Renault India has commenced customer deliveries of the Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 – nearly three weeks after introducing the SUV on October 17. The first handover took place at a newly inaugurated dealership in Hitec City, Hyderabad today. The city is among the Indian markets recording the highest bookings for the petrol/electric Duster. The hybrid also becomes the first Renault vehicle sold in India to use the company’s E-Tech self-charging powertrain.
The delivery commencement coincides with Renault’s plans to modernise its dealership network in India. The manufacturer intends to convert all 73 showrooms in its 24 popular cities to the new retail format by July 2027. These cities contribute nearly half of Renault India sales and 30 outlets have already received the revised showroom treatment. The company also operates nearly 638 sales and service touchpoints nationwide comprising more than 200 Workshop on Wheels locations.
The Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 is available in Evolution, Techno and Emotion variants. Prices start at Rs. 16.99 lakh for the Evolution and rise to Rs. 19.49 lakh (both prices, ex-showroom) for the top-spec Emotion. The introductory prices are applicable to vehicles delivered until December 31, 2026. Customers who purchased the Renault R-Pass receive priority allocation while regular bookings are available for Rs. 21,000.
| Variant | Price (ex-showroom) |
|---|---|
| Renault Duster E-Tech 160 Evolution | Rs. 16.99 lakh |
| Renault Duster E-Tech 160 Techno | Rs. 18.99 lakh |
| Renault Duster E-Tech 160 Emotion | Rs. 19.49 lakh |
The hybrid powertrain uses a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, two electric motors, and a 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery. The combined output stands at 160 PS while the electric traction motor develops 208 Nm of torque. A multimode automatic transmission manages power delivery. Renault claims acceleration from 0 to 100 kmph in 9.6 seconds. The battery receives electricity from regenerative braking and the petrol engine and thus external charging is unnecessary.
The first customer received the SUV from Francisco Hidalgo, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Renault Group India. The vehicle was handed over to T. Krishna Gopal, CEO of Eduzi Academy, at the new Hyderabad showroom. The facility occupies 7,000 square feet and has space to display eight cars making it Renault’s largest showroom in the city. The dealership is operated by VVC Group which now manages three Renault showrooms and two workshops in Hyderabad.
The Duster hybrid features an illuminated Duster emblem on the grille, E-Tech badges, LED headlamps and a horizontal LED rear light bar. The SUV also gets 212 mm of ground clearance and 18-inch wheels. On the inside, selected variants receive a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, and dual-zone climate control. Six airbags are standard while the remaining equipment varies according to the chosen trim.
Renault claims an ARAI-certified fuel efficiency of 29 kmpl and a driving range of more than 1,400 km under specified conditions. The company also states that electric propulsion can handle up to 80 per cent of city driving time under suitable circumstances. The Duster Strong Hybrid competes against the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Maruti Suzuki Victoris and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder hybrid models.
