Bengaluru: Renault India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Renault Group, has announced a significant validation milestone for the all-new Renault Duster. The upcoming SUV has successfully undergone extensive global testing, covering more than 1 million kilometres across three continents in temperatures ranging from –23°C to 55°C.
The comprehensive test programme underscores Renault’s focus on engineering a vehicle capable of performing reliably across diverse terrains and extreme climatic conditions. The new Duster was subjected to a wide range of durability, endurance, and performance tests designed to replicate real-world usage scenarios.
As part of this programme, the SUV completed long-term endurance runs across R&D tracks, dedicated proving grounds, and public roads worldwide. It also demonstrated its high-altitude capability in the Himalayas, completing demanding test drives in Leh-Ladakh and reaching Khardung La at an altitude of 5,602 metres (18,379 feet), one of the highest motorable passes in the world.
To validate robustness in extreme environments, the vehicle was tested in sub-zero conditions as well as high ambient temperatures, along with specialised evaluations in dust tunnels and water-wading facilities to assess sealing integrity and component protection. In India, the Duster underwent rigorous city and highway testing, complemented by trials at specialised government facilities such as NATRAX, ARAI, GARC, and ICAT, covering rough roads, varied speed breaker profiles, and dense urban traffic.
In addition, global tuning exercises were carried out across multiple geographies, including Brazil, Romania, France, China, and the Czech Republic, to fine-tune ride, handling, and overall driving dynamics to international standards.
Commenting on the milestone, Stephane Deblaise, CEO, Renault Group India, said that completing over 1 million kilometres of testing across three continents reflects the company’s commitment to delivering uncompromised performance, safety, and durability. He added that the new Duster has been tested in some of the most demanding conditions worldwide to ensure it is fully prepared for Indian roads and driving environments.
The all-new Renault Duster is designed to build on the legacy of its predecessor while offering a refined balance of ruggedness and modern driving dynamics. It is expected to deliver confident on-road behaviour at higher speeds, along with the strong rough-road capability that has defined the Duster nameplate.
The new Renault Duster is scheduled to be officially unveiled on Republic Day, January 26, 2026.
