2026 Renault Duster Spotted Testing Ahead of Launch

Renault hasn’t seen the best of times in the last 5-6 years globally as well as in India. The French carmaker is betting big on the new generation Duster which is slated to make its India debut on 26 January 2026. Test mules of the new Renault Duster have been caught on cameras several times in the past few months. 

As the day of unveiling comes near, Renault continues testing the Duster on the roads. A new set of spy images of the SUV have been circulated on social media which suggest the Duster is undergoing its final rounds of testing before the vehicle hits production. The spy pics show a fully-camouflaged unit of Duster which seems to be very close to production.

2026 Renault Duster: Expected Design

The overall design remains largely unchanged, but the India-spec Duster is expected to feature a few distinct styling cues. Spy shots indicate the use of vertically positioned LED tail-lamps in place of the signature V-shaped units found on the global model. Another subtle variation is the notched roof-mounted spoiler, which appears slightly different from the one offered internationally.

On a closer glance, we notice the rear door handles integrated with the C-pillar. At the front, the new Renault Duster will sport a rectangular headlamp cluster paired with Y-shaped LED daytime running lights, along with bold “Renault” lettering on the grille. Additional exterior elements — such as prominent wheel-arch cladding, a shark-fin antenna, roof rails, a rear washer and wiper, and a sharply raked windshield — mirror those of the international-spec Duster. 

2026 Renault Duster: Expected Interiors & Features

Although the latest spy pics don’t give us a sneak peek into the Duster’s cabin, we expect it to be modern yet utilitarian just like its international counterpart. The upcoming Duster is set to arrive with a wide range of contemporary features, including a 10-inch floating touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, and a premium six-speaker sound system.

Earlier sightings also confirmed that the SUV was being tested with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Alongside the ADAS package, the new Duster will be equipped with six airbags, ABS with EBD, seatbelt reminders with pretensioners, a 360-degree camera, and hill hold and hill descent control. Additionally, the model earned a three-star safety rating in Euro NCAP crash tests earlier this year.

2026 Renault Duster: Expected Powertrain

Internationally, the third-generation Renault Duster is built on the CMF-B LS (Common Modular Family) platform and is offered with multiple powertrain options. In its strong-hybrid form, Renault is expected to use a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine paired with two electric motors — a 49 bhp traction motor and a high-voltage starter generator. These motors draw power from a 1.2 kWh battery, resulting in a combined system output of 138 bhp.

The hybrid setup is mated to a multi-mode automatic transmission and is available exclusively with front-wheel drive. Renault claims the new Duster hybrid is capable of operating in pure electric mode for up to 80 percent of city driving. That said, there is still some ambiguity around the possibility of a 4×4 drivetrain or an LPG-powered variant being introduced.

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