Renault launched a facelifted version of the Duster compact SUV last month and sales have picked up dramatically. While the 2019 Renault Duster gets a slew of cosmetic changes, the engines and gearboxes remain the same. The Duster continues to rival the Hyundai Creta, which got a facelift last year and will get an all-new model next year. How does the facelifted Renault Duster Diesel compare with the Hyundai Creta Diesel when it comes to flat out acceleration and emergency braking? Here’s a video that will tell you just that.
As the video indicates, the Hyundai Creta Diesel beats the Duster Diesel by quite a margin in terms of outright acceleration. The Creta Diesel does the 0-100 Kph sprint in just 11.61 seconds while the 2019 Duster Diesel takes 13.25 seconds. The Duster does have the measure of the Creta in terms of braking though. The Duster takes 3.34 seconds to come to a standstill from 100 Kph while the Creta takes 4.10 seconds.
This means that the Duster Diesel has far superior brakes, which is a huge positive on Indian roads, where unpleasant surprises lurk just around the corner. Both the Duster and Creta feature similar braking set-ups: disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes on the rear wheels. As for engines, the Creta rules with its 1.6 liter turbodiesel motor very smooth and refined yet very powerful, with 126 Bhp-250 Nm outputs. The Duster’s diesel engine, though quite powerful with outputs of 108 Bhp-240 Nm, is a generation behind the Creta’s engine in terms of refinement and punch.
The Duster does have significant advantages though. 1. It’s a lot cheaper than the Creta, variant to variant. 2. It has terrific ride quality and good handling. Overall, it’s a driver’s SUV that’s enjoyable to drive on both twisty and straight roads. The great ride quality makes sure that the Duster can dispatch bad roads very comfortably. 3. It comes with an all wheel drive option, which the Creta does not offer. The all wheel drive version of the Duster makes it very capable off the road, and is a do-it-all affordable SUV. The Duster is also offered with a 1.5 liter petrol engine with 104 Bhp-140 Nm. The petrol engine gets 5 speed manual and CVT automatic gearbox options. Even the diesel variant of the Duster gets a 6 speed automated manual transmission (AMT).
While Renault will bring in the 3rd generation Duster (2nd generation will be skipped) to India only in 2022, Hyundai will bring in an all-new Creta next year. The new Creta will share its platform with the Kia Seltos, and will become larger. It is likely to be offered in 5 and 7 seat variants. The new Creta will offer both petrol and diesel engines. In case of the Duster, it will lose the diesel engine from April 2020 as Renault has announced that it would not build diesel engined cars in India once BS6 norms come in.
Also Read: Renault Duster Facelift vs Hyundai Creta: 0-100 Kph acceleration and 100-0 Kph braking tests [Video]