The new Nissan mid-size SUV will be based on the recently unveiled Renault Duster from the international market.
Nissan announces a mid-size SUV which will rival the mighty Hyundai Creta in our market. We know that Creta is the highest-selling SUV in this category. It has been selling like hotcakes for years now. To counter it, many carmakers have introduced their own products. Pursuing that trend, even Nissan will bring its SUV into this space. Note that Nissan already used to sell the Renault Duster-based Terrano in India up until a few years ago. It was, essentially, a badge-engineered version of the Duster. Now that the Duster has already been launched in many international markets and confirmed for India, its Nissan counterpart will follow soon thereafter.
Nissan Confirms Creta-Rivalling SUV
Nissan has just been surviving on the back of the Magnite in India for a while now. Thankfully, it has done well on the sales charts with over 1 lakh cumulative domestic sales. Its export numbers are also impressive. Now to expand its portfolio further, the X-Trail will be available. But it will be brought as a CBU in limited numbers. That is where a mass-market product like a Terrano (it probably won’t be called that) will come into the picture. Looking at the Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger, it is clear that Nissan aims to distinguish its version aesthetically. Hence, we can expect the same with the Duster counterpart as well. Still, most elements will be shared.
The most prominent aspect will be the modern front fascia with a sleek grille and LED headlamp cluster. Apart from that, the side profile offers a rugged appearance with large alloy wheels and chunky wheel arches. The tail section has a shark fin antenna, a roof-mounted spoiler and a sturdy bumper. On the inside, there are new amenities including steering-mounted controls, tilt and telescopic adjustment for the steering wheel, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a large 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display, physical buttons for HVAC, Duster lettering on the dashboard, blind spot monitoring, ADAS, smartphone mirroring, automatic climate control and more.
Specs
One key aspect of the Renault Duster will be the powertrain options. Internationally, there are three engines to choose from – LPG, Petrol and Hybrid along with FWD and AWD configurations. The 1.0-litre 3-cyl LPG + Petrol mill produces a decent 100 hp of peak power, the 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine with mild hybrid tech outputs a healthy 130 hp of peak power and a 1.6-litre 4-cyl hybrid engine which belts out a respectable 140 hp of peak power. These engines will pair with manual and automatic transmissions. It will be interesting to see which combination does the Renault Duster come within our market. That will be the same in Nissan’s SUV.
| Specs | Renault Duster |
| Engine | 1.6L (P) / 1.2L (Hybrid P) / 1.0L (LPG) |
| Power | 140 hp / 130 hp / 100 hp |
| Transmission | MT / AT |
| Drivetrain | FWD / AWD |
Our View
Nissan is planning to expand its footprint in India. Everyone knows that India is among the fastest-growing automotive markets in the world. Hence, big carmakers want to be a part of this wave. Nissan has already been in India for a long time now. Therefore, it understands the fundamental mindset of the customers. The launch of the Creta rival could take place a few months after the arrival of the new Renault Duster. The latter is slated for launch either by the end of 2025 or in 2026.
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