Renault Duster [2012-2015] User Reviews

Exterior Look like cars of 1970s. Looks like vintage SUV. As a car looks too big, as an SUV too small. So far Tata cars were known for bad styling, Renault & Nissan are below Tata in styling. Micra & Pulse look like Hatch models of Ambassador

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) When you put 10 Lakhs, the features you find in any other vehicle. Space is really cramped. Its neither comfortable as car nor as SUV. SUMO Gold & Bolero at 60% price are much more comfortable and give feeling of secure inside. Is looks bulging from outside BUT inside space can be compared to Alto, Santro or Indica

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox At 10 Lakhs, 1.4 Litre is not expected. Though Ertiga has 1.3 Litre BUT FIAT MJD performs way better than Renault's 1.4. Shame Renault, SUMO, Bolero, XYLO offer engines 2.5 L to 3.0 Litre.

Ride Quality & Handling ANother issue. Though being a tiny SUV turning circle is small, that is best in segment.

Final Words It is wastage of money. After initial excitement is over, within a year, its sales can come down the way seen in VW Vento, Polo & Skoda cars.

Areas of improvement Styling, Engine, Pricing, Size all needs to be re shaped.

Car with high ground clearance for bad Indian roadsMuch better option at this price Ertiga, Safari Storme, Quanto

Interior should be improved otherwise it's a good car.i ride it from 2014 and now I have crossed 80k km so it's my true opinion. And I suggest everyone go with this beast if you want comfortable ride handling and a good mileage to... The demerit is only one the resale value otherwise it's the best one.

Exterior

 Looks to be a moderm SUV which was expcted from world class SUV. front grills and bumber looks aggressive with tall boy frame

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

 Features like climate control AC, automatic folding OVRM, rain sensing wipers missing. an SUV of 11-12 lacs should have all of those atleast in top model. Rear seat is too cramped for leg space. rear AC vent looks like fitted from outside garage!

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

 here this scores good. although has to be tested well , which was not possible in short test drive

Ride Quality & Handling

 may be clear in next proper test drive

Final Words

 A good concept not fully utilised by poor imagination and execution. The car has evoked lot of interest by its looks and price tag. but its poor interior design, equipment quality and space utilisation has dampened a lot of it already

Areas of improvement  

 Interiors, equipment and space utilisation needs to improved urgently.

 

Exterior , Ground clearanceInterior quality , features, leg room

Exterior Front is very good, looks a muscular SUV. Side arch are good. Chrome plating at front is really a good thought. Back is ordinary gives old desighn looks. Rear lights are too small. Embrossed DUSTER at back looks good.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) By the time desighner came to plan the rear seats it was too late so he had a wine and forgot that SUV is for India and not for Thiawan etc. The height of average Indian in North (JK, Punjab, Haryana, UP, Delhi, Rajasthan etc) is very good. It can not accommodate 04 tall Sardars of punjab and other tall people. Crumpled at back. I am 5-11" could not seat without touching the front seats. Space for boot should have been reduced. The desingnrs should have thouhgt of 05 seater only or 07 seater only. They landed up with a misery of crumpling the rear seats.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox The test drive was powerful. The fuel Economy will bemuch lower  than what is claimed by company on Indian roads.

Ride Quality & Handling Good.

Final Words Not Value for Money. Renault made a lot of hue and cry in media which will not have any impact if the indian managers of company donot discuss and sort out to the falacies by correcting them in light of the competitors to write a history of success in INDIA. Renault should have preferred less frofit to begin with like the Mahindra & Mahindra did for XUV 500 launching it at much lower prices fitting the SUV all sorts of Gadgets what a premier SUV can have or will have in future. Later M&M increased the price and is making a lot of profit by selling XUV at a higher price than at the time of launch. Renault need to LEARN & IMPLEMENT with 360 degree management.

Areas of improvement Make more space available for rear seats by reducing the boot space. Shift rear AC vent to the cealing, as it hinders the third person sitting at rear. The back of Duster looks smaller and ordinary. The ear lights looks minicule.  The desighners should focus on improving the back. The lights must be made much bold may think of making it vertically oblique. The sucess will depends on comparison to other competitors like Fords Ecosport, XUV 500, Scorpio, Tata Safari Storme. In future it may fail like other cars of Renault if designers donot sit again to improve the falacies.LEARN from the competitorsand implement prior to failing in this segment also. Ford is waiting to outclass oyu the day they launch Ecosport with ecobust.

ExteriorBack lookslooks poor, small Rear Light, space for rear seats is claustrphobic, too congested.

Exterior

Simply loving the way the exterior of this car designed. You will certainly fall in love with this one with the beautifully placed curves. I must say that the exterior design helped a lot to create a bulky look eventhough it is not that big.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

I am not a big fan the way the interior design done for this car. Even the top end version doesn't look premium inside the cabin. But the fact is you have all the required stuffs inside. Space is just ok. But very comfortable for long drive. Very good thigh support. Recently went for a long 700km drive and I didnt feel tired driving.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

Probably the most interesting stuffs in this car is the engine performance and the way this 110ps pick up the power. I am just loving it. My decision to go for 110PS was worth enough and I realised it when I drove this car in high range. Fuel economy is OK. Getting 15+ for me..

Ride Quality & Handling

Simply love driving this machine. I drove this one at 160km/hr and i must say the car was steady. Ofcource I was not riding in 160 for long. Our roads will allow to do so only for a minute or so and I am happy to see this machine didnt dissappoint me..

Final Words

Really a good one to have. I suggest to go for 110ps to enjoy the complete performance and ride quality of this car. You may crib saying some of the key features are missing. But end of the day weigh it against the engine performance , ride quality & the way you able to handle this machine. I am loving it.  strongly recommend.

Before buying this car I was skeptical about the Service as I  heard a lot negative feedback about Not customer friendly Service Team. I am owning this car in Chennai and I must say categorically that all the Service personal i met before and after sale of this car were truly friendly and knowledgable in giving me proper service advices.

It won't be fair if I am not mentioning about this service engineer who helped me a lot in getting my car serviced on time and also with lot of important tips. Vivek Viswanath in Khivraj Motors Mountroad Service centre. I am specifially writing comments about Service culture here because I got really surprised to see the big difference in what it was written in some reviews against my true experience. I agree there were people who may not be friendly everywhere. But you have the rights to complain to the Sevice Manager or above if you are not getting the right support.

 

Areas of improvement  

-> I simply hate the rear AC vent and its looks like a motor sitting inside. Please change this one to a small one.

-> Can improve the quality of plastics in some areas without affecting the price

-> Please add more industry standard features like auto sensing wiper, head lamp, auto climate control etc.

 

 

 

Exterior Looks, Driving comfort, Engine performance, ride quality & handlyingLess features inside the car, rear ac vent,

Exterior Good enough to attatract everyone. Roof rail are useful to carry load up to 100 kg max. Doors are truly tough and durable. Overall vehilcle is very tough and durable. Make your own roads is proved by Duster.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Very comfortable on front as well as rear seats. Bluetooth connectivity of music system is very convenient and useful.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Excellent engine performance, gear shift and stearing is very responsive and smooth.

Fuel economy. I did running of 20000 km and vehicle third service is planned on 30-10-2013.

Fuel average is 19.2 on highways and 18.5 in city.

I did some experiment for to check fuel economy @ normal driving habbits.

Observation are as follows.

Speed 50~60 = 21~22 KM/L

Speed 40~50 = 21~25 KM/L

Speed 70~80 = 19~19.5 KM/L

Speed 80~100 = 18.5~19 KM/L

Speed 100~120 = 17~18 KM/L

Speed above 120 = 15~17 KM/L

Bumper to bumper traffic = 14 km/L.

I did above all test during minimum 100 and maximum 450 km highway tours.

Ride Quality & Handling Best ride and handling like fortuner and Honda CRV.

Final Words Best car of my life, tough and robust.

Areas of improvement Rear view needs improvement - while driving in rear view mirror closer sedans are difficult view, breaking of vehicle needs double attention.

Strong and tough stance on road, excellent ride quality, good fuel economy 19.2 kmpl.Unable to see closer running (approx 5~8 mtrs) in rear view mirror.

I am sorry i am writing a review of the dealer than the car. However i truly wish someone had done that before me then i would never have gone through the nightmare i am presently undergoing. I read many reviews about Renault Duster test drove the Terrano, Duster and Xuv and finally settled for a Duster. I was very happy with my choice and looked forward to the car. I paid the inital amount on 12 Feb 2014 and then made the full payment on 17 Feb 2014. I was to recieve the car a few days later. However i am yet to receive the car and what is worse is no one from the sales is answering my calls. If they do unfortunately pick the calls they promise to call back shortly and never return the call.

If you want to buy a car and you want a peaceful and pleasant experience do not go to Khivraj Pearl in Anna Nagar. 

Your car purchase experience will be turned into your worst nightmareYour car purchase experience will be turned into your worst nightmare

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Front part of interior is not bad.the navigator which recurring high cost is  actually useless. No rear AC even in higher end version.front ac is not enough to cool rear. Luggage space is more than necessary ,rear leg room is not adequate or can be said as very poor.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox The vehicleis giving good mileage if we r driving without AC. I am getting  a mileage of 19 kmpl in non ac mode in highways. When I am using ac in cities i get only 14kmpl and 16 in highways. I think ac is consuming more fuel.gear shift is not so smooth and power and pick up cannot be said as good.

Ride Quality & Handling Good road clearence. Vehicle can handle easily.

Final Words From my experience I suggest to buy only base model  as the advantages  given in higher end version are not much worthy. Those who r looking for muscular vehicle with a good mileage can buy duster.

Areas of improvement The very disappointing thing in duster is rear leg space. Manufacturer can improve leg space by reducing huge luggage space.AC ventshould b giben in rear also.

exterior design,fuel economy,ground clearenceless spacious rear leg room,low power,very bad rear cooling, bad pricing for higher end versions

Using duster Rxz 110 PS diesel from last 4 years 96000 km done and still going on. Awesome for highways, offroads, long trips. Powerful, handling is awesome, mileage around 15kmpl. Though lags in some features but worth it if your priority is comfort, safety, handling, SUV, Turbocharged make u feels the power. Overall 4/5 score.