All-new Renault Duster vs old Duster: Changes explained

Renault has finally unveiled the all-new Duster. The return of the Duster is significant, not just because the SUV was slated to be discontinued as early as 2022, but also because it marks Renault’s re-entry into India’s highly competitive midsize SUV space. Here’s how the new Duster is different from the old model.

Old vs New Renault Duster: Exterior

In terms of design, the change from the old Duster to the new one is quite significant. While the previous model had a more rounded design, the 2026 Duster, on the other hand, adopts a sharper, wider and more muscular stance.

At the front, the familiar large grille has been replaced by a thinner, more modern setup, flanked by sharp LED headlamps with Y-shaped DRLs. The bonnet is already high and flat, with raised folds. This new design language makes the Duster wider and more streamlined than the existing model.The side profile still has the classic Duster silhouette, but now looks sharper and more upright. It features thick body cladding, square wheel arches and the rear door handle relocated to the C-pillar. Both versions come with roof rails, but the ones on the new Duster are functional. The size of the wheels has also increased, with the new Duster getting 17-inch and 18-inch alloy wheels compared to the older model’s 16-inch units. The design also doesn’t look all that different but has been modernized.

At the rear, the old Duster had a simple, flat tailgate design with conventional tail-lamps. The new model gets a more sculpted bootlid with a sloping profile. Additionally, the Y-shaped lighting theme continues at the rear, with LED tail-lamps that protrude slightly from the body. It also gets a roof-integrated spoiler and a large silver skid plate. Another notable change includes the prominent Duster badging on both the front fascia and bootlid.

Old vs New Renault Duster: Engine Options

The outgoing Duster was based on the older platform, while the 2026 model is based on Renault Group’s modern and more rigid CMF-B architecture. The engine options have also been redesigned. Towards the end of its lifecycle in India, the old Duster was available with two petrol engines: a 1.5-litre unit that produced 106 PS and a more powerful 1.3-litre turbo-petrol that produced 156 PS.

For the 2026 Duster, Renault is offering two turbo-petrol engines. The turbo TCe 160 makes 163 PS and 280 Nm and comes mated to a 6-speed wet-clutch DCT. The turbo TCe 100 produces 100 PS and 160 Nm and is offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Finally, there is also a 1.8-litre strong hybrid motor with a 1.4 kWh battery pack. This powertrain can run in pure electric mode for up to 80 percent urban driving.

Old vs New Renault Duster: Interior

Inside the cabin, the old Duster was functional but its age was evident by the end of the run. The cabin of the old Duster was very functional earlier. The dashboard design was simple and a bit dated. The infotainment screen was smaller and more integrated into the dash, and the instrument cluster was basic.

As far as the new Duster is concerned, the dashboard now looks modern, wider and more layered. It has a strong horizontal layout, which makes the cabin feel wider and more SUV-like. The touchscreen infotainment system is bigger, sharper and now sits center stage in a tablet-style layout. Below that, the air vent design is cleaner, more technical. The instrument cluster, the new Duster gets a fully digital display that looks crisper and more informative, giving the driver access to navigation, vehicle data and driving modes. The design of the steering wheel has also changed. It now looks sportier and more premium with the flat bottom/The new cabin utilizes more textured surfaces, contrast stitching and layered trims, particularly on the dashboard and door pads. The center console looks much better organized, with better storage space and a more modern gear selector area. Additionally, the model now also features a fighter jet-style cockpit with elements centered around the driver. The outgoing Duster lacked ADAS, but the new model offers ADAS along with 17 India-specific features along with a 360-degree camera. Apart from this, it also gets electrically-operated tailgate, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, 6-way powered front seats with ventilation function and more.