Renault (including Duster Unveil) @ Auto Expo 2012 - EDIT: Now launched at 7.19 Lacs

[raul]

Originally Posted by sumeshmani

Interesting video!!!. They did push the car to try and roll it over. Duster seems to handle such situations very well. For us this translates into good stability when taking curves at high speed.

The test was not done at a high speed so I would be careful. There is similar video of someone pushing Yeti and Duster I posted earlier and the Yeti did manage to hold its composure compared to the Duster.

DACIA DUSTER vs.SKODA YETI Test - Video Dailymotion

Also in the specs I did not see ESP offered even in the top end. Its ABS EBD with BA, so most likely no ESP. Without that curves at highspeed would not be a good idea given the videos.

[shankar.balan]

Vehicles such as these ought not to be pushed terribly hard on curves etc because they are NOT sports sedans. However, I would trust the Yeti's electronic safety gizmos and 4WD a lot, while taking curves on the hill roads and suddenly coming upon loose gravel, snow, water logging or ice. But I would NOT push it beyond sensible limits.

[MAS]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Vehicles such as these ought not to be pushed terribly hard on curves etc because they are NOT sports sedans. However, I would trust the Yeti's electronic safety gizmos and 4WD a lot, while taking curves on the hill roads and suddenly coming upon loose gravel, snow, water logging or ice. But I would NOT push it beyond sensible limits.

During my trip to Ambur today morning, I spotted the same Red Duster at Vellore. The car sat on the road like a frog, wide and short. The car was doing 110+ and was weaving in and out of traffic with ease. I was pretty impressed with its handling and high speed characteristics. I did take a few pictures of the test mule, but as most of us have already seen enough of the red SUV, I'm not posting them here.

I could peep into the car while overtaking it and found that the interiors were average with Chrome rings around the aircon ducts. The horn sounded like a single horn with weak "peemp" instead of a stronger tone, which would have better suited the rugged car.

I am very impressed with the car and would wait and watch before I decide on the Duster.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by MAS

During my trip to Ambur today morning, I spotted the same Red Duster at Vellore. The car sat on the road like a frog, wide and short. The car was doing 110+ and was weaving in and out of traffic with ease. I was pretty impressed with its handling and high speed characteristics. I did take a few pictures of the test mule, but as most of us have already seen enough of the red SUV, I'm not posting them here.

I could peep into the car while overtaking it and found that the interiors were average with Chrome rings around the aircon ducts. The horn sounded like a single horn with weak "peemp" instead of a stronger tone, which would have better suited the rugged car.

I am very impressed with the car and would wait and watch before I decide on the Duster.

Good show.
I wonder why they put those cheap 'peemp" sounding horns on these SUV's. Same with the Bolero too!'

[Latheesh]

^^
Does it really matter? You just need 500 Rupees to make it pom..pom

[AyAn!]

The new Renault three slat grille brings the heat down by a few notches,and is a direct nod to the Duster's mostly functional character.The Dacia grille gave it a touch of class, but the car still looks quite pert. All that chunkiness give it some road presence.

And those plates look really,really suspicious!

[BUXX]

why .. it is just transfer of an old registration on to a newer vehicle.. that is all..

[Guna]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Vehicles such as these ought not to be pushed terribly hard on curves etc because they are NOT sports sedans. However, I would trust the Yeti's electronic safety gizmos and 4WD a lot, while taking curves on the hill roads and suddenly coming upon loose gravel, snow, water logging or ice. But I would NOT push it beyond sensible limits.

Expectation from these type of cross-overs is that they should handle 'nearly' as good as normal sedans (if not sports cars). That is the reason in these vehicles you don't see a warning on the sun-visor about possible 'roll over', which you see on regular SUVs.

[sumeshmani]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

^^
Does it really matter? You just need 500 Rupees to make it pom..pom

I guess it would if they plan to price it at 12L. What i mean is, the horn would be just one of the items they might have put through the cost cutting. All such items will start messing with your head if you are shelling out so much money. Then again, how knows if its going to be prices high.
One thing is for sure, if they price it very competitively, a "peemp" might be ignored by most of us.

[razor4077]

Originally Posted by AyAn!

The new Renault three slat grille brings the heat down by a few notches,and is a direct nod to the Duster's mostly functional character.The Dacia grille gave it a touch of class, but the car still looks quite pert. All that chunkiness give it some road presence.

I prefer the original Dacia front any day. The smoked headlamps, bifurcated grille - looked much better than the overdose of chrome and big clear headlamp units. Am guessing one can always get hold of these as after-market accessories... these are easily available around Europe.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by Guna

Expectation from these type of cross-overs is that they should handle 'nearly' as good as normal sedans (if not sports cars). That is the reason in these vehicles you don't see a warning on the sun-visor about possible 'roll over', which you see on regular SUVs.

I agree that these crossovers certainly handle far better than the traditional SUVs and all the electronic gizmos keep one safe, but I would still not wish to fling my yeti around bends the way I might, a mini cooper!

[srishiva]

Originally Posted by razor4077

I prefer the original Dacia front any day. The smoked headlamps, bifurcated grille - looked much better than the overdose of chrome and big clear headlamp units. Am guessing one can always get hold of these as after-market accessories... these are easily available around Europe.

I agree, the grill is a big let down for me. For such a practical vehicle, they tried to add false premium-ness. It would be the first thing I would change if I bought it.

[BUXX]

smoked headlamps are only available as default in the 4WD version; which is not going to get launched here

[smartindboy]

- Not a premium brand / rather unknown brand in India
- Not many dealerships / service centers
- Not even a single success story so far (of all its existing line up in India)
- Target is private owners (especially the 7-10 lakh sedan segment), not a good bet for taxis (like Innova )

Considering all the above, any price upwards of 10L OTR will make this a dud.

[mohandasnikhil]

Some more pics of the Duster running around in Mumbai.