Renault begins deliveries of Duster Strong Hybrid, claims 29 km per litre

Renault India has begun deliveries of its new SUV, the Renault Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160. The company claims a mileage of 29 kmpl for the vehicle. The starting ex-showroom price is Rs 16.99 lakh.

With petrol and diesel costs rising in India, buyers are leaning towards cars and SUVs that offer higher mileage. Until now, a CNG car was the cheaper option for many customers. But CNG prices are also going up, and buyers are now looking at strong hybrid cars.

The SUV was launched in India on October 17, 2026. About three weeks later, on November 6, its first delivery was made in Hyderabad. The vehicle has the company's E-Tech self-charging hybrid system, so no separate charging station is needed to charge the battery.

The Duster Hybrid has a 1.8-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, two electric motors and a 1.4 kWh battery. The hybrid system together produces 160 bhp of power and 208 Nm of torque. The vehicle has a multi-mode DHT automatic gearbox. According to the company, the car can go from 0 to 100 kmph in just 9.6 seconds.

Mileage is the biggest attraction of the vehicle. According to the company, the SUV can run up to 29 km on one litre of petrol. In city traffic jams a vehicle has to stop repeatedly, and hybrid technology helps in such conditions. At low speeds the vehicle can run on the electric motor, and the petrol engine starts when needed. Energy generated during braking helps charge the battery.

The company also claims that up to 80 per cent of city driving can be in electric mode. The SUV has six driving modes in all, including Pure EV and Hybrid modes.

The vehicle will compete with popular strong hybrid SUVs in the Indian market. On claimed mileage, the Renault Duster Hybrid is rated at 29 kmpl, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid at 27.97 kmpl and the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid at 28.65 kmpl. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is also a major rival in the segment. Actual mileage can vary with road conditions, traffic and driving style.

Before buying, it is important to compare the company's stated mileage, fuel costs in real-world use, variant-wise features and the on-road price.