Renault Duster AWD vs Mahindra XUV500 AWD comparison

Both these SUVs are ‘soft roaders’ – built like a car (as against a light truck with a ladder frame), and neither is a serious off-roader. So does it make sense to equip them with all-wheel-drive systems? While these cars will never be up to extreme 4x4 rock climbing or dune bashing, 4WD will aid traction for sure. And this will make them more driveable and capable on mountain trails, slushy country roads and on wet slippery surfaces. If this appeals to you, then these cars are just right for you.

As is evident, the key difference between the two cars you see on these pages is size. The Mahindra XUV is a size bigger than the Renault Duster in every aspect — be it dimensions, cabin space, number of seats or engine size.

Where the Mahindra XUV always came with an option of four-wheel drive, the Duster lacked this hardware. But now, Renault has launched the Duster AWD, so it’s time for a rematch with the Mahindra.

Even though these cars have all four wheels driven, they aren’t in the same league as say a Fortuner or even the Safari Storme when it comes to off-road driving. So, which of these rugged beasts, with their tall stance, friendly car-like driving manners and capability to handle difficult Indian road conditions is the best for you? We have compared them on both smooth roads and overly slushy terrain.  

What are they like to drive?

The Duster’s 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine makes 109bhp in contrast to the XUV that makes 31bhp more. On the flipside, the Duster is a massive 400kg lighter, and that more than makes up for the power deficit. Like the 4x2 version, the clutch on the Duster is a little on the hard side, which can get a bit tiring for your left foot in stop and go traffic. Power delivery is impressive, and it pulls really well past 2,500rpm, and will carry on until around 4,000rpm, after which the power tails off. The engine has a strong mid-range, which means overtaking on single-lane roads is not a problem. It’s also a very good highway cruiser. But below 2,000rpm, there is a bit of throttle lag, and combined with the small-capacity motor and relatively hard clutch, driving it in traffic can be a chore. The Duster managed to post some impressive times thanks to its light kerb weight. It takes 12.01 seconds to get to 100kph, which is identical to the much more powerful XUV.

The XUV 4x4 is powered by a larger 2.2-litre diesel engine, but then it is heavier too. Making 138bhp and 32.63kgm of pulling power, it has more than enough grunt on tap. There is a hint of delay when you press the throttle, but thereafter, there’s a strong and pretty linear surge all the way to 4,000rpm. Overtaking slower cars, as a result, is pretty effortless. The ‘mHawk’ engine is one of the strengths of the XUV and the punch it delivers both in the city and on the highway is a good reason to buy it. It sprints to 100kph in a brisk 12.34 seconds. But the six-speed gearbox feels notchy, especially when selecting second gear, and gears are bit of an effort to engage without an extra push. The clutch is even heavier than the Duster’s, and the release action is pretty jerky too, which makes driving smoothly in the city hard work.

Ride & handling

This is one area where the Duster is head and shoulders above the XUV. The Renault offers a magical blend of ride and handling. Firstly, the steering feels delightfully direct and weighs up in a linear way as speed builds. But though the steering gives you an amazing sense of control, the Duster isn’t exactly sporty; it is better to ease into corners rather than dart through them. The AWD variant gets independent rear suspension and the secured feeling is enhanced further.
The Duster feels soft initially and body roll is gentle, but not excessive. In fact, the suppleness doesn’t come at the expense of body control, and even at high speed on an undulating surface, the Duster feels incredibly stable, and the ride quality at any speed is nothing short of phenomenal. What further helps the handling of this Renault is the 4x4 system that provides extra grip and lends it added agility that the 4x2 variant lacks.

Smooth surfaces and low speeds bring out the best in the XUV’s suspension, and it feels nice and pliant. Increase the pace though, and the Mahindra’s ride quality will disappoint. There’s lots of vertical movement at the rear, and the constant bobbing and pitching will make you feel disconcerted. Low-speed ride is pretty good, but sharper bumps can rattle the XUV, which crashes through potholes. Surface imperfections can catch the XUV out, and it does get ruffled by the odd stretch of broken tarmac taken at speed. The additional weight of the rear axle, however, makes the back more planted and secure.

The XUV AWD’s handling is a marked improvement over the 4x2 but it is still way off the standard set by the Duster. Also, the wide 235-section tyres squeal without too much provocation and could do with more grip. No doubt, the XUV is quite nimble and light on its feet, especially in town, and on the highway, it tackles sweeping bends quite comfortably with the steering offering decent feedback. But remember, this car is only comfortable being driven in a sedate manner.

Both of these soft-roaders come with all-wheel drive, but the relatively low clearance and lack of low range means you are better off sticking to slushy dirt tracks and gentle inclines. On the rough stuff, both these SUVs are similarly capable, but the Duster engine’s turbo lag does get in the way of effortless progress on slushy terrain. Unlike the XUV, the Duster does not get hill-descent control, which allows you to go down steep slopes in a controlled manner.

What are they like inside?

Both these SUVs exhibit their personalities on the inside too. Where the XUV reeks of style, the Duster keeps things simple. The XUV’s dash looks a whole lot more interesting than the Duster’s. The central screen, though a bit too small, is neatly integrated, the air-con vents look complex yet are easy to use and even the hooded dials look great. There’s lots of space for smaller items too. But smart as it is, the cabin feels poorly executed. The plastics look cheap, the buttons on the centre console feel tacky and panel fit isn’t great either.

The Duster, though improved from before, is not much better, and the SUV feels poorly put together with a lot of crude bits. Many plastics feel like they are out of a budget hatchback and the dashboard design can be termed functional at best. The new black and red dual-tone fabric seats look much better than the beige seats on the 4x2 version. Even though the dash and other elements look simply laid out, there are too many ergonomic glitches. The steering audio controls are positioned on the column rather than on the boss, and hence remain out of sight. Even the positioning of the electric mirror adjust knob under the handbrake takes time getting used to. But the Duster does boast a more robust build quality than the XUV.     

The Duster sits lower than the XUV and this makes getting in and out easy. On the flipside, you don’t get as commanding a view of the road as you would from the XUV’s elevated driver’s seat. Both SUVs offer good front seat comfort but it’s the XUV’s better bolstered chair that will hold you better.

Thanks to the more compact dimensions, the Duster can’t match the XUV for legroom in the second row, but it’s spacious enough in its own right. What goes in the Duster’s favour is its seat, which offers more thigh support and better overall comfort than the XUV. But thanks to a wider cabin and a flat floor, three people can sit in more comfort in the XUV. Renault has improved comfort for the rear middle passenger by getting rid of the protruding central rear blower. On the flipside, there are no rear air-con vents at all.

The biggest advantage the XUV has over the Duster is its third row of seats. While the ability to carry seven makes the XUV ideal for buyers with large families, the last row of seats is short on space and comfort. When not in use, they are best left folded, which helps free up a lot of room for luggage. The Duster may be down on space, but it has the better-shaped luggage bay and importantly, also gets a parcel shelf to keep your belongings hidden. Another key difference in the AWD Duster over the 4x2 is the raised boot floor to new 4x4 hardware and suspension. Though a compromise, it is not a make or break factor.

Buying & owning

The XUV500 AWD costs Rs 14.68 lakh in the top W8 variant which makes it, by far, the more expensive car, while the Duster 4x4 diesel manual
in the top RxZ trim costs Rs 12.99 lakh. On the flipside, the XUV offers far more equipment. Mahindra offers the XUV with a three-year/1,00,000km warranty while Renault sells the Duster with a two-year/ 40,000km warranty. With fuel efficiency, according to ARAI figures, the Duster is the more efficient with a figure of 19.72kpl. As expected, the XUV is the less efficient one with a figure of 15.1kpl.

Equipment & safety

We are comparing top models here, with the Duster’s RxZ 4x4 variant going up against the XUV’s W8 AWD trim. While the Duster is the more affordable car here, it’s also the one with less equipment. It gets a touchscreen system with satellite navigation, and there’s Bluetooth, USB, aux and a CD player for the audio system. There are also rear parking sensors, ABS with brake assist and two airbags. What it misses out on, which the Duster 4x2 has, are the rear air-con vents.

When it comes to equipment, it’s hard for any car to beat the Mahindra. The list is almost endless – over and above what the Duster has, it gets automatic climate control, automatic adaptive headlamps, a tyre pressure monitor, DVD player and more. There’re also six airbags, ABS, ESP and hill descent control. Mahindra has really pulled out all the stops.

VERDICT              

The XUV is in line with what Indian customers are looking for, with its larger and better equipped cabin, modern looks and its extra couple of seats. Mahindra’s muscular and torquey diesel engine is the icing on the cake. Where the XUV fails is execution. It lacks the Duster’s driving finesse; the ride and handling is a sore point and it doesn’t feel as well built as the Renault either. That it’s Rs 1.8 lakh more expensive just adds to the list of negatives. 

The Duster is clearly the more compact SUV here and hence, is at a disadvantage in terms of space. It is, however, nimble and easy to drive in the city, a breeze to park, and blessed with car-like handling at high speeds, and as a result, nicer to drive off-road. Yes, the interiors lack the all-important upmarket feel and is not as practical as the XUV. What it delivers, however, in spades, is a compact, well-engineered driving experience every time you take the wheel. That’s something the XUV can’t match. That it’s much more efficient and a lot cheaper just seals the deal.

Ameya Dandekar