Renault DUSTER: The SUV that started it all. Till about a decade ago, the SUV market in the country was almost non-existent. Whatever SUVs were available in the country were either the premium imported vehicles or a couple of Indian models which were also priced quite on the higher side.
These SUVs lacked two important things. One, they were all made for European or American conditions and two, the comfort level in them was at the extremes. In those kind of regions off-roading was a very developed activity and so were the vehicles, unlike India, where the awareness of the concept and hence acceptance was still in its infancy then. Also, most imported SUVs were very rugged, extremely comfortable and loaded with features and that’s what made them stand out of reach for an ordinary Indian.
All this changed in 2012 when the Renault DUSTER was launched in India. The DUSTER not only proved to be a solidly built car but it also provided the necessary comfort and features at a price that was much more attractive to general Indian customers. This was the first instance when a product was conceived with the Indian requirements in mind. Unlike the western countries, SUVs in India are not only used for off-roading but also a normal urban commute. This ability of the Renault DUSTER to don two hats, off-roader as well as an urban car, made it an instant hit.
Things have never been the same for Indian customers since then. With the DUSTER, Renault launched a new category of compact SUVs in the Indian automobile market. Since then, the DUSTER has become a permanent fixture in SUVs and has been setting new benchmarks for others to follow. It has become a pioneer of sorts in this category.
The latest Renault DUSTER continues to be part of this design thinking and has evolved keeping in mind the taste of new customers of today. So, what exactly helps the DUSTER to occupy a special place in the Indian customer’s hearts and minds? Let us find out.