Renault Duster [2012-2015] User Reviews

Hi,

I am an owner of Renault Duster 85PS for the last four months and driven about 7000kms. Its a good family vehicle nice space for five and good boot space.

Texture of dashboard and door trims are not of superior quality, AC Cooling is very erratic some times you feel great and sometimes you need a hand fan to cool your self, Door noise is quite prominent on rough, Their is a quite noise from engine at 1700-1800 rpm on highways which is the normal driving speed at about 80km/hr.

Fuel economy is good what I magaged is 15km/lt on highways at the speed of 90km/hr

Gear Shifting is good but do manage to shift quite often in local driving.

While corning the tyre sound is quite prominent as it you are dragging them(hope there will be no excessive wear).

Finaly Its a good vehicle for city as well as hoghways.

Nice handling, Good brakes,decent mileage, Good engine performance.

Renault has to improve in after sales service from the dealerside as well as from the company side. 😊

Space,Good head room,Good boot space,Good frontal visibility,Less rolling,Good brakes,ComfortableMileage,Tyre noise,Seat noise,Door noise,Engine noise at 1700-1800 rpm

While driving the duster it is evident that the car is fitted with a small engine and Renault has built this car to a budget.

I drove the Duster diesel 110ps and what I did not like about the car was that I found myself changing the gear continuously at low speeds. At a speed below 15 kmph the gear had to be changed to first gear every time, else the engine felt it would go off. Immediately after reaching around 15 kmph I had to change to second gear else the engine revs.

After the turbo kicks in the car is nice to drive – but only after really pushing the cars accelerator the turbo kicks in. The difference is easily noticeable of the turbo kicking in and it is not a smooth transition.

I think that the external looks of the car is very nice, the mileage is very good, interiors have a good colour combination, boot space is good and the audio system is good with mobile phone and usb connectivity. What I did not like was the front seats – they seem to have a lot of play and are not firm with all manual adjustments.

I think Renault has lost the plot with this car by building this to a real tight budget. The on road price for the base petrol variant in Bangalore is Rs 8,72,116 and the Top end diesel variant without leather is Rs 13,63,930. A difference of close to 4.9 lakhs in an entry level SUV is a lot between the base and top end variant. I would think someone looking to buy the top end variant would like a lot more and basic safety features such as ABS and Airbags should not be optional.  

I have driven other Renault cars such as the Megane, Clio and Koleos and did not have any complains. Maybe Renault should look at an automatic with a 2l diesel engine as this is like an urban compact SUV. I was quite disappointed on the whole with the duster as I really wanted to buy this car – now I think I will wait for the Ford Ecosport or buy the Toyota Innova as I do not like Mahindra XUV.  

LooksGear, Seat comfort

MY WORST EXPERIENCE IN LIFE IS SERVICE OF RENAULT.

I BOUGHT A DUSTER AFTER 2000 KM THE CAR LOCKED ME IN AND I HAD TO USE THE WINDOWS TO GET OUT.

THE EMERGENCY BREAKDOWN MAN SAID IT IS NOT A PROBLEM DRIVE FOR ANOTHER 2 HRS CAN PROBLEM WILL RECTIFY BY ITSELF AS WIRING IS GETTING SHORTED. I ASKED HIM IT IS NOT DANGEROUS HE SAID NO.

THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER RECTIFIED AND AFTER 20 CALLS AND THREATEN TO CALL MEDIA THE TOOK MY CAR TO SERVICE STATION.

I WAS TOLD A PART CALLED BMC NEEDS REPLACEMENT AND IT WILL TAKE 20 DAYS TO COME FROM CHENNAI (THERE ARE 20 FLIGHTS A DAY FROM CHENNAI). EVEN A TRUCK WILL ONLY TAKE 2 DAYS ????

I HAVE BEEN RUNNING FROM PILLAR TO POST AND NOW I AM SUEING THEM FOR AGONY AND HARASSMENT.

I NEED MORE PEOPLE TO CONTACT ME LET US SUE THESE GUYS TOGETHER SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF SERVICE.

I AM WILLING TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES THRU MY LAWERS (I WILL PAY MY LAWYERS FOR YOU) JUST JOIN MY CAUSE AND I AM WILLING TO SPEND MONEY TO BRING THESE GUYS TO THEIR KNEES AND REMEMBER THAT IF WE PAY WE NEED SERVICE AND THEY CANNOT TAKE OUR MONEY AND RUN AWAY LIKE THIS.

A NARANG.

NO SERVICENO SERVICE

Exterior Good looks.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Good for cost in case of RXE.

Ride Quality & Handling Good.

Final Words Economical vehicle.

Areas of improvement I booked the 85 BHP RXE on 5th of Jul. I was given the delivary date as Mid-Oct. Recently I got a call from Rennalt Customer care that my date of delivary would be Feb 2013. The customer care executive tried to lure me into upgrading to higher model. 

 The dealers sales executives are continuesly trying to force me to upgrade me to higher model. The lower level executives are shamelessly telling me that the RXE Model is not being produced and the delivary of the same is uncertain. Well, for a company that is just trying to enter Indian market this is not a very good strategy on their part. I have completly lost faith in the management of this company and I am cosidering switching to Toyota Innova. I am also cosidering going ti cosumer court.

The company really need to adapt a more honest approach towards its customers if it wants to last in the markedt.

Good looks, Fuel econnomy, CostPathetic sales team, No ethics, Cheap tactics to arm twis customers into upgrading to higher modwels

Exterior

  Build Quality is good and over all styling is remarkable. The front mounted additional lamps are cherry on top which clearly puts Duster adventure edition aside from rest of its models and other suv's in the segment.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

  Newly introduced sporty interiors will definately grab anyones attention, Very comfortbale seats and with large leg space.  Overall interios are good but still I felt at price of 13.30L  there is definately space of improvement in terms of features which  even lower segment car offers in their medium range models by other brands.

 

Missing Features:

- Only one Trip trip meter is there. Ideally there should be two.

- No arm rest for front seats

- Automatic locking of doors on starting the engine/ignition

- Driver side window should be one touch down i.e. user has to keep the button pressed till the whole glass is rolled down. Ideally driver side window rolls down automatically on one push of button to minimze intervention during driving.

- The integrated navigation cum sterio display screen should be adjustable at an angle for easy view to the driver. Currently the screen faces straight & its bit difficult to view and drive the navigation.

- Shades/Goggles box compartment.

- Electrically Foldable ORVM

- Display of turn indicator is difficult to see during daylight due to is light shade. Darker color shoudld be used to display the turn indicator in the instrument display.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

- Engine is very smooth with escellent power delivery. Its just been over a month till now and my persoanl calculations project average around 16km/L.

- Gearbox is excellent with smooth transition of gears. Gearbox is very light and having 6th gear is fun giving adequate control over power delivery & speed. 

Ride Quality & Handling

- Very smooth ride with excellent shockers and suspensions. Handling is also very light. With 100ps power makes riding more fun, enjoyable and very less tiring.

 

Final Words 

Overall a nice car and is best in its segment giving experience of SUV at such a price, styling and comfort. But the downturn is in terms of missing features which is disheartening as those are available in basic models of other brands and are essential.

  

Areas of improvement 

 Should definitely work on Missing Features:

- Only one Trip trip meter is there. Ideally there should be two.

- No arm rest for front seats

- Automatic locking of doors on starting the engine/ignition

- Driver side window should be one touch down i.e. user has to keep the button pressed till the whole glass is rolled down. Ideally driver side window rolls down automatically on one push of button to minimize intervention during driving.

- The integrated navigation cum stereo display screen should be adjustable at an angle for easy view to the driver. Currently the screen faces straight & its bit difficult to view and drive the navigation.

- Shades/Goggles box compartment.

- Electrically Foldable ORVM

- Display of turn indicator is difficult to see during daylight due to is light shade. Darker color should be used to display the turn indicator in the instrument display.

 Also the customer experience was very bad and pathetic when I bought this car from Gurgaon dealership. The sales staff is very negligient and takes things for granted. My excitement for buying a new car was callously ruined by the delivery team. Some tips while dealing with car delivery:

 

- Ensure proper checkup of the car before delivery.

- Ensure correnct delivery time and repeatedly keep tab from your side on progress. My delivery was delayed for 4 hrs.

- Monitor & inspect while car is being cleaned & polished before delivery. (I caught them with filling dirty water in the wiper water dispenser unit)

- Very imp: - Document and get everything in written whatever is communicated in terms of discounts, offers etc. bec they have very good tendency in turning their back on statements not documented at last moment.

- Try to enquire for offers and other discounts which might come as car was delivered to me just 2 days before the Thailand trip offer which they could have easily accommodated by letting me know upfront.

 

 

Exterior Styling, Amazon Green Color, Sporty Interiors, Good Leg & Boot Space, Smooth rideSome basic features missing, bad location of buttons, Showroom Delivery experience,

Exterior Looks like a proper suv with good ground clearence.but built quality n metals used are not that toughlonly looks tough.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Plastic quality,ergonomics doent fit for a car of such high price. Very less value for money. Interoirs looks cheap, design not catchy. Very less features offered. I was waiting for duster and eccosport. Now dropped the idea of duster. Waiting now for eccosport after selling my diesel ritz. I dont knw why people run behind this car. You can get an xuv 500 for this price or atleast go for a scorpio. They are big enough and provides the liberty and flexibility of seven seats and value for ur pay. My friend who was waiting for duster and eccosport jumped for this car becoz he was impatient to wait for eccosport. Now he regrets his decision due to leakage of the car. Yeah, on rainy days the car leaks due to poor sealing of door pads. Imagine my friends mysery after getting a vehicle for nearly 13 lakhs, and as per his opinion the service is also not good enough.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Performance is really gud as weight of car is less. enough grunt, good ride, good suspension.

Ride Quality & Handling Have body roll under hard cornering.otherwise ride is quite good.but doesnt have the handling capability of ford.being an owner of ritz n now figo I can easily access the ride difference and built quality of the three companies. Maruti has the worst built strengh.duster traverses in middle path in built quality and strngth.

Final Words Good vehicle if priced less.

Areas of improvement Price, price and price. cannot justify the premium the vehicle is tagged. We Indians seeing something in the form or shape of suv jumps for it without even thinkimg whether the money we are paying is justifiable.

Ride qualityOver priced due to unexpected demand

Exterior Really great, except thin painting and low cost door handles.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Space, drive position is good. for driver and others. features cut like armrest, a/c not sufficient on highways in summer. Comfort is bad road is really good - class above other comparable sedans. Enough space for 5 grown ups in the car.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Engine is a power horse, never runs behind on highways, fuel economy on highways with a/c 19.1kms/ltre for 85ps. Gear box is good qulity but not as good as Hondas.

Ride Quality & Handling Ride is excellent, Handling is marvellous. 85PS w/o ABS is a bit shaky at curves above 120km/hr.

Final Words 85PS diesel variant is  a real value for money on Indian roads. You can go almost anywhere, if there is something called road, really good for highways, hill stations. Bad road drive quality is commendable.

 This is not a luxury SUV, but a complete car for those who drive across long distance. If you see it that way, its reall value for money. I would say way above comparably priced sedans and MUVs/CSUVs. A Sedan+MUV+MPV+SUV.

Areas of improvement A/C quality can be better, exterior paint quality can be better. Armrest for driver.

Sales was pathetic initially, their showroom has no management discipline. Kochi Renault prepared hypothecation when the money was paid in full! so many boys and girls as staff, but hardly any men to handle things. I hope things improved in 2014.

Suspension, handling, clearance, looks, fine engine, mileage, compactness, boot space, driving easeThin exterior painiting, right side wndshld post blocks view, no armrest for driver, a/c less cool

Good car with great mileage Nd comfort you can go for it Nd engine is very good I drive 80k+ km now and there is no work done in this engine even when the car is new then it is used very badly by new drivers (my friend's Nd relatives) but there is no problems till now after 5 years of purchasing.

You will have to compromise on the comfort if you buy this. Looks and style is fine, but the moment you sit in you feel cheated and you start cursing the decision. It's a SUV from exterior and a normal car from inside. From inside, it does not qualify anyway closer to any of the SUV's in this world.The leg space for the driver is really cramped. The comfort has gone for a toss. Especially, last rear seats have too low space. It should have been taken off and could have been made a 2 seater SUV

The doors are making lot of noise as if the material used is of low quality to fit the vehicle in budget.

So buy and park it outside your house, but dont drive. Its a clear compromise if you buy this. Its better to opt for a proper sedan or spend more to get a better SUV

Exterior looks, stylishSpace, comfort, door sound, leg space