Wearing Armada / Patrol styling over Dacia bones, the $11,000 Tekton gives budget buyers a small Nissan SUV headed for 50 global markets

by Thanos Pappas

Nissan has pulled the covers off the Tekton, a new subcompact SUV built in India but headed for more than 50 markets worldwide. The name has Greek roots and translates to “craftsman” or “builder.” If it looks familiar, that’s because the SUV is a sibling to the locally produced Renault Duster, itself a rebadged, localized take on the Dacia model that wears the same badge.

By Nissan’s account, the Tekton “draws design inspiration from the Patrol (Armada), combining a strong SUV stance, commanding proportions and unmistakable Nissan styling cues to create a bold and confident road presence.” The reality is more modest than the copywriting suggests.

In practice, the Tekton keeps the basic silhouette of the Duster but wears a redesigned face pulled from the latest Patrol, which is marketed as the Armada in North America. The headlights run into vertical bumper intakes that flank aluminum-style inserts on the skid plate, and a large chrome-accented grille anchors the front.

The profile is largely carried over from the Renault and Dacia siblings, but the Nissan SUV is distinguished by different side gills and the multi-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels. At the back, changes are limited to the LED taillight graphics and the tweaked rear bumper with faux aluminum trim.

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The dimensions land where you would expect for the class. The Tekton stretches 4,348 mm (171.2 in) long on a 2,657 mm (104.6 in) wheelbase, with 212 mm (8.3 in) of ground clearance and 518 liters (18.3 cubic feet) of cargo room behind the seats.

An Interior With Opinions On Color

Inside, the dashboard layout is similar to the Renault Duster, though the Tekton gets unique trim and color combinations. The flagship trim features white and purple upholstery with copper accents, creating a rather unusual combination. The digital cockpit comprises a 10.1-inch infotainment display and a 10.25-inch instrument cluster mounted on the same panel.

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Higher trims add a panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, a power tailgate, and ventilated seats. Six airbags are standard across the range, and the upper trims bring Level 2 ADAS.

Turbocharged Engines, No AWD

The Nissan Tekton is built on the CMF-B architecture that has been widely used within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. The powertrain lineup includes two non-electrified turbocharged gasoline engines, with the hybrid setup of the Renault being absent from the lineup.

Like its Renault twin, the Tekton stays front-wheel drive only, even though the European Dacia Duster can be had with AWD.

The entry-level turbo 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine produces 100 hp (75 kW / 101 PS) and is only available with a six-speed manual gearbox. The more potent turbo 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine generates 161 hp (120 kW / 163 PS) and can be paired to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Pricing And Availability

By Western standards, the Tekton’s price is almost hard to believe. Pricing opens at 10.49 Rs lakh ($11,000) for the entry Visia trim with the 1.0-liter engine and the six-speed manual, matching the introductory figure of the closely related Renault Duster. The flagship Tekna+ with the stronger 1.3-liter unit and the dual-clutch automatic tops out at 18.59 Rs lakh ($19,500), which is roughly what a mid-spec compact hatch costs in most of the markets where this Nissan will never be sold.

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Developed and built at the Chennai facility alongside alliance partner Renault, the Tekton starts life in India but is bound for export to 50 markets across the Middle East and Africa. On home turf, it lines up against the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq and VW Taigun.

Nissan