Renault Duster AWD : Official Review

Tgo · 15th February 2019, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by C300

My stock MRFs look uneven and the inside wear is significantly higher. The alignment and balancing was done regularly. Anyone faced this issue?

This issue has mixed results. I had this issue on stock wanderers on our 2012 2WD. Then changed to Apollo and later to Primacy SUV, the uneven wear has gone away. But there was quite a bit of alignment checking and rectification in the process, also was advised to check tyre pressures regularly. So everything together has resulted in the situation now, but it could also be the tyres.

My AWD's stock Wanderers had no uneven wear whatsoever. Its now on Geolandar SUV - no uneven wear there either.

saurabh sharma · 15th February 2019, 23:44

This might sound unbelievable, but my cars brake pads were first changed @60k kms, as per the service adviser they could last another 5-7k kms but I got them replaced proactively.

PapaBravo · 21st February 2019, 17:02

We were in Meghalaya last month. Took an offbeat path not there on GMaps. Duster performed flawlessly. The total stretch was about 40kms.

https://youtu.be/wcgxtfbkdTY

nettooran · 21st February 2019, 19:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by saurabh sharma

This might sound unbelievable, but my cars brake pads were first changed @60k kms, as per the service adviser they could last another 5-7k kms but I got them replaced proactively.

same here for the front. almost at 70k now and have not replaced the rear pads yet. My only grudge is the 15k spending on replacing the timing belt at 60k. dont think any other car needs this so early.

jmktm · 23rd February 2019, 10:12

Hi,
Went back to MRF as replacement for my front tyres. Rs.7200/- each, stock size.

Yokohama was Rs.8500/-.

C300 · 24th February 2019, 07:58

I went with Michellin primacy SUV. Total damage was 37k. Had to wait for few days as the tyres were not in stock with the dealer. Its rated 102H and manufacured in Sep-18.
Road noise has dropped significantly. Ride is smoother given the new tyre. Will share detailed review post 10k KMs.

saurabh sharma · 25th February 2019, 18:59

I am using Conti cross contact AT since I bought my car. 64k km on odo and they are still going strong, the car has done the Spiti circuit with no damage to the tyres. Grip & braking levels are good, maybe a little noisier than stock MRF. Will easily last for another 25k km.

Traveler · 25th February 2019, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by saurabh sharma

I am using Conti cross contact AT since I bought my car. 64k km on odo and they are still going strong, the car has done the Spiti circuit with no damage to the tyres. Grip & braking levels are good, maybe a little noisier than stock MRF. Will easily last for another 25k km.

That's great on the Continentals. I remember they used to have a very aggressive block pattern. Have the tyres caused any suspension issues since they are bit hard. Lot of folks mention that the Duster's shock absorbers start leaking and many have got them replaced. How has been your experience with the AWD.

C300 · 5th March 2019, 16:29

Guys, quick question. Today morning, the ESP light came on the dashboard and wouldn't go off. Tried restarting the car but the it stays on. I remember some of you had faced this issue. Is it related to battery? Mine is stock battery and almost 3.5yrs old now with 51k on the Odo. Any inputs?

Tgo · 5th March 2019, 17:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by C300

Guys, quick question. Today morning, the ESP light came on the dashboard and wouldn't go off.

Yes, I had this issue. First the ESP light used to glow randomly. Later it was on permanently. Medianav was also muting on start-up. That's when I suspected the battery could be on the way out. Got the battery checked and replaced from an Exide dealer. Stock DIN 50 Exide battery was installed again with the engine running during the replacement of battery since I did not have the radio code and didn't want to risk resetting a number of other things.

After replacement also the ESP light did not go off, probably because i was going for short 15-20 minute drives.

While on a 400 km trip the next day, the light went out at about 1.5 hours into the drive. It has never come back on again.

Battery at the time of replacement was 3.5 years old with 74,000 km on the odo.

C300 · 7th March 2019, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tgo

Yes, I had this issue. First the ESP light used to glow randomly. Later it was on permanently. Medianav was also muting on start-up. That's when I suspected the battery could be on the way out. Got the battery checked and replaced from an Exide dealer.

Thanks. Visited the service centre today. Battery has been replaced with new Exide. As per SA, the ESP light issue is not related to the battery. They did a quick cleanup of all the sensors and the issue is resolved. Wheel area was a bit muddy and dusty and didn't get a good wash. That was the reason for sensor malfunction.

Tgo · 11th March 2019, 14:10

To enliven this monotonous thread here are two pictures from a recent trip (Terai Forests of UP - Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Kishanpur & Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary) we did in our Duster AWD.

Renault Duster AWD : Official Review-img_4200.jpg

Renault Duster AWD : Official Review-img_0217.jpg

The car is running flawlessly at 85,000 km. Will replace the tyres along with the service at 90,000 km. That is going to be a big one including brake pads, probably rotors and the tyres.

shashankjain16 · 1st April 2019, 18:09

I finally booked my Duster AWD on 31st March 2019 in Cayenne Orange. Final on-road price including 5year extended warranty and bumper to bumper insurance came out to be 14.60 lakhs in Gurgaon. Expected delivery is 10th April.

Duster was the decision after research of over 9 months and considering almost every affordable SUV in the Indian market. Duster is indeed the best car in the segment for driving enthusiasts.

Cannot wait to get my hands on it!!! Already planning trips.

Tgo · 3rd April 2019, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashankjain16

Cannot wait to get my hands on it!!! Already planning trips.

Congratulations on the booking. Wish you a great ownership experience.

Get the max warranty (5 / 7 years and 1,00,000 km coverage).
Be politely persistent with the service personnel.
Log everything you want to get done on the job cards during services.
Never get it towed on anything other than a flat-bed (all 4 wheels off the ground).
Insist on changing the diff oil at every 60k.

You'll love the vehicle for as long as you have it. Please share an ownership thread and travelogues.

revved_up · 3rd April 2019, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tgo

Insist on changing the diff oil at every 60k.
.

I am curious, what is the basis of this recommendation? Asking because manual says 20k.

And the service center says it doesn't need replacement.

15th February 2019, 23:44	#947
saurabh sharma BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: delhi Posts: 69 Thanked: 44 Times	This might sound unbelievable, but my cars brake pads were first changed @60k kms, as per the service adviser they could last another 5-7k kms but I got them replaced proactively.
	() Thanks

23rd February 2019, 10:12	#950
jmktm BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kottayam Posts: 72 Thanked: 36 Times	Re: Renault Duster AWD : Official Review Hi, Went back to MRF as replacement for my front tyres. Rs.7200/- each, stock size. Yokohama was Rs.8500/-.
	(2) Thanks

24th February 2019, 07:58	#951
C300 BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pune, Melbourne Posts: 771 Thanked: 1,032 Times	Re: Renault Duster AWD : Official Review I went with Michellin primacy SUV. Total damage was 37k. Had to wait for few days as the tyres were not in stock with the dealer. Its rated 102H and manufacured in Sep-18. Road noise has dropped significantly. Ride is smoother given the new tyre. Will share detailed review post 10k KMs.
	(1) Thanks

25th February 2019, 18:59	#952
saurabh sharma BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: delhi Posts: 69 Thanked: 44 Times	I am using Conti cross contact AT since I bought my car. 64k km on odo and they are still going strong, the car has done the Spiti circuit with no damage to the tyres. Grip & braking levels are good, maybe a little noisier than stock MRF. Will easily last for another 25k km.
	() Thanks

5th March 2019, 16:29	#954
C300 BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pune, Melbourne Posts: 771 Thanked: 1,032 Times	Re: Renault Duster AWD : Official Review Guys, quick question. Today morning, the ESP light came on the dashboard and wouldn't go off. Tried restarting the car but the it stays on. I remember some of you had faced this issue. Is it related to battery? Mine is stock battery and almost 3.5yrs old now with 51k on the Odo. Any inputs?
	() Thanks

11th March 2019, 14:10	#957
Tgo Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Calgary\|Jaipur Posts: 1,296 Thanked: 3,864 Times View My Garage	Re: Renault Duster AWD : Official Review To enliven this monotonous thread here are two pictures from a recent trip (Terai Forests of UP - Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Kishanpur & Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary) we did in our Duster AWD. The car is running flawlessly at 85,000 km. Will replace the tyres along with the service at 90,000 km. That is going to be a big one including brake pads, probably rotors and the tyres. Last edited by Rudra Sen : 11th March 2019 at 14:24.
	(2) Thanks

1st April 2019, 18:09	#958
shashankjain16 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 131 Thanked: 1,052 Times	Re: Renault Duster AWD : Official Review I finally booked my Duster AWD on 31st March 2019 in Cayenne Orange. Final on-road price including 5year extended warranty and bumper to bumper insurance came out to be 14.60 lakhs in Gurgaon. Expected delivery is 10th April. Duster was the decision after research of over 9 months and considering almost every affordable SUV in the Indian market. Duster is indeed the best car in the segment for driving enthusiasts. Cannot wait to get my hands on it!!! Already planning trips.
	(1) Thanks