New Renault Duster Pickup Niagara Debuts – Gets 4×4, Hybrid Launch Soon

Developed for the South American market, Renault’s Duster-based pickup will be manufactured in Santa Isabel, Argentina

As part of its broader goal to strengthen its presence outside Europe, Renault has introduced the all-new Niagara lifestyle pickup. Launch in important South American markets like Brazil is scheduled for November 2026.

Renault Niagara will take on rivals such as Fiat Toro and Ram Rampage. Other rivals include Ford Maverick, Chevrolet Montana and Volkswagen Tukan. Renault Niagara will work as a replacement for the Oroch in the South American market.

Renault Niagara pickup – Design and features

While based on the same RGMP (Renault Group Modular Platform) platform as the Duster, Renault Niagara is a closer match to the Boreal in terms of its exterior styling. Key features include a large grille in a blacked-out finish and a layered bumper design with underbody protection.

The lighting elements are similar to that of the Boreal and Duster. Renault Niagara has been unveiled as a dual cab pickup. Other highlights include squared wheel arches, body cladding, body coloured door handles and 4X4 badging above the rear fenders.

While the front has ‘RENAULT’ badging in a pixel-style font, the rear gets ‘NIAGARA’ metal-embossed lettering. Wheels are 17-inch or 18-inch, depending on the variant. Renault Niagara has LED tail lights, which appear similar to that of Boreal.

Niagara’s cargo bed has a volume of 938 litres and it can carry 654 kg. The pickup’s towing capacity is rated at 710 kg. A rigid tonneau cover for the cargo bed is offered as standard with the pickup. Dimensionally, Renault Niagara is 4,940 mm long, 1,830 mm wide and 1,720 mm tall. It has a wheelbase of 2,960 mm. Ground clearance is pretty good at 233 mm.

Interior highlights

Niagara pickup borrows heavily from the Boreal. Key highlights include a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment with Google Built-in, just like Duster in India. Supported by Google Gemini AI, users can expect more natural interactions than preset voice commands.

Other features include USB Type-C ports, 25-degree recline for rear seat backrest and 36-liter storage space behind the backrest. However, features like a sunroof and Harman Kardon sound system offered with Boreal are not available with Niagara.

ADAS suite is largely the same as that of Boreal. This includes features like adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane keep assist, collision warning with automatic braking and blind spot warning. Niagara also has a 360 degree camera setup, speed limit sign recognition, emergency braking in reverse and automatic parking.

Performance, hybrid version

Unlike the Oroch that did not have a 4×4 option for Brazil, the Niagara will have this feature with the top-spec Outsider version. All variants of Renault Niagara will be equipped with a 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine. Output is 156 hp with petrol and 160 hp with ethanol. Torque output is 270 Nm with both fuels. Transmission choices for Niagara include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed dual clutch automatic.

While the top variant gets 4×4, all other variants will have a front wheel drive configuration. Renault has also announced that it will be introducing hybrid powertrains in Brazil, starting next year. While the exact model to receive the hybrid powertrain has not been officially revealed, it is likely to be the Niagara pickup. Rival Fiat Toro already has an option for a 48-volt hybrid powertrain. Similarly, Ford Maverick has an option for a full hybrid system.

After the hybrid option is introduced with Niagara, it could be offered with the Boreal as well. Renault’s subsidiary Dacia already offers a 48V mild-hybrid option with the Bigster in Europe. While the type of hybrid powertrain for Niagara hasn’t been confirmed, the engine to be used will be the 1.3 TCe turbo flex four-cylinder unit, as available with the current model.