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2026 Renault Duster vs Skoda Kushaq Facelift Spec Comparison: What’s Different?
The 2026 Renault Duster and Skoda Kushaq Facelift cater to the mid-size SUV market but differ significantly in design, interior, and features. The Duster showcases India-specific updates, including new LED lighting and a driver-centric cabin with advanced tech options. In contrast, the Kushaq facelift features subtle exterior revisions and a refined interior with a matte finish. Powertrain options vary, with Duster offering a strong hybrid and multiple turbo-petrol engines, while Kushaq focuses on two turbo-petrol engines. Both prioritize safety with advanced features.
Keshav Rajput
Updated Jan 30, 2026, 08:18 AM IST
2026 Renault Duster vs Skoda Kushaq Facelift Spec Comparison: What’s Different?
The 2026 Renault Duster and the Skoda Kushaq Facelift are positioned in the mid-size SUV segment but take different approaches in terms of design, interior layout, powertrain options, features and safety equipment. Below is a specification-based comparison highlighting the key differences.
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Exterior Design
The 2026 Renault Duster retains its familiar silhouette while introducing India-specific updates. It features redesigned LED headlamps with eyebrow-style DRLs that also function as turn indicators, a revised grille with Duster branding and a silver-finished bumper surround. The side profile includes black body cladding, C-pillar-mounted rear door handles, functional roof rails rated at 50kg and alloy wheels up to 18 inches. India-exclusive elements include Himalayan motifs on the front fenders and a yellow insert on the body cladding. At the rear, the SUV gets connected triangular LED tail-lamps, a roof-mounted spoiler and a silver-accented bumper.
The Skoda Kushaq facelift focuses on detail changes. It receives a revised grille with more upright proportions and chrome-finished vertical slats. The LED headlamps remain but now feature redesigned DRLs connected by a light strip. The front bumper has new side vents for fog lamps and revised lower cladding with a silver skid plate element. The side profile remains largely unchanged apart from new alloy wheel designs. At the rear, updated tail-lamps are connected by a light element with an illuminated Skoda wordmark, along with a redesigned bumper.
Interior Layout and Cabin Updates
Inside the Renault Duster, the cabin follows a driver-focused layout with a raised centre console and an electronic gear selector. The dashboard and door panels use leatherette upholstery with carbon-style accents. Higher variants offer a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an air quality display with PM2.5 filtration, an electric parking brake with auto-hold and a powered tailgate.
The Skoda Kushaq facelift retains its existing dashboard layout but replaces gloss black panels with matte-finish surfaces across the dashboard and centre console. The cabin colour scheme shifts to a black and beige combination. The two-spoke steering wheel and overall layout are carried over from the previous model.
Powertrain and Transmission Options
The 2026 Renault Duster is offered with three powertrain options:
- A 1.0L, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 99bhp and 160Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox.
- A 1.3L, four-cylinder turbo-petrol direct-injection engine delivering 160bhp and 280Nm of torque, available with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic.
- An E-Tech 160 strong hybrid setup using a 1.8L petrol engine with two electric motors, producing a combined 160bhp and 172Nm of torque.
The Skoda Kushaq facelift continues with two turbo-petrol engines:
- A 1.0L TSI engine producing 114bhp and 178Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed manual or a new eight-speed torque converter automatic.
- A 1.5L TSI engine producing 147.5bhp and 250Nm of torque, available with either an eight-speed torque converter automatic or a seven-speed DSG gearbox.
Features and Technology
The Renault Duster is equipped with a 10.1-inch OpenR Link touchscreen infotainment system with Google built-in, including Google Maps, Google Assistant and Play Store access. It also offers a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with map replication, over 60 connected car features, multi-sense drive modes, wireless smartphone charging, an Arkamys audio system, ambient lighting, electric and ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers and hands-free access with push-button start.
In the Skoda Kushaq facelift, standard equipment now includes LED headlamps and tail-lamps, automatic headlamps and wipers, a sunroof, rear wiper and defogger, auto-dimming inside rear-view mirror, automatic climate control and alloy wheels. Mid-spec variants add an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, tyre pressure monitoring system, keyless entry with push-button start, cruise control, wireless phone charging and a cooled glovebox.
Top variants offer a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a panoramic sunroof, rear seat massage function, a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, ventilated and powered front seats, front parking sensors and an AI-based voice assistant.
Safety Features
Safety features on the 2026 Renault Duster include six airbags as standard, disc brakes on all four wheels, a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring system and Level 2 ADAS with 17 functions. This makes it the first Renault model in India to offer ADAS, with a targeted 5-star crash safety rating.
The Skoda Kushaq facelift offers safety features such as multiple airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors and electronic stability control, with feature availability varying by variant.
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