Renault Duster India Launch Date Announced; Expected Price, Launch Date and More

Renault India confirmed on 28 October 2025 that the Duster SUV will return to the Indian market with an unveiling scheduled for 26 January 2026, marking the comeback of a vehicle that transformed the country's SUV landscape.

Also Read: Exclusive Review New Renault Duster

The SUV established the compact SUV segment, which now accounts for nearly one-fourth of the passenger vehicle market in India. Over its decade-long run, the Duster sold more than 200,000 units in India and had 1.8 million customers globally.

The Duster was originally launched in India in July 2012 and became the first monocoque, front-wheel-drive SUV in a market dominated by ladder-frame vehicles. The launch price started at ₹7.19 lakh for the petrol variant and went up to ₹ 11.29 lakh for the top-end diesel model. Within its first year, the SUV sold close to 40,000 units and captured 23 per cent of the market share. 

Renault says that it has conducted extensive market research before the Indian launch, studying 200 people across five cities and implementing 41 modifications to the European version. Changes included body-coloured bumpers, dual-tone interiors, repositioned power window switches, redesigned suspension for rough terrain, higher ground clearance, and engine tuning with Indian diesel to deliver fuel efficiency of 20 to 22 kmpl

Production of the first-generation Duster ended in February 2022 at the Sriperumbudur plant, almost ten years after the first unit rolled out. The model remained in first-generation form throughout its Indian tenure, with sales declining due to lack of updates and the discontinuation of the diesel engine. 

AckoDrive's exclusive review of the new Duster is already live so you can go and check it out. The new model will be the first product launched under Renault's International Game Plan 2027 in India and forms part of the company's India-centric transformation strategy.

Stephane Deblaise, CEO of Renault Group India, stated that the new Duster will build on its heritage whilst incorporating modern design, technology and performance. The company has opened a waiting programme for customers interested in the SUV.

The returning Duster will compete in a segment it helped create, facing rivals including the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, MG Astor and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. Renault is also developing a three-row version of the Duster alongside a sibling SUV under the Nissan brand.