Renault Duster [2012-2015] User Reviews

Exterior A wide wheelbase not just provides good space inside but good and robust curves add to the aura of this car. They make it look much grander than what it could have been in this size.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Inside feels exactly a Sedan and you won't feel the roughness of the road inside. Two tone interiors are simple but look quite elegant. It does not look over done like Mahindra XUV 500.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox 1600 cc - Petrol Engine and 1500 cc Diesel Engine provide two good engine options to choose from.

Ride Quality & Handling Expect international ride quality out of the suspension. Wide stance also enables it to take the twists and turns easily. You won't feel any roll-over even at higher speeds. Technologies like traction control etc. are still missing. Renault could have added few new age safety measures.

Final Words If you are wisshing for an SUV and stay in a city, then this Renault Duster will make a lot of practical sense versus a large sized car as XUV. Parking in cramped spaces will be a lot better compared to bigger SUVs. You won't even miss the comfort of your car as this one is a seamless cross between a Sedan and an SUV.

Areas of improvement All wheel drive and a more powerful engine for a better ride quality in real off-road scenarios.

Exterior Macho look, Efficcient tyres,  a true youngster

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Decent Enough, could have added more features

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

1. Good engine

2. Once you slow down needs time for pick up

3.Good fuel efficiency even while crusing at 100 kmph

4.Worst gear box, you will notice this while changing gear put your hand on gear road , you will feeel as if gear box and gear road synchronization is hub long.

Ride Quality & Handling

1. Very bumpy car

Final Words

Its a good car for the money being spent a good mainaintance will ensure better performance and seriuosly no rough driving assuming it as a suv

My car is about 8 months old and i have done 24000 Kms

1. Good car for the price qouted

2. should have done something with rear look

3. other wise its a good car

Areas of improvement  

1. Should try towards bringing new look to rear

2. doors should have double beading, single beading is allowing outside air and is very irritating whe you cruise at 100 and above.

Final Words I have purchased duster very recently and driven around 2500Kms. Riding is comfort, pick up in between 2nd 3rd gear is superb. At 140 speed there was slight steering vibration. Tyres noise is slightly observed. ac is not sufficient in back rows. Slight drop in power during full ac on. Overall this vehicle is really good and could be called as mini fortuner . Road grip is really good as compare to other similar vehicles.  Plastic quality is too low and dash board shall be still further improved.  Cost of the vehicle is high as compare to same segments with still better features. If cost factor and some quality issues  are being taken care duster can lead for a long period and it will be owners pride.

Areas of improvement Inside handles, dashboard, plastic quality  to be improved immeditely. MRF tyres should be replaced by michillin.

bought my duster 5 months from now....had a braking system problem since i bought it....I think they gave a defective piece as from then on my door and body noise started the next month.....after showing it to the service centre thay could not repair it.....driving a car with malfunctioning brakes was really scary.....since then I have been writing to the customer care but they are of no use it seems.....the service centre people are not ready to help at all.

    with my brakes mal functioning....with my air vent dysfunctining...with the clutch oil leaking....n with all the door noise  & a bad response from the service centres it really seems that this was a bad choice! finally got it towed to the service centre....now lets see what happens..!!!!!!!

 It is not worth 14 lacs......service  centres need to be well equipped and service providers should be experts not lay men....Service efficiency and quality should be improved from 2/10 to atleast 9/10.

  Have been having a very very bad experience wih my new renault duster.

Enough is said here about the Vehicle in other reviews. So I thought of putting in another perspective to renault dealers TVS Sundaram Iyengar and Sons at Bangrakolur, Mangalore. 

I bought the Vehicle on 31st Jan 2014 - 110PS RXZ. Among other things I was aware of, I clearly told the Salesman to advise the Year and Month of Manufacture of the Vehicle to be delivered to us and he told me that it would be of the last 2 months - November or December and I beleived him. However after a couple of days, when I took the delivery I again confirmed the same from him verbally as I could not find the sticker, the vehicle they bought had all its VIN and other stickers wiped off. I did not bother to look around much for the year of Manufacture as I trusted this guy and they had already kept us waiting for 2 hours. After a few days, when the sent the RC Papers to my shock, the Vehicle was an April 2013 manufacture i.e. it was already 10 months old. When we called them they started giving out their usual bullshit.

Can you beleive and April 2013 vehicle delivered in Jan 2014. Theres just no Logic to it. What the hell was it doing all this while at their warehouse? The ODO showed a decent 25 Kms though and the engine and other stuff seems in order the vehicle looks unused. However I will be seeking Legal Action on the same. I also found lots of other buyers refused to take delivery of their vehicles at the last moment on the same day and on previous days- Guess it was for Similar Reasons. They avoided us meeting those people by seating us in the other waiting area. When I spoke to the Salesguys about it, they said it was for scratches and other stupid reasons. I wish I met those people (I tried my best to but could not) so that I would not be fooled as well. I also found a lot of other guys come from time to time sat there for a long time and abuse the dealers. I guess thats a real mess going on in there.

Exterior is good with Smooth flowing Lines and good muscular curves at the wheel Arches. But the rear wheel arches can get a lil in the way of your view when reverse parking.

Interior Ergonomins really suck.

Since the vehicle Ground Clearence is at 205 mm and height is not much, theres actually lesser vertical space in the cabin. So a 6 footer like me finds it difficult to get in and out as your still dealing with a car like space. My feet get stuck between the seat and the steering wheel as the place is cramped and finally results in the steering whell getting stuck locked. Also the rake adjustment of the steering is very minimal.

The drivers seat has its height and lumbar handles at odd positions which will need you to twist and squeeze through to find them.

I dont find the positioning of the OVRM operation switches odd. Infact its more convenient and some switches on the audio steering control pod are odd for your fingers to reach.

The AC controls are placed too low for a clear view and comfortable operation.

The speaker housung console on the drivers seat interferes with your side legroom and door pocket space is eaten up.  Same with te consoles for the other doors.

The Audio system swicthes off and on every time you turn the ignition key to any position and so disconnects the bluetooth connection which is a nuisance when you are plating bluetooth audio.

Rear AC is poorly positioned. 

Slight rattles on rear doors right from day one. And I guess itll be a perpatual problem with dusters. Even slight torsional stress or longi stress results in squeeking from the doors. i had a look and guess its the very weak locking link for the doors that results in this problem.

Not enough closed storage boxes compared to my last vehicle.

The spare wheel is not Alloy.

Glove Box is very deep but tje usable space tapers out as you go deep so its kinda useless.

 Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

The 110PS Engine is good but suffers turbo lag below 2000 rpm especailly in 2nd and 3rd gears esp when downshifting from higher speeds. Sometimes you have to downshift right upto 1st gear when you slow down the vehicle from 4th/5th/6th gears to tackle a hump etc coz the pick up doesnt happen with just 3rd or 2nd gear.

Once youve got the turbo kicking the engine is great and responsive and you can comfortably touch 120kmph. 

I love the turning circle its lesser than most sedans and so easy to park and manouevre. Rare parking sensors are only beep based so will take time getting used too. 

Car like dynamics and manoeuverability make it a breeze to drive in congested and bad roads coz the shocks are so good, you can just drive over bad roads without worrying. Also the greast ground clearence will ensure that you never scrape the bottom anywhere anymore.

Headlights and all other lighting is good enough. But the contols levers are on the wrong side ofg the steering neck which they have ignored when changing the layout from LHD to RHD for Indian vehicles.

Service intervals are 2000/10000/20000/30000 kms and so on. or once every year. So thats a boon. Guess service costs wont be more than 3 to 4K per service.

Areas of improvement  

The rear door rattle has to GO. Its the only and real nuisance in the car and makes the vehicle feel like its not well put together. Otherwise its a good car, a little expensive for what is offered though.

One unforgetful day in our life.22.6.14 , the day our car completed 10000kms and landed us in trouble.we were heading back home at 6pm on National Highway otherwise called mysore road.There was heavy traffic it being a weekend. Fortunately the traffic was moving slowly when suddenly our SUV (RENAULT)did not move.There were vehicles moving all round and honking behind us when we also realised that the accelarator cable had cut.There was no way we could move out of the vehicle as we Were struck in the middle of maddening weekend traffic.We had people screaming at us not knowing the helpless situation we were facing ,struck in the middle of the road.We had drunkard taxi drivers threatning to break the glass .Above all we had our 20+ daughter with us.It was finally after 45 mins a group of muslim brothers who saw our plight and stopped their vehicle and helped us push it one side to ease the traffic.We had to call the toll free no and they Kept co-ordinating with us and finally when they came to tow the vehicle it was 8.30 dark, dreary with no lights, it being an industrial area.It was a nightmare  in daylight.Finally the next day we are being submitted a bill for 6000/-rs informing that they have done a great job of not charging for the cable which had cut and this was happening in all petrol vehicles whereas it is better in diesel vehicle.I want to know is money different for diesel vehicle and petrol vehicle.Is it not hard earned money? The best thing is our vehicle completes a year on1.8.2014.Do not buy duster ur money will go to dust especially if it is petrol vehicle.....A fuming hurt customer  V.Ashok KA 03 5446

Exterior: Is wonderful and was the driving factor for me to buy this SUV

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort): It is spacious

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox: Some time engine suddenly stops and then it takes some time to starts. This is really unsafe and could lead to accident especially at the crossing if engine stops. I got scared and now always remain carefull. I can foresee when engine is going to stops as first AC & Music system stops working and then engine stops. Whenever this happens then I try quickly to stop the car . Had been to servise center bu there were no solution. They just said that it copuld be due to driving problem but I am sure this is not the case. This is becuase many times I was driving at 2nd gear and then also it has happen.

Ride Quality & Handling: OK

Final Words

 Not a car which one can drive comfortably when compared to Honda City or Santro

Areas of improvement  

 Brakes & Engine should not stops suddenly

Exterior

 Good

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

 Good

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

 Good

Ride Quality & Handling

 Good

Final Words

Totally Vehicle is good and value for Money

 Areas of improvement  

 Can improve interiors and add some safety features in all variants Like ABS

Also In one City You should give dealer ship to different companies. Because of this monopoly Dealers are not customer friendly as they know we do not have any other option. I purchased my vehicle from Bangalore and I had Very bad experience during my renewal of Insurance. That dealer will give cashless facility only if I renew the insurance through that dealer. Their insurance marketing Team has promised me Bumper to Bumper and finally they provided Regular policy. I personally asked for Bumper to Bumper and they quoted me an amount and I paid the same. As I did not cross check with insurance company for long time and recently I got to know that my Policy is not bumper to bumper. When I Raised this concern they replied back saying premium amount that I paid was for regular policy, upon that I asked them to cross check the telephonic conversation happened between me and the executive. Finally they lifted their hand saying that call record has been deleted.I dont work for any insurance company to know what would be the premium amount for different policies As a customer I Asked for bumper to bumper and they should have quotated me the premium amout for that instead of doing this blunder.

Same Issue I raised with Renault customer Care and even they did not give a proper update on that. If this continues as People will opt for different vehicle with good customer care services.