Renault Duster vs Mahindra NuvoSport

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.

Mahindra reckoned that its Quanto needed a new dose of life and in the process performed a nose job on the existing design before christening it the ‘NuvoSport’. In this episode, we review Mahindra’s five-speed AMT version and highlight the obvious dump of the clutch pedal. Here’s the gist.

The new Mahindra NuvoSport, according to its maker might be the ideal tool for adventure seekers, but behind the marketing curtain, it is the replacement of the Quanto. It uses the same shell as the Quanto – same doors and the same roof – but the NuvoSport sits on a new ladder-based platform. It's the same that underpins the Scorpio and the TUV300. So, it's lighter, more rigid and dynamically better set up than the older non-hydroformed chassis.