Renault Duster vs Tata Nexon EV: which should you buy?
The full picture
The Renault Duster starts at ₹10.49L against the Tata Nexon EV's ₹12.49L ex-showroom, so it is ₹2.00L cheaper to get into.
They run together up to ₹17.89L, where the Nexon EV tops out. Past that only the Duster has anything left to sell you, up to ₹19.49L.
Fuel is a real difference here: the Duster comes in petrol and hybrid, the Nexon EV in electric.
Same money, which car?
Take ₹17.89L to both showrooms and you come out with the Duster Evolution E-Tech at ₹16.99L or the Nexon EV Empowered+ Red Dark at ₹17.89L, the Duster leaving ₹90,000 of that in your pocket.
Our take
We'd go for the Tata Nexon EV Empowered+ Red Dark
Worth the extra ₹90,000.
For ₹90,000 more, the Nexon EV Empowered+ Red Dark gets you
- Level 2 (core suite) ADAS
- 360° camera
- Blind spot monitor
- Front parking sensors
- 12.3" touchscreen, up from 10.1"
- JBL premium sound system
- Single-pane sunroof
- Ventilated front seats
- Connected car tech
- More in the table below
What you give up with the Nexon EV Empowered+ Red Dark
- Dual-zone climate control
- Wired CarPlay / Android Auto
- 60:40 split rear seat
Also worth knowing
- The Duster swallows more luggage at 518 litres
- The Nexon EV is electric, so it will be the cheaper of the two to run
- Choose the Renault Duster Evolution E-Tech if
- You would rather save the ₹90,000Only this one has dual-zone climate control, 60:40 split rear seat
- Choose the Tata Nexon EV Empowered+ Red Dark if
- You want more infotainment features, and they are worth ₹90,000 to youOnly this one has level 2 (core suite) ADAS, 360° camera, blind spot monitor
Read the full reasoning
Worth the extra ₹90,000: the Nexon EV Empowered+ Red Dark adds level 2 (core suite) ADAS, 360° camera and blind spot monitor for it. The useful extras on top: front parking sensors and 12.3" touchscreen against 10.1".
- The Duster swallows more luggage at 518 litres
- The Nexon EV is electric, so it will be the cheaper of the two to run
- Also on the Nexon EV Empowered+ Red Dark: JBL premium sound system, single-pane sunroof, ventilated front seats and connected car tech, with more worth seeing in the table below
- Going to the Nexon EV Empowered+ Red Dark, you give up dual-zone climate control, wired CarPlay / Android Auto and 60:40 split rear seat, which the Duster Evolution E-Tech keeps
Duster vs Nexon EV, on paper
| Spec | Renault Duster | Tata Nexon EV |
|---|---|---|
| Price (ex-showroom) | ₹10.49L to ₹19.49L | ₹12.49L to ₹17.89L |
| Variants | 14 | 8 |
| Body type | Midsize SUV | Subcompact SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Fuels | Petrol, Hybrid | Electric |
| Cheapest automatic | ₹14.49L | ₹12.49L |
| Boot | 518 litres | 350 litres |
| Length | 4,346 mm | 3,995 mm |
| Width | 1,804 mm | 1,802 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,657 mm | 2,498 mm |
| Ground clearance | 212 mm | - |
| Warranty | 3 years or 1,00,000 km | - |
Whichever you pick, the variant is where the money goes
Duster vs Nexon EV: the questions people ask
- Is the Renault Duster or the Tata Nexon EV cheaper?
- The Renault Duster, by ₹2.00L: it starts at ₹10.49L against ₹12.49L ex-showroom for the Nexon EV. Both run well past that, so what you actually pay depends on the variant.
- Renault Duster vs Tata Nexon EV: which gives you more for the same money?
- At ₹17.89L it is the Duster Evolution E-Tech against the Nexon EV Empowered+ Red Dark. Worth the extra ₹90,000: the Nexon EV Empowered+ Red Dark adds level 2 (core suite) ADAS, 360° camera and blind spot monitor for it. The useful extras on top: front parking sensors and 12.3" touchscreen against 10.1".
- Which is more practical, the Renault Duster or the Tata Nexon EV?
- On the figures the makers publish, the Duster swallows 518 litres of luggage against 350. 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 Renault Duster or the Tata Nexon EV?
- The Nexon EV: its cheapest automatic is ₹12.49L 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.