Renault Duster vs Maruti Grand Vitara: Two Hybrid SUVs came face to face! Which is better between the two?

Renault Duster vs Maruti Grand Vitara: Two Hybrid SUVs came face to face! Which is better between the two?

by with No Comment Car Review

New Renault Duster vs Maruti Grand Vitara: Both the new Renault Duster and Maruti Grand Vitara will compete with each other in the mid-size SUV segment in the Indian market. The new Duster will return in 2026 with a modern design, powerful engine and better features, while the Grand Vitara is known for its hybrid technology, Maruti's reliability and good sales. Let us take a look at their design, interior, features, safety, engine and performance details.

Talking about design, the look of the new Renault Duster is quite aggressive and muscular. It gets a rugged appearance with a new front grille, LED headlights, C-shaped daytime running lights, roof rails and 212 mm ground clearance. It gives more off-road look and the body looks wider (about 2069 mm) and stronger.

On the other hand, the design of Maruti Grand Vitara is more premium and stylish. It has sleek LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, chrome accents and smooth lines, making it family-oriented and attractive for urban use. The length of the Grand Vitara is 4345 mm and width is 1795 mm, which is slightly less than the Duster, but looks balanced. Overall, the design of the Duster is adventurous, while that of the Grand Vitara is more sophisticated.

How much difference is there in the interior?

Both the cars offer good space. The new Duster has a dual-screen setup – 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment and 10.25-inch digital driver display. Multi-colour ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, wireless charger and a large boot space of 510 liters are available. The cabin feels premium but the plastic quality is average at some places.

The Grand Vitara's interior feels more refined and premium, with soft-touch materials, a large panoramic sunroof, good fit-finish and comfortable seating. Boot space is 373 litres, which is less than the Duster but adequate for family use. Both have 5 seater configuration, but rear space and comfort is slightly better in Grand Vitara.

Features and safety

Grand Vitara is ahead in terms of features. It has segment-first features like panoramic sunroof, head-up display, 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, cruise control, auto climate control and AllGrip AWD (in some variants). The Duster also gets a panoramic sunroof, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, OTA updates, powered tailgate and dual-zone AC, but the Grand Vitara has a bigger feature list.

Duster gets 6 airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), 360-degree camera, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) like lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and autonomous emergency braking. The Grand Vitara also has 6 airbags, ESC, TPMS and 360-degree camera, but the ADAS full suite looks more advanced in the Duster.

Engine and Performance

The new Duster has three engine options. In this, first 1.0L turbo petrol (100 PS, 160 Nm), second 1.3L turbo TCe 160 (163 PS, 280 Nm) and third largest 1.8L strong hybrid E-Tech (163 PS, better mileage) engine will be available. The top variant has a segment-leading 280 Nm torque, which gives excellent performance on the highway. There are also 6-speed MT/DCT options.

Grand Vitara has 1.5L mild hybrid petrol (103 PS, 139 Nm), strong hybrid (116 PS, 141 Nm) and CNG (87 PS) options. Its focus is on fuel efficiency. ARAI mileage goes up to 21-28 kmpl. In terms of performance, Duster can be more powerful and fun-to-drive. However, we have not driven it yet. There itself. The Grand Vitara is smooth and economical.

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Auto News Weekly Wrap-Up: From grand entry of new Duster to India-EU free trade, these are the 5 big news of the week

Auto News Weekly Wrap-Up: From grand entry of new Duster to India-EU free trade, these are the 5 big news of the week

by with No Comment Car Review

Auto News Weekly Wrap-Up: This week was very exciting for the Indian automobile sector. The biggest highlight was the grand entry of 2026 Renault Duster, which is ready to compete with Creta-Seltos with new design, ADAS, hybrid option and premium features.

Imported luxury cars may soon become cheaper through India-EU FTA. With huge reduction in duty, these can be purchased at less money. The Skoda Kylaq touched the 50,000 units production milestone, while the Volkswagen Tayron R-Line and BMW X3 30 xDrive M Sport Pro also made headlines. How was the last week of January 2025 full of new launches, trade deals and milestones? Come, let us know.

Entry of 2026 Renault Duster

The biggest news is the unveiling of 2026 Renault Duster. Renault introduced the New Gen Duster in India on 26 January 2026 in Chennai. This iconic SUV is back after four years and is now coming in its third generation with a completely new design, features and powertrain. The India-specific model has two turbo-petrol engine options. This includes 1.0-litre and 1.3-litre (160 bhp, 280 Nm). Additionally, there will also be a strong hybrid variant (1.8-litre petrol + electric motor, total 160 hp), which will be launched by Diwali 2026.

Features include many premium elements like 10-inch touchscreen (Google OS), ADAS, panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, 212 mm ground clearance and 518-litre boot space. Pre-bookings have started at ₹21,000, prices will be announced in March and deliveries are scheduled from April 2026. It will compete with competitors like Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara.

India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

The second important news is the agreement of India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). With this, imported cars can become cheaper. Recently India and the European Union have approved the “Mother of All Deals”. Under this FTA, the import duty on European cars will be reduced from 110% to 40% first and later to 10%.

This will mainly apply to cars priced above 15,000 euros and there will be a quota of 250,000 vehicles annually. With this, luxury cars like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche can become cheaper by 20-30%. However, this benefit will start being available from 2027-2028, because the legal process and implementation will take time. This will be a big boost for European brands in the Indian market and may affect locally produced models as well.

Bumper demand for Skoda Kylaq

Skoda Kylak has touched a major production milestone. Skoda has completed production of 50,000 units of Kylaq at its Chakan plant, which has happened in just over a year. This compact SUV has become quite popular after production started in December 2024. Due to increase in demand, the capacity of the plant has been increased by 30%. Kylaq prices start at ₹7.59 lakh and is the most affordable product from Skoda.

VW Skoda Kylaq unveiled

Volkswagen also introduced the India-spec Tayron R-Line. This 7-seater premium SUV is based on the Tiguan platform, but comes with a different design. It has a 2.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine (201 bhp, 320 Nm), 4MOTION AWD, panoramic sunroof, 30-color ambient lighting, large boot space and ADAS features. This will be Volkswagen's flagship SUV and will be positioned above the Tiguan R-Line.

BMW X3 30 xDrive M Sport Pro

The last big news is about the BMW X3 30 xDrive M Sport Pro. BMW has confirmed the launch of this new variant and pre-bookings have started from January 30, 2026. This will be the most powerful X3 till date, which has a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine (258 hp). Big wheels, new exterior elements and premium features will be available with the M Sport Pro package. It will be produced locally at the Chennai plant and is expected to be launched on 16 February.

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Duster preparing for a spectacular 'comeback' in the Indian market, will make grand entry in the market after 25 days

Duster preparing for a spectacular 'comeback' in the Indian market, will make grand entry in the market after 25 days

by with No Comment Car Review

New Delhi. Renault will launch the new Duster in India on 26 January 2026. As the launch date approaches, glimpses of the new Duster are being seen several times during its testing. Now the latest spy images have revealed fresh details about this much awaited SUV. The comeback of Duster in the Indian market is also special because it is considered to be India's first compact SUV. SUVs like Nexon and Creta also came into the market after this. The new spy shots show that the front design of the Duster and many major body panels are clearly visible, from which its final look can be estimated. New look and updated features can be seen in the new Duster being introduced to compete with Hyundai Creta, which may again increase people's interest in Renault's SUV lineup.

What was seen in the spy shots?
In the new spy shots, the Duster is seen parked on the roadside in Tamil Nadu with heavy camouflage. The front, side and rear of the SUV are visible in these pictures, whose stance and silhouette are very similar to the international variant. However, India-specific styling elements have been glimpsed in Renault's previously released teaser. While the global variant gets Y-shaped LED DRLs, the Indian version will get eyebrow-style DRL elements, which will clearly differentiate the two variants.

Confirmed Features
It has also been confirmed from Renault's teaser that the Duster coming to India will get a connected LED tail-lamp cluster, which is becoming quite popular in the Indian market these days. This feature is not available in the global variant, but this special design element will be seen in the SUV to be launched in India. Apart from this, new alloy wheel designs can also be seen, which will make the new Duster look more different from the international model and its look will look even more modern.

These features are also present
The rear profile of the new Renault Duster has a notched spoiler, which gives it a sporty look. The tailgate has also got a new design, in which the number plate holder is now given below the Renault badge. Other details include a shark-fin antenna, more inclined design of the rear windshield and a stronger bumper layout. The tail lamps are expected to have a Y-shaped signature, but it is difficult to confirm due to heavy camouflage. Interestingly, the prototype is seen fitted with small, temporary tail lamp units.

Multiple powertrain options
Talking about the specifications, the globally available Renault Duster has several powertrain options, such as a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine with a 48V mild hybrid system, which gives a total power of 128.2 hp. Additionally, the 1.6-litre Strong Hybrid petrol engine comes with two electric motors, powered by a 1.2kWh battery and produces 138 hp of peak power. Additionally, a 1.0-litre petrol-LPG engine is also available, which generates power of 98.6 hp and powers all four wheels with a 6-speed transmission.

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2026 will start with a bang, 4 new SUVs will be unveiled in January itself

2026 will start with a bang, 4 new SUVs will be unveiled in January itself

by with No Comment Car Review

New Delhi. The year 2025 was a great year for the Indian automobile market. Many great cars hit the market this year. Now the beginning of 2026 is also going to be a blast for car lovers. Four big SUVs will be launched in January 2026, which include the new generation Kia Seltos, Mahindra XUV 7XO (updated XUV700), Maruti E Vitara and third generation Renault Duster. The prices of the all-new Kia Seltos will be announced on January 2, while its bookings have already started. Deliveries are expected to begin by mid-January 2026. The official debut of Mahindra XUV 7XO will be on January 5, after which its market launch will also take place soon. At the same time, the long awaited new Renault Duster will debut in India on January 26, while the launch date of Maruti E Vitara has not been revealed yet. Let us know about these four upcoming midsize SUVs.

new kia seltos

The 2026 Kia Seltos will see major design changes and improvements in features, while the engine options will remain the same. The new model will be longer, wider and more spacious than the current generation. Its features include panoramic display, 10-way power driver seat with memory/lumbar, panoramic sunroof, electronic parking brake, Level 2 ADAS and other features.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

The Mahindra XUV 7XO (Mahindra XUV700 facelift) will get design elements inspired by the Features like 540-degree camera, new ADAS visualization and in-car theater mode (BYOD functionality support) have been confirmed in the official teaser. 2.0L turbo petrol and 2.2L diesel engines will continue to be used in the SUV.

Maruti E Vitara

Maruti E Vitara, the first electric car from the Indo-Japanese automaker, will hit dealerships in January 2026. Like the global version, the India-spec model will get 49kWh and 61kWh battery pack options, both with a front-axle mounted electric motor. E Vitara will be one of the most feature-packed cars of Maruti Suzuki in India.

new reno duster

The next generation Renault Duster is one of the biggest new car launches of the year. The SUV will be built on CMF-B architecture and will see a completely new design language. Its interior will be more premium and feature-packed than before. The 2026 Renault Duster is expected to be offered in India with 1.3L turbo and 1.2L mild hybrid petrol engine options.

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Just wait a little more, new Renault Duster is coming back, first glimpse revealed

Just wait a little more, new Renault Duster is coming back, first glimpse revealed

by with No Comment Car Review

New Delhi. The teaser of the new 2026 Renault Duster has been released before its official launch, which will take place on January 26, 2025. The teaser shows connected LED taillamps, with Renault's new logo in the middle, as well as front LED DRLs (daytime running lights). The video pays an emotional tribute to the SUV, showing kids playing with the toy Duster. In this, scenes of the old model walking amidst mountains, forests and water are also shown. The video ends with a celebration of the “Gangs of Duster” community, combining memories and adventure to pave the way for Duster’s return in 2026.

brand new design
Based on CMF-B architecture, the new Renault Duster will see a completely new design, in which some changes have been made according to the market. Its front will be bolder than before, with a new grille, Y-shaped LED headlamps and DRLs, new fog lamp assembly and sporty bumper with large air dams. Other design highlights include Y-shaped LED taillamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, heavy side cladding, raised wheel arches and roof rails.

Premium Features
The cabin layout and features of the new 2026 Renault Duster coming to India will be similar to the global model. This SUV will be much more premium and feature-loaded than the previous generation. It is expected to get a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 7-inch color driver display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging pad, panoramic sunroof, Arkamys Classic 6-speaker sound system, ambient lighting, Level 2 ADAS and more.

Engine Options
The new Renault Duster 2026 can come in India with two petrol engine options – 1.3L Turbo and 1.2L Mild Hybrid. Later, a strong hybrid variant may also join the lineup. Both manual and automatic gearboxes will be available for transmission, while the 4X4 drivetrain system will be available only in the top variants. After its launch in India, the new Renault Duster will compete with Hyundai Creta, Tata Sierra, Kia Seltos, Maruti Victoris and Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyrider, Honda Elevate, Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun. Many of these cars are already quite popular in India.

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India's first compact SUV coming back on January 26, ready to wreak havoc in a new avatar

India's first compact SUV coming back on January 26, ready to wreak havoc in a new avatar

by with No Comment Car Review

Last Updated:

2026 Renault Duster will be launched in India on January 26, will come with petrol engine and will compete with Hyundai Creta, Tata Sierra, Kia Seltos. There will be a big change in features.

New Delhi. The third generation Renault Duster is all set to be launched in India next year on Republic Day i.e. 26 January 2026. Some changes may be made in the variants sold in India as per the market, but most of the design elements, features and components will remain the same as the global model. Initially this SUV will come only with petrol engine. Hybrid variants may be added to the lineup later. After launch, the new Renault Duster will compete with segment leader Hyundai Creta as well as Tata Sierra, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara and other midsize SUVs.

Design
Compared to its previous model, the 2026 Renault Duster will see a more mature and developed design language. Headlamps and taillamps with Y-shaped elements, sporty bumpers, square wheel arches, raised body cladding and new diamond-cut alloy wheels will enhance its modern look. Like the global model, the Duster coming to India can get an approach angle of 31 degrees and a departure angle of 36 degrees.

Interior and Features
The new Renault Duster is likely to get a driver-oriented cabin layout. Although the official feature list has not been revealed yet, it is expected to have a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 7-inch color driver display, 6-speaker Arkamis audio system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charger, front, side and rear parking sensors, electric parking brake, 360-degree camera, hill hold assist, electronic stability control, three-point seatbelts for all seats, multiple airbags, Level 2 ADAS suits and much more can be found.

Location:

New Delhi,Delhi

First Published :

December 19, 2025, 19:27 IST

homeauto

India's first compact SUV coming back on January 26

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Get ready! 'Godfather' of SUV cars is coming back, curtain will rise on 26th January

Get ready! 'Godfather' of SUV cars is coming back, curtain will rise on 26th January

by with No Comment Car Review

New Delhi. The third generation Renault Duster is finally coming to India. This SUV is currently undergoing rigorous testing and has been captured on camera several times. The all-new model will be officially introduced on January 26, 2026, after which its market launch will also take place soon. This time Duster will face tough competition from SUVs like Hyundai Creta, Tata Sierra, Maruti Grand Vitara, Kia Seltos. This car is also very special because it is considered to be the first compact SUV in the Indian market. After this, popular models like Nexon and Creta came in the market. That is, it would not be wrong if it is called the 'Godfather' of compact SUV vehicles.

brand new design
The 2026 Renault Duster will be based on the modular CMF-B platform and will have a completely new design, which will be very similar to the global-spec Dacia Duster. It will get a new grille in its front which will have Renault's new logo, sporty bumper, new polygonal headlamps and Y-shaped LED DRLs. Large body cladding, raised wheel arches, integrated turn signals in ORVMs, newly designed alloy wheels, roof rails and C-pillar mounted rear door handles will make its side profile more attractive. At the rear, the new Renault Duster 2026 will see Y-shaped taillamps, sporty bumper and a steeply inclined windshield.

premium interior
There is not much information about the interior yet. But it is expected that the new 2026 Renault Duster will get a larger touchscreen infotainment system, which will have features like wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, wireless phone charger, ventilated front seats, rear parking sensors, multiple airbags, ADAS.

petrol engine only
In India, the new Renault Duster 2026 will come only with petrol engine. The company can offer 1.0 liter, 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine in its lower variants and 1.3 liter turbo petrol engine with 156bhp in higher variants. Later its hybrid version may also be included in the lineup. Renault may also consider Duster CNG variant for India.

potential price
The price of 2026 Renault Duster can be kept quite attractive compared to its rivals. Its base variant can be priced around Rs 11-12 lakh, while the top-end petrol variant can be priced around Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom).

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