Drove the New Renault Duster Iconic 1.3 Turbo Petrol — Here's My Honest Take
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So I finally got to test drive the new Duster Iconic (1.3 turbo petrol) and wanted to share my thoughts for anyone sitting on the fence about this one. Long post ahead, but I'll break it down section by section.[OC]
Engine & Performance
The 1.3 turbo petrol is a solid unit. Usable torque is good — overtakes are effortless and you won't be stressing on highways. It doesn't demand you overthink every manoeuvre, which is exactly what you want from a family SUV.
That said, I couldn't help comparing it to the old Duster diesel. The lower-end torque is noticeably absent here — the diesel had that effortless grunt from low RPMs that this engine just doesn't replicate. To be fair though, I might be holding an unfair grudge from the old gen. Taken on its own merits, it's a capable engine. Reliability is still an unknown since this is a relatively new engine in India. Worth keeping in mind.
Ride Quality & Handling
This is where the Duster absolutely shines and honestly nothing in this segment comes close. The suspension tune is brilliant — it soaks up bad roads without breaking a sweat. Kerala roads? Not a problem.Steering is fairly precise and well-weighted. One minor complaint — the shape of the steering wheel felt a bit off to me personally, though the grip itself was comfortable. Turning radius is also surprisingly good for an SUV of this size.
Interior & Features
The interior feels genuinely upmarket. Fit and finish is good and the feature list is loaded for the price point.
One thing I have to call out, the digital driver display (speedometer + RPM) looks a bit childish in my opinion. Feels slightly out of place in an otherwise mature cabin. Subjective, I know, but it bothered me.On the positive side all four windows have one-touch up AND down. Sounds basic, but try finding that on newer VAG products in this price range. Small thing, big convenience.
Space & Practicality
Didn't spend much time in the back row during the test drive, but from what I could tell, rear passenger space feels slightly tighter than segment rivals. The Duster was never a class leader here so not a huge surprise, but worth noting if you're regularly carrying 5 adults. Boot space looks decent from the outside but couldn't properly evaluate it.
Stance & Design
Honestly? The Duster's stance is one of the best looking in the segment right now. It has a road presence that the Creta and Seltos just don't have in my opinion. It looks like an actual SUV, not just a tall hatchback. This alone would make me look at it seriously.
Price & Value
The Iconic variant is competitively priced for what it offers. No major complaints there. The bigger question is how it holds up against the Creta and Seltos in the market. Both those cars have diesel options, and diesel still makes up a huge chunk of SUV sales in India especially for people doing long highway runs. The Duster currently has no diesel, which is a genuine gap. However, the upcoming hybrid variant could potentially fill that role — better efficiency, good low-end torque, and a cleaner alternative. If Renault delivers on that, the lineup becomes much more complete.
One more thing — expect service costs to be slightly higher than Hyundai or Kia equivalents. Renault's service network and parts availability have historically been a concern, and that's a fair thing to factor in before buying.
Verdict
The new Duster is for someone who wants a different car in this segment — not just another Creta clone. It has a distinct identity, a genuinely great ride, and solid performance for everyday use.
Recommend it if: You want character over conformity, prioritise ride quality and highway comfort, and aren't dependent on diesel.
Think twice if: You do high mileage and need diesel efficiency, rely on a strong service network, or need maximum rear seat space.
Personally, I'd watch the hybrid version closely. If they get that right, the Duster could be a very serious option.
Test drove the Iconic 1.3 turbo petrol — happy to answer questions in the comments.