Renault India’s first new product of the 2016 calendar year – the Renault Duster facelift, launched in India today.
Renault India’s first new product of the 2016 calendar year – the Renault Duster facelift, launched in India today. It does bring in the new face for this SUV, but more importantly company now brings in an option of most awaited automatic transmission in 2016 Renault Duster. Before this, in a refresh attempt prior to this facelift, Renault upgraded the hardware by adding all wheel drive capability. Now company has added an AMT version -named as Renault Duster Easy-R AMT, to the portfolio which can be seen as a response to the rising market demand for automatic SUVs. The 2016 Duster is priced competitively between INR 8.74 to 13.56 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi.
Many of us have seen this facelift model when it was launched in Brazil earlier and on the stage of during 2016 Indian Auto Expo.We will just highlight the key changes on this SUV – like new headlight bezel design, new front grill, revised bumpers, new LED tail lights, gunmetal finished alloy wheels, Kayak roof rails and turn indicators on rear view mirrors. Their is a new shade added to the color palette – named Cayenne Orange, which will be its signature shade used in promotional materials. The overall skeleton remains the same though and one can easily identify as a Duster. Company might see this update as an attempt to address niggling issues, which customers have reported over the period.
On the inside, 2016 Renault Duster gets better fit and finish and slightly better quality of materials all over the cabin. We strongly feel that the dashboard and central console should have been more exhaustively redesigned. Except the new central console which now has AC vents enveloped in one black surrounding along with 7-inch MEDIANAV infotainment system, nothing much has changed. Thankfully Renault team chose dark beige shade over the dull grey along with black for executing the dual tone treatment inside. Feature additions in this new car includes power windows with anti-pinch function, rear view camera and a display with reverse guide lines. Top spec car will get dual airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, ESP and Hill Start Assist. Engine options remains same as the older Duster.
The facelift comes at quite right time when Duster has started loosing its steam and was falling in salescharts. The reason were many, primary reason being the upgraded competition. Hyundai Creta, even though it is placed at much higher price point, did the damage with its rich feature list and impressive fit-finish levels – the areas where Renault Duster lagged. Now, better late than never, company seems to have crossed the hurdle and chalked out a product which will appeal to wider customer base because of it’s masculine presence and much justifiable price tag. Coming month’s sales will surely have an interesting tale to tell, as Honda will also bring in the BR-V and Tata Motors joining the party with production version of Nexon concept later this year.
The key highlight of the 2016 Renault Duster is this 6 speed AMT box.
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