In Under 2 Years, Renault Will Go From 1 SUV To 4 SUVs: Details
Renault has stayed dormant in India for many years now, but 2026 is going to be the year when it finally wakes up from its slumber and brings in more models. Currently, Renault has the Renault Kwid, Renault Kiger, and Renault Triber in its lineup. Out of these, only the Kiger can truly be called an SUV. As part of its new strategy, Renault now aims to expand its SUV lineup from one to four in the next two years. What are the upcoming three SUVs that will once again help Renault become popular in the Indian market? Let’s find out.
Renault’s entry-level SUV, the Kiger, has been on sale for a long time. It is based on the same platform as the Kwid and Triber, but the exterior has been designed to make it look like an SUV. The Kiger received an update last year, and the updated version now comes with revised styling and more features, both in terms of convenience and safety.
The Kiger is available with petrol engine options only. The lower variants come with a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder NA petrol engine, which is also available in the Kwid and Triber. This engine is offered with manual and AMT gearbox options.
The 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine is available in the higher variants with manual and CVT gearbox options. It needs to be seen whether the Kiger would get a generation change in the next couple of years or not.
One of the most awaited SUVs from Renault over the last year is the Duster. The older-generation Duster was the vehicle that helped Renault become popular in India. The SUV is still a popular choice in the used car market.
The new-generation Duster is based on the modular CMF-B platform. The exterior design looks rugged and justifies the SUV tag. It gets sleek-looking headlamps with integrated LED DRLs, a thick front grille with Duster badging, and a muscular front bumper with lower cladding and a faux skid plate.
The SUV is 4,346 mm long, 1,815 mm wide, and 1,703 mm tall, and it offers a 2,657 mm wheelbase. The side profile design looks like an evolution of the previous-generation model that was available in India. At the rear, the Duster gets LED tail lamps with a connecting LED bar. The rear bumper also looks muscular.
On the inside, the Duster offers a decent number of features, such as electrically adjustable front seats, seat ventilation, leatherette upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, automatic climate control, Level 2 ADAS, a 10.1-inch driver-centric touchscreen infotainment system, a fully digital instrument cluster, and good in-seat support.
The Duster will be available with petrol engines only. When Renault launches the Duster on March 17, 2026, the SUV will initially be offered with a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol and a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine. There is a third engine option a - 1.8-litre strong hybrid petrol engine - which is currently among the strongest in the segment. This hybrid version will be launched around the festive season.
After the Duster, Renault will shift its focus to its next SUV - a 7-seater model likely to be called the Boreal, based on the Bigster Concept that was showcased last year. The SUV has been unveiled internationally, but its official launch in India is yet to happen.
The SUV is based on the same CMF-B platform as the Duster. Just like the Duster, it will receive changes specific to the Indian market.
The overall length of the Boreal is expected to be greater than that of the Duster, as it needs to accommodate third-row seats. Like the Duster, it is expected to be offered with the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol and the 1.8-litre strong hybrid petrol engine. Since this is a 7-seater SUV, we are not sure whether Renault will offer the smaller 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, as it may feel underpowered. It will offer all the premium features of the Duster and possibly even more. The launch of the Boreal 7-seater SUV is expected to happen later this year or possibly in early 2027.
Renault already has the Kiger in the affordable sub-4-metre SUV segment. It has been doing well in terms of numbers, but when compared to the competition, the Kiger appears smaller in size. To make things more exciting in this segment, Renault is planning to introduce another SUV.
It is currently being referred to as the Mini Duster. We have no idea what the SUV will look like, but given that the Duster has strong brand recall, Renault may design it with styling inspired by the Duster. It may be offered with a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that generates more power and torque than the Kiger. This SUV is expected to arrive after the Boreal 7-seater and could be launched by 2027–28.