Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Renault Duster: which should you buy?
The full picture
The Renault Duster starts at ₹10.49L against the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara's ₹10.77L ex-showroom, so it is ₹28,000 cheaper to get into.
They run together up to ₹19.49L, where the Duster tops out. Past that only the Grand Vitara has anything left to sell you, up to ₹19.50L.
Fuel is a real difference here: the Grand Vitara comes in petrol, CNG and hybrid, the Duster in petrol and hybrid.
Same money, which car?
Take ₹19.49L to both showrooms and you come out with the Grand Vitara Alpha at ₹18.00L or the Duster Emotion E-Tech at ₹19.49L, the Grand Vitara leaving ₹1.49L of that in your pocket.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
Alpha Petrol Mild Hybrid AWD AT
Our take
We'd go for the Renault Duster Emotion E-Tech
Worth the extra ₹1.49L.
For ₹1.49L more, the Duster Emotion E-Tech gets you
- The hybrid's 160 PS against the petrol's 103 PS, a jump of 55 percent you will feel
- Bi-LED projector headlamps, up from LED projector
- 10.1" touchscreen, up from 9"
- Dual-zone climate control
- 6-way powered driver seat
- 10.25" digital driver display, up from 7" digital
- Plus a few small touches
What you give up with the Duster Emotion E-Tech
- 360° camera
- Clarion premium sound system
- Head-up display
Also worth knowing
- The Duster swallows more luggage at 518 litres
- Choose the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Alpha if
- You would rather save the ₹1.49LOnly this one has 360° camera, Clarion premium sound system, head-up display
- Choose the Renault Duster Emotion E-Tech if
- You want the stronger engine: 160 PS against 103 PSOnly this one has bi-LED projector headlamps, 10.1" touchscreen, dual-zone climate control
Read the full reasoning
Worth the extra ₹1.49L: the hybrid's 160 PS against the petrol's 103 PS, a jump of 55 percent you will feel. It also adds bi-LED projector headlamps against LED projector.
- The Duster swallows more luggage at 518 litres
- The Duster Emotion E-Tech is the stronger of the two at 160 PS
- Also on the Duster Emotion E-Tech: 10.1" touchscreen against 9", dual-zone climate control, 6-way powered driver seat and 10.25" digital driver display against 7" digital, and some minor trim beyond that
- Going to the Duster Emotion E-Tech, you give up 360° camera, Clarion premium sound system and head-up display, which the Grand Vitara Alpha keeps
Grand Vitara vs Duster, on paper
| Spec | Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara | Renault Duster |
|---|---|---|
| Price (ex-showroom) | ₹10.77L to ₹19.50L | ₹10.49L to ₹19.49L |
| Variants | 13 | 14 |
| Body type | Midsize SUV | Midsize SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Fuels | Petrol, CNG, Hybrid | Petrol, Hybrid |
| Cheapest automatic | ₹13.45L | ₹14.49L |
| Boot | 375 litres | 518 litres |
| Length | 4,345 mm | 4,346 mm |
| Width | 1,795 mm | 1,804 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,600 mm | 2,657 mm |
| Ground clearance | 210 mm | 212 mm |
| Fuel tank | 45 litres | - |
| Warranty | 3 years or 1,00,000 km | 3 years or 1,00,000 km |
Whichever you pick, the variant is where the money goes
Grand Vitara vs Duster: the questions people ask
- Is the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or the Renault Duster cheaper?
- The Renault Duster, by ₹28,000: it starts at ₹10.49L against ₹10.77L ex-showroom for the Grand Vitara. Both run well past that, so what you actually pay depends on the variant.
- Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Renault Duster: which gives you more for the same money?
- At ₹19.49L it is the Grand Vitara Alpha against the Duster Emotion E-Tech. Worth the extra ₹1.49L: the hybrid's 160 PS against the petrol's 103 PS, a jump of 55 percent you will feel. It also adds bi-LED projector headlamps against LED projector.
- Which is more practical, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or the Renault Duster?
- On the figures the makers publish, the Duster swallows 518 litres of luggage against 375. Everything else about living with them, from boot shape to how the back seat actually feels, is a test drive question rather than a spec sheet one.
- Which is cheaper as an automatic, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or the Renault Duster?
- The Grand Vitara: its cheapest automatic is ₹13.45L against ₹14.49L for the Duster, ex-showroom. A gearbox is usually the biggest single step on either ladder, so check what else that trim brings before you read it as the price of the automatic alone.
Prices are ex-showroom and change without notice. Specifications are compiled from public sources; always confirm with a dealer before buying.