The Duster AMT uses the familiar 109 BHP diesel & 6-speed gearbox:
To differentiate the Duster from other monocoque SUVs, Renault introduced a competent AWD system in 2014. All of its direct competitors (
EcoSport, Creta, S-Cross, Vitara Brezza etc.) are FWD only. Now, to expand the Duster's appeal, Renault has launched the AT variant. The number of diesel automatic SUVs in this segment is limited and all of them (
Creta, XUV500, Scorpio) are more expensive.
The AMT mechanism is a simple bolt-on job and it uses the Duster MT's existing gearbox. That makes it India's first 6-speed AMT.
How it works is pretty straightforward. Mechanically, the AMT gearbox is identical to the Duster's manual transmission. What's different is
how the clutch is operated and
how the gears are shifted. In the manual, the driver is responsible for these tasks. With the AMT, hydraulic actuators located in the engine bay operate the clutch and shift gears. There's no clutch pedal, and zero driver input is required for gearshifts, making it exactly like a conventional automatic to drive. Simply put, the mechanical functions of operating the clutch and gear lever have moved from inside the cabin to the engine bay. To know more about AMTs & how they work,
click here.
AMTs, as we know, are cheaper to build than proper automatic gearboxes (torque converters, dual clutches). This means Renault can price the Duster AMT lower (RXL Rs. 11.67 lakh; RXZ Rs. 12.87 lakh) than other diesel automatic SUVs like the Creta (SX+ Rs. 14.39 lakh) and Scorpio (S10 AT 13.81 lakh; S10 4WD AT 15.05 lakh). Compared to the MT, the Duster AMT carries a premium of Rs. 60,000.
This 6-speed AMT has been christened “Easy-R”. It is sourced from ZF Sachs and is being offered on the FWD 1.5L variant which develops 109 BHP (@ 4,000 rpm) and 245 Nm of torque (@ 1,750 rpm). Neither the Duster 85 PS nor the 110 PS AWD gets the new AMT.
In the city:
To start the car, the gear shifter has to be in N (neutral) position and the driver's foot has to be on the brake pedal. The engine won't crank if the gearbox is in D, R or M positions. There's no 'P' (park) mode or gear unlock button like in a conventional AT.
The Duster AMT has no problem rolling off from a standstill. Throttle response when starting off is good. The AMT functions like a regular automatic gearbox and, as the driver doesn't need to press a clutch pedal or shift gears, it makes the drive stress-free. Additionally, putting the car in D / M mode and releasing the brake pedal will result in the Duster crawling forward without any accelerator input. This 'creep function' is a blessing in bumper to bumper traffic as you can drive the Duster with only one pedal (i.e. the brake). Without any throttle input, the car will keep going at ~7 kph.
The sheer torque from the diesel engine helps matters and keeping up with urban traffic is easy. However, the gearbox suffers from slow gearshifts and there is a delay of a second or so from the time that one gear is disengaged and the next one is engaged. This results in a mild jerk and -
as we've noticed in other AMTs - the lull in acceleration makes your head / body move forward. Of course, AMTs behave better with higher torque engines and the difference from the AMT of smaller hatchbacks is noticeable. Things are a lot better than in the jerky Celerio, but there's no escaping the AMT's inherent drawback. If the car is being driven in a relaxed manner, things are much smoother (although you will still notice each gearshift). The gearbox's operation is silent too. It's only when the driver gets aggressive with the throttle that things get jerkier and result in your head swaying back & forth. If you've experienced torque-converter or dual-clutch automatics before, you'll be put off by the AMT. On the other hand, if you are new to the world of automatics, acceptability will be easier.
It is important to note that, while every upshift from 1st to 4th gears is felt, the shifting between 4th - 6th gears is smoother. And a tip that some might get used to, but most will find cumbersome: When accelerating up to speed, let off the accelerator at intervals, and the AMT will seize that opportunity to upshift - almost like you told it to!
On the open road:
Let's get one thing out of the way = the AMT is definitely suited to a more relaxed driving style than an aggressive one. It works well for a driver who prefers to build up speed gradually. The diesel engine has enough grunt to keep the Duster running at triple digit speeds all day long and, with a light foot, the transmission will be smoother. Driving in D mode is good on the highway as long as you are happy to cruise. Speaking of which, she cruises at 100 kph in 6th gear at a relaxed 2,250 rpm.
However, if the driver presses the accelerator down hard, there's a noticeable delay before the transmission figures things out and executes a downshift. Yes, the response time is rather slow. This can get particularly frustrating during overtaking manoeuvres and the driver will need to plan his moves carefully, particularly on single carriageways. A better way to overtake is outlined in the next paragraph.
In terms of outright performance, the Duster AMT is quick enough. You won't have any complaints with the engine as you would with the AMT.
Manual Mode:
The AMT comes equipped with 'Manual mode' that can be engaged by moving the gear shifter to D, and then to the left. Pull the shifter down to upshift and push it up to downshift. M mode comes in handy when one wants to overtake quickly. While the response time is far from instant, it's still a bit faster than D mode. M mode is useful to bring the engine into its powerband before an overtaking manouveur & also
during the actual overtaking (to prevent the AMT from an unintentional + slow upshift while you're overtaking). Driven hard, the engine will revv to the redline.
Use M mode when you desire engine braking as well. Driving downhill, M mode aids engine braking which in turn, reduces the workload on the brakes.
Eco Mode:
Like the Duster MT, the AMT has an Eco mode. It's engaged by hitting the switch at the base of the centre fascia. In Eco mode, the gearbox has a tendency to shift up earlier. The drop in power isn't as much as what we've seen in the TUV300 (for instance) and Eco mode is very useable here. Renault claims that the Duster will return 19.6 km/l in this mode. With diesel prices rising fast in India, many owners are likely to use Eco mode, particularly in the city. Nevertheless, even without Eco mode, the Duster is known for its excellent fuel economy. Considering that AMTs are usually more efficient than torque converter ATs, the Duster AMT will keep its owners happy in the area of FE.
Hill Start Assist:
The Duster is equipped with a 'Hill Start Assist' (HSA) feature. HSA holds the car in place on an incline for 2 seconds, giving the driver enough time to take his foot off the brake and press the accelerator. HSA is incredibly useful in AMTs! You will remember how we complained of roll-back in the Celerio AMT. This feature will help to prevent clutch burnout too. IMHO, every AMT should have HSA as standard. What's more, the Duster AMT gets ESP as well.
In summary, this is surely among the better AMTs we've driven. That said, if you can stretch your budget, the Creta 1.6L AT is totally worth the premium. Hyundai's engine & AT combination is butter-smooth in comparison, while the Creta's overall quality & finesse are two levels above the Duster.
Typical AMT shifter. No “P” mode or unlock button here. Sadly, at this price, no leather gear knob either:
Move the gear shifter to the left to engage manual mode. Push up for a downshift, pull down for an upshift:
Sufficient place to rest your left foot, although shockingly, no dead pedal has been provided. Lack of attention-to-detail, really! Brake pedal is wider than in the MT (
reference image):
The AMT sits low in the engine bay, and at the front of the engine:
The AMT is sourced from ZF Sachs. Made in Germany:
Easy-R badging for the Automatic. Renault wants you to read Easy-R as
easier:
Disclaimer: Renault invited Team-BHP for the Duster test-drive. They covered all the travel expenses for this driving event.