2026 Renault Duster vs Kia Seltos: The new Duster is making a strong comeback in the Indian market, while the Kia Seltos is already popular in the segment and is coming with some updates in the 2026 model. Both are compact SUVs that appeal to young buyers, but there are several differences. Here we look at the details of design, interior, features, safety, engine and performance.
Duster has a boxy and muscular look, which gives it a better SUV feel. It has a high bonnet, unique signature with LED DRLs, Duster branding on the bold grille, functional roof rails and a clean profile. It is 4346 mm long, 1815 mm wide and 1703 mm high, which gives rugged off-road appeal.
Whereas, Kia Seltos has a sharp and urban design, which looks more modern. It has the option of bold front grille, LED headlights, connected tail-lights, 18-inch alloy wheels and panoramic sunroof. It is 4460 mm long, 1830 mm wide and 1635 mm high, which is longer but less tall than the Duster.
Interior and Features
The interiors of the Duster are modern and techy, with a dual-screen setup (10.1-inch infotainment and 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster). It has a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate control, powered tailgate and ventilated front seats. Cabin space is good, but the rear seats have less leg room than the Seltos.
The interiors of the Kia Seltos feel more premium, with dual 10.25-inch panoramic screens, woven cloth or SynTex upholstery, 10-way power driver seat and more space. There is more comfort for the rear passengers and the boot space is equal to Duster (510 litres) (about 500 litres). The cabin of Seltos feels more luxurious.
Both the SUVs are feature-rich. The Duster gets wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, 48-colour ambient lighting, keyless entry, multi-drive modes, wireless charger and powered tailgate. The Seltos gets Bose premium audio, smart power liftgate, ventilated seats, highway driving assist and dual-zone AC. Seltos is more tech-focused, but Duster offers eco-friendly features with the hybrid option.
safety detail
The Duster gets 6 airbags as standard, ABS with EBD, ESC, TPMS, 360-camera and level 2 ADAS (Adaptive Cruise Control) in higher variants. The Seltos gets forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot warning, lane keeping assist, 6 airbags and ESC. Both have strong safety, but Seltos's ADAS seems more advanced.
Engine and Performance
The new Renault Duster comes with a total of 3 engine options. This includes 1.0L Turbo Petrol (100 PS, 160 Nm, 6MT), 1.3L Turbo Petrol (163 PS, 280 Nm, 6MT/6DCT) and 1.8L Strong Hybrid (160 PS, 172 Nm, 1.4 kWh battery). It is the most powerful in the segment, but no diesel engine is offered now.
On the other hand, Kia Seltos can also be purchased with 3 engine options. This includes the first 1.5L NA petrol (113 bhp, 144 Nm, MT/iVT), the second 1.5L turbo petrol (158 bhp, 253 Nm, DCT) and 1.5L diesel (114 bhp, 250 Nm, MT/AT). In the Turbo variant, 0-100 km/h is completed in 8-9 seconds and AWD option is also available with it.










