Renault Duster vs Nissan Kicks

The new Dacia Duster that was globally unveiled recently is the third generation of the SUV. This will form the base for the Renault Duster that we expect to be launched by the carmaker in India. It looks modern and feature-packed — from the pictures at least. But will it be able to rekindle the excitement when it was first launched in India? From the looks of it, it seems quite like it. But again, to remind you, the Duster was a mid-sized five-seater SUV with oodles of space, outstanding ride quality, frugal diesel powertrain, and handsome looks. It only started to feel old due to the other modern SUVs in the segment that were equipped with more features, better interior, several drivetrain options, and a more appealing proposition. Has the new one managed to tick these boxes then? Let's delve deeper.

There are plenty of options available now if you are in the market for a petrol-powered mid-size SUV. And, if you can look beyond the current favourite Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos duo, there's another pair of siblings that will catch your attention. The Renault Duster and the Nissan Kicks. Besides, there's a good reason why you should take a look at these two. Especially, if more power and turbocharging are what you are looking for. These are amongst the most powerful turbo-powered petrol SUVs on sale in India. We shall draw an analogy between the two, and this comparison should help you decide which one to choose.

The arrival of the Renault Duster Turbo in India was quite an anticipated one for it was going to be the most powerful Duster ever! And very self-evidently, this 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine, a product of the Renault-Nissan alliance with Daimler's collaboration, is also seen under the hood of the Duster's cousin - the Nissan Kicks. We've put both these SUVs under our V-Box testing regime to do an in-depth analysis of their power-packed performance. Here's a brief summary of the same.