The Renault Duster Just Got a 5-Star Safety Rating in India and It's Genuinely a Big Deal
Okay so if you follow Indian cars even a little bit, you probably remember the old Duster. Built like a tank for Indian roads, loved for its suspension and off-road capability, affordable — but the safety ratings? Not great. Lower-spec models often came without basic airbags. Crash tests in global markets were embarrassing at times.
That era is officially over.
In April 2026, the new Renault Duster became the first Renault car in India to earn a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. Business APAC just published the full breakdown of what happened, how the tests were scored, and what it means for buyers — and it is genuinely worth reading if you are in the market for a mid-size SUV.
Here's what the 5 stars actually means.
Bharat NCAP is India's own car safety assessment programme that tests vehicles in frontal, side, and pole impact scenarios as well as pedestrian protection. The 2026 Duster scored 5 stars for Adult Occupant Protection and 5 stars for Child Safety. That is a clean sweep. It is now the 31st car in India to achieve a full 5-star result under BNCAP protocols — and the first ever Renault to do so in the Indian market.
What made the difference was not one thing but a package. Six airbags standard across every single variant — not just the top spec. Electronic Stability Control to help you stay in your lane during emergency swerves or on slippery roads. ISOFIX child seat mounts. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems including automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist on higher trims. And a front-end design engineered to reduce injury to pedestrians if there is a collision.
The thing that really stands out here is the word "standard." All of these features across all variants. The old complaint about Indian car buyers getting stripped-down safety equipment on base models does not apply here. You buy any Duster in 2026 and you get the 5-star safety package.
On pricing — the entry level starts at around Rs. 10.49 lakh and the top model with 4x4 and full ADAS is priced at approximately Rs. 19.50 lakh. There is also a strong-hybrid variant in the lineup which is a first for this nameplate.
This positions the Duster directly against the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Maruti Grand Vitara — all strong competitors. But walking into that fight with a 5-star BNCAP badge when the brand previously had no 5-star cars in India is a serious move.
Full story here: https://www.businessapac.com/news/duster-ncap-rating/
Would the 5-star safety rating push the Duster onto your shortlist for a family SUV? Or do you think the competition is still stronger overall? Drop your take in the comments.