Renault Duster Techno 1.3L Turbo Petrol DCT

Whether it’s a flooded street or a broken service road, the Duster just goes through without a second thought. The electronic stability control feels very proactive. It’s a very "manly" looking car but is surprisingly easy for a woman to drive. I love the steering-mounted controls; they are very intuitive once you get used to them. A fantastic comeback for a legendary nameplate!

I compared this with all the major mid-size SUVs, and the Duster offers the best balance of power and ruggedness. The new dashboard layout is functional and looks modern with the digital cluster. Renault’s service package was also quite competitive. Only reason for the 4.4 is the lack of ventilated seats in the 4x4 variant-something we really need in our climate!

The door thud is reassuring, and the car feels like it could take a beating. It’s a proper enthusiast's SUV. The ADAS features work surprisingly well on Indian roads without being too annoying. My 4.4 rating comes from the cabin insulation-at speeds above 110 kmph, you can hear a bit of wind noise around the A-pillars. A bit more soundproofing would have made it a 5-star car.