Renault Duster

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Considering your requirements, the Renault Duster hybrid will be a good choice for you. The hybrid Duster is the most powerful car against its rivals and is genuinely impressive to drive and handle. The new Duster also gets FDD (Frequency Dependent Dampers) that improve ride and handling. What also works well is the multi-mode gearbox that gives it smooth performance in the city and stable and refined driving on the highway. Being a strong hybrid, its efficiency is also much better in comparison to the Honda Elevate and the Kia Seltos. The Duster also has a 7 year warranty for the car and an 8 year warranty for the battery adding peace of mind. The only downside maybe Renaults service network which isn't as established as Honda or Kia. However, if there is a showroom near you, this should not be a problem.

Renault Duster

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

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The Renault Duster hybrid is an impressive car but the hybrid variant only makes sense if you will be driving a lot more than average. If your annual coverage is over 20,000km and most of it is in the city, then the hybrid variant makes more sense financially. If the Duster is what you like, given its styling and presence, the turbo-petrol version would be better to go for. However, since mileage is a strong priority, we would recommend you to check the Maruti Suzuki Victoris instead. It is the same size as the Duster, but offers better efficiency and comes with the reliability of Maruti. It is hassle-free, easy on the pocket and the vast service network and low part price also makes for a better case. The styling is not as bold as the Duster, but for your needs, the high mileage, easy-to-drive nature and reliability makes it a better choice.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Renault Duster

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With your requirements, the Renault Duster Hybrid would be the ideal choice against the Volkswagen and the Skoda. The Duster is enjoyable to drive, and its hybrid powertrain also offers good fuel efficiency. Since 60% of your driving is in the city, the Duster Hybrid would be idealIt isn't a typical hybrid with a CVT that can whine when you accelerate on the highway. Instead, it has a proper gearbox that feels a lot more adept at triple-digit speeds, making highway drives more enjoyable. Boot space is also quite good for a hybrid, so there isn't much of a compromise in practicality. You miss out on things like a spare wheel as standard and a 360-degree camera, but otherwise, the cabin is well equipped.Back seat space is not exactly class best, but cushioning and support from the seats are rather good. The only other issue might be after-sales service. Check where Renault dealerships are in your area and if it's not a problem then the Duster would be the ideal choice to get for your requirements.

Renault Duster

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Go for the Honda Elevate V CVT. Since the car will primarily be used by your parents and rear seat comfort matters, the Elevate makes more sense. It offers generous legroom and headroom and is comfortable for two adults in the back. The Duster has a stronger turbo petrol engine and a more engaging performance character, but rear seat space is one of its weaker areas. The Elevate’s naturally aspirated engine and CVT won’t be as exciting when driven enthusiastically, but its predictable handling and smooth gearbox make it easy to live with.

Honda Elevate

Renault Duster

autocar.india

•3d

With your annual running of just 7,000km, the Duster Hybrid's extra Rs 3 lakh is unlikely to be recovered through fuel savings alone. However, the hybrid does have a significant advantage in city driving: based on our tests, the real-world fuel efficiency difference between the 1.3 turbo petrol DCT and the hybrid can be around 10kpl in the city. That is a substantial gap, especially if a third to two-fifths of your driving is in town.The hybrid also has advantages beyond economy. Its 160hp powertrain is more powerful and refined, delivering strong acceleration while keeping the ride and handling excellent. It's also a good highway cruiser, so you're not sacrificing performance for better mileage.However, because you cover 60 per cent of your distance on highways, the fuel saving will be smaller than it would be for someone who drives mainly in the city. The petrol DCT is also significantly more efficient on the highway than in town, returning 13.47kpl in our test, but its overall tested average was 10.47kpl.If you value the hybrid's refinement, performance and city efficiency, it is worth considering. But at just 7,000km a year, the Rs 3 lakh premium is difficult to justify on fuel savings alone.

Renault Duster