Renault and Nissan are working on bringing their midsize SUV contenders, the new Duster and its yet-unnamed Nissan counterpart, to the Indian market by 2025. While certain details have come through light via teasers and our exclusive on the models' powertrain options, we now have new information that indicates that Nissan’s midsize SUV is going to be more upmarket than the new Renault Duster.
- Duster starting price to be lower than Nissan’s SUV
- New Nissan SUV to get more features than Duster
- Both models marked for export, but greater focus on Nissan SUV
Renault Duster, Nissan SUV: feature differences
The two SUVs will share a lot under the skin, from the heavily localised CMF-B platform to the likely three petrol engine option line-up, which could include the 1.0-litre HR10 and 1.3-lite HR13 turbo-petrols and a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol.
Naturally, the SUVs will be differentiated with brand specific styling cues, outside and in, but in a move that’s similar to the Maruti-Toyota partnership, Renault and Nissan will further separate the two by making feature and variant line-up differences. Sources tell us that Nissan’s SUV will be positioned higher than the Duster, have more upmarket features and specs, and be available in fewer variants.
It may be that the entry-level 1.5 NA engine will be reserved for the Duster. Similarly, top-spec variants of Nissan’s SUV are likely to have more premium kit, ranging from upholstery to tech, though there is no word on which upmarket features will be skipped for the Renault. This would mean that the Renault Duster would be a direct rival to more affordable midsize SUVs like the naturally aspirated petrol versions of the MG Astor (starting price: Rs 9.98 lakh) and Grand Vitara (Rs 10.99 lakh*). Meanwhile, Nissan's SUV will likely see more direct competition from the Honda Elevate (Rs 11.69 lakh*), Skoda Kushaq (Rs 11.59 lakh) and VW Taigun (Rs 11.62 lakh).
It is likely that the seven-seat version of the SUVs – they were previewed by the Bigster concept and are expected to launch in India by 2026 – will follow the same norm, with Renault’s Hyundai Alcazar rival being more affordable than Nissan’s.
Sources also tell us that while the made-in-India SUVs have been marked for import, Nissan’s version will be the one with a greater export focus, whereas the Renault Duster will be specified with the domestic market in mind.
Renault Duster, Nissan SUV: design differences
Thanks to the teasers released in March, we know that the upcoming Renault Duster for India bears some similarities with the model that has gone on sale abroad, though it gets a tweaked headlight design as well as a restyled front bumper. Meanwhile, the Nissan SUV features L-shaped LED DRLs that are connected by an LED light bar running across the nose.
More details will be revealed as the launches of the new Renault Duster, and its Nissan counterpart, near. Stay tuned.
All prices, ex-showroom, India
*Prices, ex-showroom, Delhi
Also see:
Renault Symbioz SUV revealed, shares platform with new Duster
Deep Drive Podcast: future of Renault, Nissan in India and more
Maruti Fronx AMT vs Nissan Magnite AMT comparison
Nissan X-Trail to get 1.5 turbo-petrol at launch; no hybrid
