Renault/Dacia's sub-Duster mini SUV (EcoSport rival) - Rendering

19/12/2014 - 11:02 Renault Duster, Renault, Renderings Paranjay Dutt

It will be as big as the Captur but less premium.

Renault-owned Dacia is developing a sub-Duster mini SUV, road tests of which have already started in Europe. The vehicle will be a budget proposition and will be positioned against cars like the Ford EcoSport and similar crossovers. Auto Bild has published a picture of how the vehicle could look like.

2016 Renault sub Duster Dacia SUV front three quarter — The SUV will sit below the Duster but above the Sandero.

On the outside, it looks good enough to take on the EcoSport. The front end looks simple, but the presence of black cladding on the bumpers, a prominent two-tone scheme for the body, and the continuity with which the headlamps merge with the grille make it look good. It appears to be a bit undersized, but that's expected to be carried over to the production version as well.

It's reported to be as big as the Renault Captur but loses out on the premium styling. The design is expected to be minimalistic, much like how the rest of the Dacia lineup is. Early spyshots too have shown Dacia Sandero like headlamps and taillamps from the Captur.

It's too soon to tell if the vehicle will make it to India or not, but in case it does, then the competition will consist of the already established Ford EcoSport, the upcoming Mahindra S101 compact SUV, and other crossovers from the segment. As for the pricing, there's a considerable gap between the Renault Duster and the Ford EcoSport, so expect the vehicle to feature a price tag similar to that of the EcoSport.

Renault Captur at the 2014 Indonesia International Motor Show front quarters — The compact SUV is expected to be of the same size as the Renault Captur (pictured here).

Also read: Renault Duster 85 PS variants updated in India

Renault is expected to manufacture this compact SUV either in its Morocco facility or in Algeria. The India-based Renault Nissan plant in Oragadam, Chennai can be used if the French car maker decides to bring the vehicle to India. Its too early to comment on the launch date of the car, as tests have only begun.

[Source: AutoBild]