The third-gen Renault Duster has been on sale in international markets for more than a year now. A few months ago, Renault confirmed that an all-wheel drive (AWD) version of the Duster is already in work which is slated to make its debut towards the end of 2025. This AWD iteration of the Duster will feature a unique system comprising an electric rear axle.
A test mule of the Duster eAWD has now been caught in the camera for the first time. The prototype seen in the latest spy images carries the Dacia badges and logo, although the design is nearly identical to its Renault twin. The spy images clearly reveal a battery-powered rear axle driven by an electric motor.
Renault Duster eAWD spied: What’s it?
Developed in collaboration with Valeo, a French automotive supplier, a similar e-4WD setup can be seen in Jeep Avenger 4xe. This version of Duster will most probably be powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and a 48V mild-hybrid system housing the aforementioned motor on the rear axle.
Renault, or Dacia for that matter, hasn’t revealed any specific details regarding the new Duster AWD’s powertrain. In all likelihood, the rear axle will come into play only when the vehicle senses there is low traction on the surface or when the driver manually selects an off-road mode on the terrain selection system as available on the international-spec Duster. Reports indicate that the Duster eAWD will be solely offered with an automatic gearbox.
The third-gen Duster is based on the CMF-B platform that has been co-developed by Renault and Nissan. A few months ago, the latter confirmed that it will launch its own version of the Duster with a different nameplate and top hat based on the same CMF-B architecture in India sometime in the near future. Duster is also working on an LPG-powered version of the Duster eAWD.
Renault Duster eAWD: Will it come to India?
Official debut of the Renault (Dacia) Duster eAWD is expected to happen later this year. This will be followed by market introduction in Europe around the second quarter of CY2026. As for an India launch of the Duster eAWD, there is no word from Renault on this yet. We don’t expect Renault to bring the Duster eAWD to India anytime in the foreseeable future. However, Renault will launch the front-wheel driven Duster sometime later this year or early next year.
Image Source: Autocar India
