Renault Duster Hybrid First Drive | New Hybrid Tested | Times Drive

Now this is the third Duster we've been driving in 2026. and by third I mean a third different kind of power We have already driven the Duster 1.3 turbo-petrol engine. We have alreadyatewayed a one-liter turbo petrol engine, and this is the hybrid. Duster is very important; many people start with this. are waiting for the hybrid duster because it's not Big C.V. is not this too comfortable C.V. Big is all together going To be fuel efficient, so what is the Duster Hybrid? Let's get straight to the point about these things. We'll talk about what it's like to drive. What compromises are there? Here in comparison to the regular Duster And ultimately, who will like this Duster Hybrid? Hi, my name is Dhruv Paliwal, you're Watching Times Drive, let's get rolling Now before we move ahead with this video, I have a small request to make of you If you like the kind of content that we create, Please hit the like button so YouTube also knows the same If you know someone who's been looking to buy the Duster Hybrid, wants to know how it drives Well, share this video with them And subscribe to the Times Drive channel For more engaging automotive content Now, how will you know That this is a Duster Hybrid Well, there are clues, they're small, a bit of attention will be needed. The biggest clue is right here in the front This is the Duster's badging right here Well, this is lit It says Duster on the Regular Duster But these are not lit. Here, these background LEDs are included in it. And at night, when you look, the entire area will appear lit to you. Now, if you look at it from the side, you'll see here The badge for e-tech hybrid will be displayed. Here, the iconic plate used to come on the iconic variant. but on this hybrid version here e-tech hybrid And e-tech is the name of the technology. that Renault has provided regarding its hybrid technology So basically, it says e-tech, so you understand These are Renault's hybrid cars. Now, there's also a small detail from behind. This will tell you, this is the Duster Hybrid. And that's once again a e-tech hybrid badge right here on the boot. Now inside the interior, nothing What is it? Well, these are cosmetic changes; this upholstery is what you're seeing. The brown color you are seeing on the seat Well, this is specific to the hybrid version of the Renault Duster. And by the way, let me tell you a couple of other things as well. The top-end version of the Duster Hybrid is priced at 19.49 lakh rupees. and that is an aggressive price tag but in order to achieve that price tag Renault has had to do some things here. For example, there are a few features that are important. Which are there on the Duster Turbo Petrol version? but are missing over here and that is first of all a 360-degree camera Now that is a useful feature. For those who are just beginners in driving A 360-degree camera is very helpful when parking. and keeping the price of the Duster Hybrid under control Well, he has been said goodbye here. Moreover, you won't find ADAS technology in the Duster Hybrid. And once again, the reason is pretty simple If an aggressive price point needs to be met So you have to remove features I wasn't very fond of the 360-degree camera at first. I would have preferred it in a car like the Duster Hybrid. But ADAS is such a feature Which I am happy to say they have removed from the car. Because very few people use Indian roads The cost of adding it is also very high. And ultimately the value that the car buyer has It's not something you see very often in ADAS. It's only for those people Those who need the latest tech Who wants the highest level of safety possible in their car? And safety is also not such that It is a proven feature that works every time. It varies significantly depending on road conditions. Usage of ADAS Here, ADAS has not been provided. I think that's not a big deal. But the 360-degree camera should be one like that Now, if the Duster Hybrid Let's talk about running it So this car doesn't drive like a regular hybrid car. First of all, one major difference that We felt it in our test drive. Do hybrid cars generally tend to behave like CVTs? I mean the engine keeps revving. It takes time to catch up with the speed. Now that is not a feeling we got in the Duster Hybrid. In the Duster Hybrid, you actually have a proper gearbox and engine that is It revs up to the redline and then performs a gear shift. We won't go into technical details now. How on earth did Renault achieve this? but in the real world, its impact is felt that when you are driving the car at higher speeds So there, the petrol engine stays quite active. It also simulates gear shifts. The experience of driving a car feels quite normal. At lower speeds, the electric motor takes over At high speeds, the petrol engine will not be that efficient. Here, the electric motor performs its function. and it remains smooth, so power delivery stays smooth and jerk-free Driving silent driving S well and is to motor Up to top, the engine, being on, also charges the motor. now the entire hybrid system can be configured automatically, you have no control over this No, it doesn't work with these different combinations, meaning the engine You can also perform a final reset on the engine motor. It can also work just on the engine, or can the car run just on the engine? Combinations with electric motors from the same manufacturer and even more combinations are and moreover, not just for the engine here The girder box has been made, so these four girders are for the engine. Andar to Girls for Electric Motor, today well to this edifirrent Citi More Complex Setup from Regular Hybrid Cars out late at the end of two sets this set up Max Dusty Hybrid Amor engaging card drive, when you feel the touch The gear shift is happening, you feel a lot like a regular car Especially the enthusiasts, they are the ones who are touched by this. for approval for performance Let's talk about the Duster Hybrid—it doesn't feel like a hybrid. lacking if you have driven the 1.3 Turbo petrol engine, yes, here it is for you that surge of torque, that punch of torque that people expect What's the scene? It's an EV load, well, load. but it is a progressive torque that comes and it makes the Duster a more linear car to drive Your experience running this is what It's not like a sudden shock or jolt. It remains smooth, and that's something I like about the Duster Hybrid. Let's talk about suspension, well, without having done a back Making this claim isn't quite easy. but it feels like the Duster Hybrid has an even stiffer setup at the front Now it's not so difficult to do this thing. because there is a petrol engine ahead And together there are two electric motors. So the weight does change. And here is also an electric battery near the boot, even at the back So the weight has changed. Renault has said that The hybrid in Duster His suspension balance, which is The tuning has been changed. but in the front, low-speed ride quality especially at a very low speed When you're going through small breakers or small potholes The front does feel a little jittery. You do feel that side-to-side movement creeping in. and it might feel a little uncomfortable but surprisingly, as the pace picks up just as the ride quality settles down and it handles most imperfections on Indian roads with ease Even in terms of handling, the suspension seems spot on. It does pay attention to comfort, and there is indeed an inherent firm quality. So the enthusiast will like this setup more But even the regular things here don't let the car feel uncomfortable. Even in handling, the Duster feels quite sure-footed here. Now we mostly drove it on straight highway roads. But whenever the time came to make a quick directional change The Duster Hybrid lived up to its promise. So these were the driving impressions of the Duster Hybrid So where does that leave us overall? So it's time to sum up my thoughts about the Renault Duster Hybrid. Now, if you've driven the Duster 1.3 Turbo Petrol And you're coming to the Duster Hybrid seeking a lot of that performance Perhaps you will be a bit disappointed. Because this engine, despite being a 1.8-liter engine And having two electric motors along with it Is not optimized for maximum performance The biggest aim for Renault here is fuel efficiency. They have advertised 29 KMPL, even though it's visible. That fuel efficiency is certified by ARAI. And in the real world, you'll have to drive the car very, very smoothly. to be able to achieve that figure but you can definitely get close to it even if you remove all the performance from this car Efficiency will remain around 13, 14, or 15 kmpl. which isn't bad when you're pushing the pedal to the metal So ultimately, whose car is this? Here, I will say this Well, someone who is looking to get to the office every day and back home style in comfort, surrounded by all the creature comforts they desire and also wants a car on weekends that they can take out for highway trips without actually wanting the best performance available Well, in that case, the Duster Hybrid is making a great case for the money. We'll save it too; the car is also large, so luggage will fit comfortably. in terms of comfort, practicality, and all these aspects is ticking all the right boxes, even the handling Quite good, so ultimately it's a fun car to drive. but if you're looking for outright performance, you're better off going with the turbo petrol engine if you want a regular everyday I need a car that can run even in EV mode. It's fine, it runs on petrol too when the battery dies. In that case, the Duster Hybrid is now making a strong case in its own right and the greatest reason Is the aggressive price tag the 19.49 lakh rupee price? tag for this car is something that others car manufacturers will struggle to keep up, and this is something that will set it apart from other cars currently on the market So what do you think of the Duster hybrid? I would certainly like to know your opinion as well. Repost from us in the comments below, let us know, There are no questions answered here in this video, Well, well, get to do those too, You can definitely ask them in the comments. Section below. Thank you so much for watching. And until the next one, goodbye