Renault Duster Automatic Review

by travelmynation
Renault Duster Automatic Review

Exactly 10 months ago on this day, we took delivery of our Renault Duster AMT. It was well thought of decision and after reviewing cars like TUV, EcoSport, Brezza, BRV and the Creta,  we decided to book the Renault Duster AMT.

Fast forward to today, it has been a good experience after completing around 22,000kms till now. We are travelers and have tried the Duster on highways, off roads, broken roads, and jungle trails. We’ve covered hill stations, valleys, flat roads, beaches, hairpin bends – any terrain that we could get.


Steering/Handling

The Duster is called an SUV but it actually is a crossover. It operates and handles more like a sedan than an SUV. I switched from a small size Wagon R to a bigger sized Duster but felt no discomfort in handling the car in the city as well as highway stretches. Yes, the increased width and length took some getting used to but from the moment I stepped into the Duster, handling was a piece of cake. The steering is very fluid and operates effortlessly in all conditions. I have the habit of driving single-handedly during highway stretches and still, the car handles pretty well.

There are some reviews that the handling is stiffer at lower speeds but I never experienced this; on the contrary, the Duster seems very nimble and agile even in bumper to bumper traffic.
Renault Duster Automatic ReviewTires

Before the delivery, I had asked for Bridgestone/Michelins but instead got the Apollo. I have never used this brand before and decided to give them a try. It hasn’t been a great experience though. I am not saying that the tires are bad but they are not suited for the terrains I travel to. They are not suited for bad roads or wet conditions and I have always felt them struggling for grip in the slightest amount of gravel or loose mud. Even the smallest stone can be felt and I am not sure if this is a tire issue or a suspension issue. I am just waiting to run these out and switch to better tires.


Suspension

One of the best features of the Duster and this is probably what sets it apart from the competition. What I really love about this car is the distance between the wheel arches and tires giving it a distinct SUV look and feel. Having a soft suspension is a boon when you are battling the potholes in Bangalore or taking the car out for some off-road in the Nilgiris.

Ground clearance is the key highlight and my savior in some pretty rocky stretches I have covered.
Renault Duster Automatic ReviewEconomy

The AMT comes with a normal driving mode and an ECO mode which basically shifts gear at lower RPM’s resulting in increased mileage but lower power delivery. I have ALWAYS used the ECO mode except for off roads and found it very comfortable. The drop in power as compared to normal mode is not much and hardly noticeable in city driving. During high-speed overtakes, I have noticed a slight lag in power delivery and I generally stick to M mode in such situations. The highest mileage I have recorded was 22.5kmpl on a 350km trip from Bangalore to Chennai. I did use the Cruise Control a lot with a speed setting of 85kmph. On a normal day, I get about 17-19 kmpl on the highways if I maintain speeds of around 90kmph or with the cruise control on and about 12-13kmpl in city conditions. All these figures are in ECO mode and Air Conditioning.

Suggested Read - Must follow driving tips for the mountains
Interiors

This is where Renault needs to make some improvements. I am not too fond of the overall looks and quality of the interiors. Plastic quality in certain places is of cheaper quality to the ones used in low-end cars in India. You touch the plastic panels near the infotainment system and they start squeaking. It is evident where Renault has cut costs and cut corners too. When you drive over a rough patch, you can hear the plastic parts vibrating which is an irritating distraction for some drivers. The seats are very comfortable and clad in decent quality materials. The AMT is almost the top end and Renault should have offered me Art Leather seats.

The Automatic climate control delivers and the AC performance has been top-notch as of now. Apart from the plastic, my biggest feedback is cabin noise. In traffic, it feels like I am traveling in an open-air vehicle as the doors and windows don’t have enough sound protection. I have asked the service center several times if they can give me an extra lining on the doors but according to them, it’s not recommended by Renault.

The AMT is equipped with the usual seat high adjuster, lumbar support, steering mounted audio controls, and anti-pinch windows.Renault Duster Automatic Review Build Quality

The overall build quality is OK but I would have liked the body to be a bit sturdier than what it is currently. The exterior of the car feels flimsy and you can see how thin the body is once you press hard on the bonnet or the body panels. I have constantly faced this nagging issue of the bumpers coming off a little bit. There is a visible gap between the front/rear bumpers and the body panel. Even after complaining multiple times to Renault, the issue hasn’t been rectified. The windows keep making a rattling sound, probably due to the glass hitting some metal parts inside the door panels.

Infotainment System

The Duster comes equipped with a new Media Nav infotainment system with an 18 cm touch screen. It included Sat Nav, multimedia functions, and Bluetooth connectivity with smartphones (max 5). The system offers easy access to functions such as Radio, Multimedia, Maps, and settings through the home screen. Navigation is a bit tricky for first-time users but you get used to it after spending some time on it. The Bluetooth tech enables drives to make and receive hands-free calls along with syncing your phone’s phonebook. The inbuilt maps are very basic and not as good as Google Maps but are very handy in areas where you don’t have a mobile network. I had to spend a couple of hours reading the manuals as operating the Maps can be a very tricky affair.

Engine/Gearbox

Having driven a manual all my life, switching to an automatic was a big move. Before I got the Duster, I test drove the TUV AMT as well and found it lacking on several fronts. The Duster, on the other hand, has the best AMT vehicle in the country in its category. The problem I faced with lags during gear shifts in the TUV is very minimal and hardly noticeable in the Duster. Sudden gear shifts while overtaking have been very soon provided you press the accelerator hard, which signals the chip to do the rest. The gearbox has performed well in all conditions all though I was not very happy with the performance in hairpin bends.

I found the system getting into higher gears as soon as it hit 2000 RPM which might not always be the best gear to be in. But hey, it’s just a computer and not as smart as a human brain. In such conditions, I generally switch to the manual mode which gives me better revs and increased power delivery. Renault has also introduced the Hill Assist Feature which I got with the AMT. Essentially, HSA holds the car for about 2-3 seconds in its place when on an incline, giving the driver enough time to accelerate and move forward without rolling back. Very useful feature while driving in ghats or while parking on an incline.
Renault Duster Automatic ReviewOverall my experience with the Duster has been a mixed bag of feelings. I love the handling, suspension, features but hate the build quality.

What’s good!
  • AMT is great for city commuting. Also one of the cheapest and best in the industry
  • Great suspension and handling in all road conditions
  • Huge boot space and cabin space for all heights
  • Balance handling and dynamics; stable at high speeds
  • The ground clearance is a lifesaver, especially in terrains like Rohtang Pass
What’s not so good!
  • Body quality and interior plastic quality could be better
  • Lots of wind noise post 90kmph. Noise insulation needs to be done separately
  • No AWD option with the AMT

Let us know what you think about this review. Leave your comments and we will get back to you soon! Here’s more about Renault India products.
Renault Duster Automatic Review


Liked this article? Don’t forget to leave your comment below and share it with your friends! If you would like to travel the way we do, then join us on our tours through our boutique travel company, Moto Overlanders.  

We also recommend our section on FoodReviews, and International destinations in our blog. If you like our pictures, do check out our Instagram and Facebook page as well.

This article and the pictures in it belong to Travelmynation and usage without prior permission is prohibited. If you would like to use any of our content, pls feel free to reach out to us.

You may also like

28 comments

Tirtha Ghosh September 30, 2017 - 9:47 PM

Very apt and realistic review. I think the real advantage of Duster is the wonderful suspension and ride quality which is coupled with AMT now. Can you tell me on how is the feeling at rear seat? Is it comfortable? I am thinking of shifting to Duster from Honda City VX CVT due to horiible suspension set up, which is a daily pain now.

Reply
travelmynation September 30, 2017 - 10:27 PM

Thanks for the feedback Tirtha. Rear seats are very confortable for 3 people. Seats are great for long rides. I love the suspension and clearance and it’s help up well on off roads even with 5 in the car. Go for the Duster if u can live with the little nags and if u want a good car for bad roads/ off roads.

Reply
travelmynation October 1, 2017 - 12:05 AM

Just one drawback of the rear seats is that they can’t be reclined.

Reply
travelmynation October 1, 2017 - 12:06 AM

And the advantage is that there is not hump at the centre of the rear seat which I found in Creta, Brezza and other brands. That makes life easier for the person sitting in the centre

Reply
DK December 3, 2017 - 9:40 PM

Detailed review….liked it very much.

Reply
Santosh Sannakki January 10, 2018 - 7:41 PM

Very well written.. I share similar preferences in a car so have booked the rxz AMT variant. But I am little worried about the experience on hair pin bends and mountain inclines .. can you pen your experience on how you handle the hassle pin bends in the AMT ..
Thanks

Reply
travelmynation January 10, 2018 - 7:58 PM

Santosh on hilly terrain I always use the manual mode. It gives better control on power delivery than the manual and does the job just fine. Still you can’t compare it with a manual transmission and I have learnt to drive according to its power delivery.

Reply
CONVERSATIONS WITH A TRAVELER – NAVEEN - Travelmynation November 9, 2018 - 11:03 AM

[…] OFF TRAILS (The Roads never end!)– BANGALORE – LADAKH – BANGALORE 10 States, 2 UT’s, 19 days, 7800 Km, 8 passes, 2 lakes, 9 crazy travelers & 3 Dusters! […]

Reply
Anonymous January 22, 2019 - 8:22 PM

Nice review… How is the reliability of rennault

Reply
travelmynation January 22, 2019 - 8:27 PM

It’s reliable. But if ur looking for a vehicle in this segment I would suggest you go for the Creta. Unless ur looking for a 4*4. Then go for the Duster. Feature wise Renault hang upgrades their vehicles in a long time.

Reply
Vinay July 23, 2019 - 1:07 PM

Thanks for more sophisticated review with all the minute details.
i am planning to buy duster cvt- petrol 2019 model. any suggestions? should i choose?

Reply
travelmynation July 24, 2019 - 11:54 AM

The CVT is lacking in all features present in the diesel models. I would suggest you to take a look at the ecosport, nexon, and the new Mahindra as well.

Reply
Vinay July 24, 2019 - 12:17 PM

Thank you for your suggestion.
Actually I am looking for a car which is more comfortable to drive and has good riding posture.
Our Mostly usage is with 40% City and 60% Trips, Good resale value after 5 years and comfortable sitting for 5 people in trips.
I tried Ecosport/Nexon and Xuv300- they have very good features but i was not happy with the space at back seat.
so, just confused.
i am not sure if those missing features will hurt me in future if i choose Duster.

Reply
travelmynation July 25, 2019 - 12:17 PM

With Duster u will definitely get the space. But no resale value or new age features. I love the Duster, it’s performance, ground clearance, suspension, economy etc but for that price I would have wanted more features and better quality. Take a informer decision. All have pros n cons. Let me know if u want more info

Reply
travelmynation October 10, 2019 - 2:43 PM

Well all cars have pros n cons. U just need to see what car gives the most balanced approach for ur money

Reply
mahekg August 26, 2020 - 2:01 AM

Wow this car looks like the perfect companion for travels. The interiors look spacious and comfortable. I am not great at the technical side but I get that it works really well.

Reply
delhifundos2014 August 26, 2020 - 4:49 PM

This is really good looking car. I personally love the interior of the car. Renault deserves some appreciation for revamping the dashboard design to its best possible form. Your review is very helpful for those who are planning to buy this beauty

Reply
Michelle Tirkey August 26, 2020 - 6:00 PM

Absolutely loved the detailed review. What caught my eye is the good suspension that you mentioned setting it apart from the other options in this league.

Reply
DiaryOfAnInsaneWriter August 26, 2020 - 6:52 PM

Renault Duster is my husband’s dream car. He has pictures on his screensaver! Loved your detailed review. I have shared it with him.

Reply
Afreen Ansari August 26, 2020 - 6:56 PM

This beauty is truly a beast in terms of performance and features. Looks like you have got a best mate for.all your travels .. car looks superb.

Reply
Sandy N Vyjay August 26, 2020 - 8:52 PM

The Duster is an impressive car and is great both in looks and performance. It also has good ground clearance which is so importantt. Nice and candid review that gives an all round idea of the performance and features of the car.

Reply
pamela August 27, 2020 - 12:06 PM

I’m planning to buy a car and its great a great review of this car. Really amazing to see and read all the features. Thanks for the article.

Reply
Ramya August 27, 2020 - 1:00 PM

This seems like a delight for the travelers, who are on frequent road trips. I was sold on the ground clearance, up in the mountains, we need vehicles with good ground clearance, else it becomes a major pain. Also the boot space makes it a wonderful travel companion. I liked the detailed review.

Reply
Lancelot Quadras August 27, 2020 - 6:22 PM

This review did clear everything for anyone looking for a vehicle. I usually do check about the review about interiors and am surprised to know Renault isn’t that great. I hope they get this corrected in the upcoming vehicles though.

Reply
Sindhu Vinod Narayan August 27, 2020 - 10:45 PM

This is such a clear review with all details. Thank you for sharing this

Reply
Nidhi Gupta August 28, 2020 - 12:05 PM

One of my favourite cars for city travel as well as long distance – secure, comfortable as well as stylish to look at.

Reply
Raksha Nagaraj August 28, 2020 - 6:40 PM

I am torn between a nice SUV and a sedan. So knowing that the handles of Renault Duster are more like a sedan helps. I have always liked Duster for some reason. I will have a test drive and see if it is comfortable. Thanks for the review.

Reply
Avantika Chaturvedi August 28, 2020 - 11:40 PM

Ahan! Quite a detailed and unbiased review – thanks for this. Seems like the perfect vehicle for a good ol’ roadtrip across the Himalayas – if only!

Reply

Leave your thoughts

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Verified by MonsterInsights