This is the new Renault Austral
Renault Australia
There it is, the all-new Renault SUV. The Austral comes out in the C-segment and will therefore compete with models such as the Peugeot 3008, Volkswagen Tiguan, Toyota C-HR, Kia Niro and the Nissan Qashqai.
The Austral shares its platform with the latter. It is the first Renault model to be based on the third generation of the CMF-CD platform – developed jointly with Nissan and Mitsubishi. The Austral is 4.51 meters long, 1.83 meters wide, 1.62 meters high, and the wheelbase is 2.67 meters. It is therefore a size larger than the new Qashqai and the Renault model it replaces, the Kadjar.
four-wheel steering
You can easily maneuver the 4.51 meter long SUV through narrow streets, if you choose the 4Control option. The Austral then has four-wheel steering and has a turning circle that is smaller than that of regular city cars: only 10.1 meters. Quite unique in this segment, although the Mégane was already available with this system. A similar system is also on the Mercedes-Benz EQS, which we recently tested .
A lot of space
Thanks to a longer wheelbase, rear passengers benefit from more legroom compared to the Kadjar. In addition, the rear seat is slidable, more than 16 centimeters. For example, passengers can easily create more legroom for themselves or you can opt for more luggage space. The storage space in the back measures 500 liters and if you slide the bank forward, you are even at 575 liters. If you fold the rear seats down, 1,525 liters are created.
design
The Autral looks a bit tougher than the Kadjar. Not only because it is a bit bigger, but also because of the clean lines. The recognizable C-shaped light units at the front and rear closely resemble those of the new Mégane E-Tech Electric . For the first time, Renault also comes with an exclusive, sporty top version – the Esprit Alpine – which you can even get with a matt gray paint finish.
Not electric
Unlike the new Mégane, the Austral is not electric. Not completely at least, but all powertrains are electrified. For example, the entry-level model is a 130 hp mild hybrid that uses a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo petrol engine and a 68 hp electric motor. The Austral is also available in versions with 160 and 200 hp. The 200 hp version sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds.
The interior is also strongly reminiscent of that of the Mégane E-Tech Electric. That is good news, because in the Austral we also detect two 12-inch screens, which run Android Automotive. This infotainment system uses all kinds of Google apps – such as Google Maps – and works very quickly. If you want to take in even more information, you can also get a 9.3-inch head-up display.
The Austral will come to our country in early autumn. Renault will announce prices later.
