Renault has put some hard figures to what buyers have been wondering about: 19.41kpl for the 2026 1.0 turbo, as ARAI would have it. It’s the best on paper for the new Duster so far, and it makes for a compelling case to the value-minded SUV customer in India.
Why the 1.0 turbo is of interest
The 1.0-litre unit, or the Turbo TCe 100 as they call it, is mated to a 6-speed manual. According to Renault, it’s been tuned for the Duster’s fresh RGMP platform to put out 100hp and 160Nm of torque.
Sure, the kpl is the story, but it’s the rest of it that sells you. The 1.3-litre in this same SUV will do 17.75kpl with the manual and 18.45 with the auto. Put them side by side and the little one makes you go further on a tank of fuel.
In a nutshell:
– 19.41kpl from the 1.0 turbo
– You’re getting a manual with it
– Rs 10.49 to 13.49 lakh
– Right in the mix with the Kushaq and Taigun for mileage
A look at the competition
By ARAI’s reckoning, 19.41kpl is where the Duster is at in the world of 1.0-litre turbos. The VW Taigun 1.0 TSI is up to 19.98kpl with the manual (19.54 with the auto), while the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI is 19.66/19.09kpl for the manual and automatic respectively.
So on efficiency, the Duster is somewhere in between. Of course, being a midsize, it has to answer to a whole host of others: the Creta, Seltos, Grand Vitara, Hyryder, and the German pair from above.
What you get for your money
You’ll find the 1.0 in the Authentic, Evolution and Techno. Ex-showroom, we’re talking Rs 10.49 lakh to 13.49 lakh. It’s a range that should be within reach for anyone looking to move on from a top-end hatch or a smaller SUV.
On the inside and under the hood
There is more to the new Duster than just the stats. Get in and you’ll see leatherette with a bit of yellow and some matching work on the seats. There’s a 10.1-inch digital readout in front of a three-spoke wheel with all the controls you need on it.
The 10.1-inch infotainment screen is smooth enough and does wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. For comfort, you have dual-zone AC and 6-way power seats for both front occupants with heat and ventilation. And an electric tailgate for when you don’t want to be fiddling with it.
They’ve also upped the game on the safety front. We’re talking 17 features in a Level 2 ADAS package, a 360-degree view and tyre pressure monitoring. To a lot of people, that’s as important as the fuel economy.
More to come
All in all, the Duster has three ways to go. The 1.0 is one. The 1.3 puts 163 PS and 280 Nm to the ground and you can have a 6-speed manual or DCT with it. An 1.8 strong hybrid is on the way later in the year.
If you go with the 1.3 and the DCT, Renault will have you at 18.45 km/l. But if you are after the very best numbers, the 1.0’s 19.41kpl is hard to beat, and the way it is priced in the segment, it’s an easy choice for some.
