepted product in the market. This gives us the confidence for a better performance. We have made additions to the product which has helped us achieve incremental volumes”.

The SUV segment in India has grown at a rate of 52% last year with the Duster playing a major role. This year will see the introduction of the Ford EcoSport and Nissan’s version of Duster, resulting in a three pronged attack on the SUV segment.

Will the current situation force Mahindra to upgrade the Scorpio at the earliest?

Source - indian autos blog

 

[GM88]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

The doors shut with a nice thud and are quite heavy too in the ES . ES I can assure you is built much much better then duster . Iam saying this after seeing the ES more then 5 times .

Thanks for that Raja. I am sure going by the quality of the new Ford Fiesta,the body metal would have been thick enough and to top it all that nice thud noise coming from the door shutting is self re-assuring about the solid built.

Eagerly waiting for the official TAI review on the Ecosport from 350Z.

The compact crossover SUV has become a sensational hit and in fact it single handedly manages to keep Renault India in the front line. The Duster contributes to about 80% of the company’s total sales in India.

In the process, the mini SUV has dethroned the Mahindra Scorpio to become the best selling SUV in India. Business Standard reports that the Duster clocked over 6,300 units this March compared to Scorpio’s 4,700 units.

The Scorpio has been at the top of the table for quite sometime now but it’s been more than 4 years since the SUV got a refresh. Another interesting fact is that the Duster managed to snatch the supremacy in less than one year.
Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Sumit Sawhney, executive director, marketing and sales at Renault India, said: “The Duster is a very well accepted product in the market. This gives us the confidence for a better performance. We have made additions to the product which has helped us achieve incremental volumes”.

The SUV segment in India has grown at a rate of 52% last year with the Duster playing a major role. This year will see the introduction of the Ford EcoSport and Nissan’s version of Duster, resulting in a three pronged attack on the SUV segment.

Will the current situation force Mahindra to upgrade the Scorpio at the earliest?

Source - indian autos blog

Duster has totally shook up the whole Indian auto market. Dethroning a king who had been on the top consistently over the last few years is really a commendable job and that to coming from a manufacturer who is barely 2 years old in the Indian set-up itself. It does have it own flaws, but it does most of the things absolutely right. Urban commuter for those living in areas with not so well laid out roads, this one makes absolute sense because of its increased ground clearance and the car like drive it provides. Go anywhere vehicle. Plus its a looker no doubt about it. But i don't feel it as a VFM option anymore after those regular price hikes.

Now waiting to see if the new Ford EcoSport can match up to these brilliant numbers of the Renault in the future.

For Scorpio, Mahindra needs to launch the new generation Scorpio as soon as possible to capture the lost ground. Though i see no signs of it coming till maybe 2014.

 

[manojodungat]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

Superb review 350Z
Your attention to every single detail which in turn very well complemented by self explanatory pictures is commendable indeed. I am thinking of test driving one and if convinced might go for a Duster, provided I get a good deal for my Scorpy.

For Scorpio, Mahindra needs to launch the new generation Scorpio as soon as possible to capture the lost ground.

Monthly sales figures:

From the customer POV an upgraded/all new Scorpio is expected at the earliest, since its been FOUR years since the current Scorpio received a facelift. But the question is whether the manufacturer feels any immediate need for it ? Looking at the sales figures, I doubt.

 

[350Z]

Re: Renault Duster Road Test Drive Review

The review has been updated with a couple of additional points: 'An unobstructed view of rear' and 'Marking to distinguish 110PS Duster'.

Drive Safe,
350Z