Key highlights
- 2026 Renault Duster Hybrid revealed in India
- Launch by Diwali 2026
- Features a 1.8-litre petrol-powered strong hybrid powertrain
Renault India recently took the cover off the new-gen Duster. The new Duster SUV will soon be launched with three engine options, out of which one is the 1.8-litre hybrid that will compete with the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara hybrid cars. Check out its complete details below.
Also read: MG Majestor teased as India’s first D+ SUV
Everything to know about the 2026 Renault Duster Hybrid
The all-new Duster has been specifically designed for the Indian market. Although it is based on the international spec model, it features numerous changes and has been tested rigorously through the extreme weather conditions, as it passes temperatures ranging from -23 to 55 degrees.
The most interesting part about the new-gen Duster is its powertrain options. It will be available with three engine options, two of which are petrol-only. However, the third option is an all-new 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated petrol strong-hybrid motor, which has been designed by taking inspiration from Formula 1 technology.
This engine uses a complex mechanism, where the 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is mated to twin electric motors, one of 49 bhp that powers the front wheels, and another of 20 bhp that helps in starting the car. This powertrain uses the trademark E-Tech Hybrid technology, which uses a 1.4 kWh battery pack that gets recharged by the brake and engine regeneration power.
The combined power output of this setup is 160 bhp and 172 Nm. These numbers might look less on paper, but the 172 Nm torque is delivered by the electric motors, which means there is no loss in the torque delivery. Additionally, this setup is paired with a unique 8-speed transmission, which uses four gears for the electric motor and four for the petrol engine. Unlike the Toyota Hyryder’s e-CVT, this transmission uses gears to drive the car.
Renault claims that it is very efficient, and the new Duster Hybrid can drive up to 80% of the time on full EV mode inside the city driving conditions. With that said, the expected fuel economy of this engine is yet unknown.
Speaking of its launch details, Renault has announced that it will launch the Hybrid Duster by Diwali 2026. Its pricing will be announced in March 2026, and the pre-bookings have already commenced. We expect it to be priced around Rs 19-23 lakh, depending on the variant diversity.
