Renault India has commenced customer deliveries of the Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160, hitting showrooms during the festive season.
Hyderabad Handover
The first handover took place at the manufacturer’s newly inaugurated showroom in HITEC City, Hyderabad. Hyderabad and its surrounding corporate hubs represent a primary volume market for the advanced strong-hybrid SUV, with the start of deliveries around Diwali coming as Renault looks to build its presence in the hybrid segment.
“We are proud to have delivered on that promise, and we begin handing over the Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 to our customers around Diwali,” said Francisco Hidalgo, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Renault Group India.
The vehicle was launched on October 17 at a starting price, bringing the company’s global strong hybrid technology to the Indian market and combining it with the SUV’s capability and practicality. The hybrid costs Rs 6.50 lakh more than the Duster’s Rs 10.49 lakh (ex-showroom) starting price.
Hybrid Powertrain Enters Premium Segment
The Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 enters the Indian premium utility segment in three distinct trim configurations: Evolution, Techno, and Emotion. Introductory ex-showroom prices include the Evolution priced at Rs 16.99 lakh, the Techno at Rs 18.99 lakh, and the top-spec Emotion reaching Rs 19.49 lakh. The hybrid also becomes the first Renault vehicle sold in India to use the company’s E-Tech self-charging powertrain.
A multi-mode automatic transmission manages power delivery, and the battery receives electricity from regenerative braking and the petrol engine, so external charging is unnecessary.
Hybrid Model Achieves 29 Kmpl Efficiency
The model achieves an ARAI-certified fuel efficiency of 29 kmpl, offering a driving range of up to 1,400 km on a single tank of fuel. Renault claims that the Duster Hybrid can run in electric mode for up to 80% of city driving under suitable conditions.
The Renault Duster Hybrid remains identical to the standard Duster in terms of its features, which include a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, powered tailgate, wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, 6-way powered and ventilated front seats, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The interior also features new Dune Brown leatherette upholstery, and frequency-dependent dampers have been added to improve ride quality.
Spread across 7,000 sq ft, the facility has a display capacity of eight vehicles, making it Renault’s largest showroom in Hyderabad and its 30th new’R store in India. The outlet is operated by VVC Group, which has expanded its partnership with Renault through the facility.
The manufacturer intends to convert all 73 showrooms in its 24 popular cities to the new retail format by July 2027, with 30 outlets already receiving the revised showroom treatment. These markets account for nearly half of Renault India’s sales as part of its electrification journey and futuREady roadmap.
