Renault Duster Hybrid – Features, Pricing, Powertrain, Launch

The demand for hybrid cars seems to be growing at a substantial rate. Kia, Hyundai, Mahindra, and Maruti are all developing their own hybrid technologies. And Renault is leading this race with the Duster hybrid. Here are all the details you should know. 
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Renault Duster Hybrid – When Is It Launching? 

Renault has announced that the Duster hybrid will be launched by Diwali this year. Its dimensions and aesthetics would be the same as the conventional model, with the only updates under the engine bay. The French automaker has revealed all details about the powertrain, and the hybrid would get a bigger engine along with a 1.4kWh battery pack. Speculation also suggests that the Duster could be getting a 4WD drivetrain with the hybrid. 

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Can It Beat Maruti & Toyota? 

The Duster hybrid will be powered by a 1.8-litre petrol-hybrid powertrain, mated to an 8-speed DHT gearbox. The power figures are modest at 160 bhp and 172 Nm. But the more impressive thing about this powertrain is its mileage figures. The UK-spec model, which uses the same configuration, has a claimed fuel economy of 61 MPG, which translates to around 26kmpl. However, it still falls short of the 27 km/pl mileage of the Grand Vitara, Hyryder and the Victoris. 

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Most Affordable Hybrid?

Currently, the Victoris is the cheapest strong hybrid on the market, starting at Rs 19.40 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). Renault surprised everyone when it priced the Duster aggressively, and it could do the same with the hybrid. If Renault is aggressive with the hybrid as well, it could be priced around Rs 19 lakh and Rs 24 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). But the more realistic pricing would be within the Rs 20-25 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) range. 

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Best-In-Class Features? 

The Duster is one of the most feature-loaded cars in the market, and the hybrid won’t see any changes on the feature front. It is expected to get Level-2 ADAS, an electric tailgate, a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, a 10.25-inch infotainment display, a panoramic sunroof, powered and ventilated front seats, a 360-degree camera, and wireless charging. 

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Sold Out Already!

Surprisingly, Renault announced that this year’s bookings of the Duster hybrid have already been fulfilled. You won’t be able to get your hands on one this year, and you will have to wait until next year. However, after the pricing is revealed, many people could back out of their bookings. So if you are planning to buy the Duster hybrid, you must keep in touch with your nearest dealer to learn about such openings. 

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