All the highlights of the Renault Austral
The Renault Austral is an important newcomer for Renault. Together with the also new Mégane E-Tech Electric, it should provide the big sales numbers. After all, it operates in the important C-segment and moreover, it is an SUV, which is in high demand these days. If you too would like to buy an SUV like the Renault Austral, then read on. In this article, we list the key points.
Predecessor(s) Renault Austral
The Renault Austral is primarily a direct successor to the Kadjar. The Austral will also be built on a further developed version of its platform. Like its predecessor, the Austral shares its technology with Nissan’s Qashqai and X-Trail. In the Netherlands, the Austral is also an indirect successor to the larger Koleos, which did not achieve the intended success here and was therefore already withdrawn from the market.
Design Renault Austral
The new Renault Austral proudly carries the brand’s new design language. The distinctive C-shaped LED daytime running lights are present, with a similar shape for the taillights. On the front is the new brand logo, referring to the sleek Renault logo of yesteryear. Inside, the dashboard folds around the driver like a cockpit, overlooking large displays for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment.
Link to Alpine?
Those who look at the options list will also see an Esprit Alpine trim there. That, of course, is the Alpine. By the way, the link between the Renault Austral and Alpine is mainly in the name. The Esprit Alpine version is a sportily dressed variant, especially recognizable by various black design elements and aluminum pedals with a sporty appearance.
Engines: always hybrid
If you look at the engine overview, you will see that the Renault Austral is always a hybrid. The base model, by the way, is a mild hybrid. So the wheels are not electrically driven, but there is a small electric motor that provides some support to the fuel engine. That fuel engine is a 1.2-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. The mild hybrid boasts 96 kW (130 hp) and 230 Nm. Average consumption comes to 5.2 l/100 km (WLTP).
The alternative is a “true” hybrid version. In doing so, the wheels are electrically driven. Indeed, in the case of the Renault Austral, the fuel engine only generates power and does not directly drive the wheels. The Austral Hybrid boasts an output of 147 kW (200 hp) and over 300 Nm of torque. Average fuel consumption is 4.6 l/100 km (WLTP).
Renault Austral prices
At the time of writing, the Renault Austral is available from 37,330 euros. The Hybrid comes from 43,830 euros. Then you also immediately have a higher equipment level, which explains part of the higher price. Top model Iconic Esprit Alpine starts at 48,330 euros.
Variants and equipment
There are three basic versions of the Renault Austral: the Equilibre, Techno and Iconic. These build up in luxury. The Techno and Iconic also come as Esprit Alpine with sportier trim.
A Renault Austral is already well dressed as standard, including 17-inch alloy wheels, a tep-leather-clad steering wheel and a comprehensive OpenR multimedia system with wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay and an audio system with 3D sound. Various driving assistants and safety systems provide added convenience. Think parking sensors, cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane guidance, automatic emergency braking system, etc.
Optional features include wheels up to 20-inch, power features (including tailgate), a larger multimedia screen with Google integration and nicer interior trim.
The Renault Austral and Espace
Later this year, Renault is pulling back the curtain on an extended variant of the Renault Austral. As it looks now, that longer version will go through life as the new Renault Espace.