Renault Duster Turbo Cheaper by ₹1.5 Lakh? What Is Reported About the Cheaper 1.3 Engine

By Meezan KhanNov 15, 20265 min read

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TorqueNM presenter thinking beside a khaki-green Renault Duster under the headline Duster Turbo, cheaper? Not yet

The Renault Duster turbo has not got cheaper by ₹1.5 lakh yet, but a cheaper version of its 1.3-litre engine is reportedly being developed in India, and that is the story behind our Short. As of 16 November 2026 Renault has made no official announcement. This guide separates what is reported from what is confirmed, shows the launch prices of the 1.3-litre Duster, and explains what the cheaper engine would change if it arrives.

Renault Duster turbo at a glance

Reported, not announced: a cheaper 1.3-litre turbo-petrol with port fuel injection (MPFi) is being developed by Renault’s Chennai R&D team.
Expected: about 140 hp and 250 Nm, against 163 hp and 280 Nm for the current 1.3 turbo.
Expected: a price roughly ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh below equivalent versions of the current engine.
Not announced: launch date, variants, final specifications and any CNG version.

What is actually being reported

Autocar India’s report of 7 November cites sources close to the development. It says the new 1.3 HR13 MPFi would sit alongside the current direct-injection engine, not replace it, and would use a redesigned turbo and simpler hardware: no high-pressure fuel rail, no direct injectors and no dual-mass flywheel. The petrol particulate filter could also be dropped. The article describes a factory CNG version as “highly viable”, which is the outlet’s own view, not a confirmed plan.

Rushlane followed on 9 November and credited Autocar India, using “planned”, “might” and “likely” throughout. Its “up to ₹1.5 lakh cheaper” figure is the upper end of Autocar India’s ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh range. Other outlets repeated the story without adding a Renault statement.

Duster engine range and launch prices

Two petrol turbo engines were offered at launch, according to CarDekho’s 17 March listing. The 1.0-litre TCe makes 100 PS and 160 Nm with a six-speed manual. The 1.3-litre TCe makes 163 PS and 280 Nm with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed DCT automatic. The 1.3 is the engine this report is about, while the hybrid, launched in October, is a separate powertrain. If the MPFi engine arrives it would become a third petrol option and could fill the gap between the two: at launch the 1.3 Evolution manual started at about ₹12.99 lakh, against ₹11.69 lakh for the 1.0 turbo Evolution.

The new Duster launched in India on 17 March 2026. The table shows the launch ex-showroom prices of the 1.3-litre versions in ₹ lakh. These are March 2026 prices, so they may have changed, and sources disagree on the current top of the range.

Variant	1.3 turbo manual	1.3 turbo DCT automatic
Evolution	12.99	14.49
Techno	14.49	15.89
Techno+	15.29	16.69
Iconic	16.99	18.49

The 1.0-litre turbo version is the cheaper way in, from about ₹10.49 lakh for the Authentic variant, according to CarDekho’s launch listing. Renault’s own launch press release is the official source.

What a cheaper engine would change

If the expected numbers hold, the MPFi engine would give up roughly 20 hp and 30 Nm to save ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh. For most city and highway use that is a trade many buyers would take, because the 1.3 turbo’s launch prices start close to ₹13 lakh and climb quickly. It would sit between the 1.0 turbo and the full-power 1.3, and a CNG option, if one is ever built, would widen the appeal further. None of that is confirmed. Until Renault speaks, the price gap, the power figures and the launch date are all expectations, and the final engine could differ from what sources describe today. Lower power would also affect the automatic version differently from the manual, so wait for official numbers on both before judging it. Reports built on unnamed sources are common in the car trade, and plans can change before launch, so treat the figures here as a direction rather than a promise.

Watch the full Duster video

If you are comparing engines, our full video on the Duster Hybrid walks through the Evolution, Techno and Emotion variants and which one to buy. It covers the other Duster powertrain, not the cheaper turbo engine in this article.

The Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 launched on 17 October 2026 at introductory prices of ₹16.99 lakh for Evolution, ₹18.99 lakh for Techno and ₹19.49 lakh for Emotion, valid for deliveries until 31 December 2026, with a claimed 29 kpl. It combines a 1.8-litre petrol engine and a motor for 160 hp. Our Duster hybrid price and mileage guide has the details against the Grand Vitara.

A note on our Short

The Short’s title said the 1.3 turbo Duster is cheaper by ₹1.5 lakh. If that reads as a price cut that has already happened, it is wrong: the cheaper engine is reported, unannounced and has no date. The ₹1.5 lakh figure is the top of a reported range, not a confirmed saving, and the “big strategy” idea is Autocar India’s reading of why Renault might want a lower-priced engine. We could not check the Short’s own on-screen numbers against a published source, so every figure here comes from a linked report.

Buy now or wait?

If you want a Duster now, the current 1.3 turbo and the hybrid are on sale, and the 1.0 turbo is the cheapest entry point. Waiting for the MPFi engine only makes sense if you are price-sensitive, are happy with about 140 hp, and can live without a launch date. It could be many months away, so do not delay a purchase on a report alone. Check the current ex-showroom price at a dealer, and follow our car news section for any official word from Renault.

We have not driven the Duster for this article. It uses manufacturer launch material and published reports, and we will update it if Renault confirms the new engine.

Renault Duster turbo FAQs

Has the Duster 1.3 turbo got cheaper by ₹1.5 lakh?

No. Renault is only reported to be developing a cheaper MPFi version of the 1.3 turbo, which could be ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh below the current engine’s versions. Nothing is official.

When will the cheaper Duster engine launch?

No date has been announced or reported. Renault has not commented on the engine.

How much does the Duster 1.3 turbo cost now?

At launch in March 2026 the 1.3 turbo cost ₹12.99 lakh to ₹16.99 lakh for the manual and ₹14.49 lakh to ₹18.49 lakh for the DCT automatic, ex-showroom. Prices may have changed since.