Renault Austral: Is a Hybrid SUV Finally Up to the Mark?

Replacing the Kadjar, the Renault Austral brings a stately style, a range of hybrid engines, and numerous technologies, enough to challenge the 3008?

Renault updates its family SUV with a model featuring quite conventional styling, but a level of quality and technology that should allow it to confidently face its sworn enemy, the Peugeot 3008.

A refresh after the Kadjar

Objectively, no one will regret the Renault Kadjar that the Austral is replacing. However well-designed externally, the one that was supposed to make a splash in the family SUV segment was mainly a commercial semi-failure due to quality issues. Even less expensive than the average, the Kadjar quickly became the black sheep of the segment. But that was before.

In terms of style and intrinsic product quality, major automakers often work in cycles. Periods of investment and budget restrictions that manifest, at bad timing, as more or less well-built cars and sometimes quality problems.

Renault is not exempt from this rule, having additionally endured governance issues within the group, with a strong headwind during a period when model renewals were looming. But the new management has put things in order, and the initial results are encouraging.

Renault Austral, the SUV of renewal

After the success of the Captur 2 in terms of style and perceived quality, the Megane E-Tech, which combines electric power and driving pleasure, here now is the Austral. It aims to claim its share of the highly competitive segment, where it objectively has a chance.

Rather athletic, with an appealing design, it blends some aesthetic cues from the popular car. It adds volume, and a touch of premium quality with a sleek lighting signature and slightly pronounced wheel arches. Its combination of large wheels and black roof even gives it a premium feel.

Measuring 4.51 m long, which is 6 cm longer than the Peugeot 3008, the Austral had a card to play in terms of interior space, modularity, and trunk volume. This is how it gained ground. It features a sliding bench seat over 16 cm (optional). Consequently, trunk volume varies between 500 and 575 liters depending on seat position.

By comparison, its lion-badged rival offers a load volume of 520 liters (395 liters in plug-in hybrid) and a fixed bench. The Austral also faces this issue, as its hybrid versions will have trunk capacities between 430 and 555 liters.

A multi-energy Austral with four-wheel steering

Like the previous Kadjar, the Austral shares its technical platform with the new Nissan Qashqai. But the Japanese version will market an E-Power version, featuring a range extender system. Renault sticks to its usual approach.

After successfully electrifying the Clio, Captur, and Megane, the diamond brand now logically introduces a hybrid petrol E-Tech version of its Austral. It is called AustralE (pronounced Austral-i). Its 1.2-liter engine will develop 160 hp and 200 hp, with a dual-clutch transmission. This version includes a 1.7 kWh battery, allowing low-speed electric driving. Fuel consumption is estimated at 4.6 l/100 km, compared to 5.3 for the 1.2 TCe and 6.2 for the 1.3 TCe.

Micro-hybrid and the question of plug-in hybrid?

Entry-level, a 1.2-liter three-cylinder petrol engine producing 130 hp with a 48V micro-hybrid system is introduced. Another petrol unit, the 1.3-liter TCe, already found under the hoods of the Qashqai and various Renault models, will also be available. It will feature a 12V auxiliary battery for outputs of 140 and 160 hp. All these versions retain the energy recovery system in braking from the E-Tech (but at a single level instead of four).

In clear terms, the Austral turns its back on diesel. It also targets dynamism with the return of a four-wheel steering chassis 4Control. This system should enable it to offer agility and handling. On this, the 3008 might have reason to tremble.

However, the latter still has an advantage, with two plug-in hybrid versions of 225 and 300 horsepower. The other rival duo, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, as well as Toyota RAV4, also have a head start. For the Renault Austral (or AustralE) PHEV, availability is expected in 2024.

Focus on safety

Among the new safety features, the Austral will be equipped with an innovative front-passenger airbag. Few manufacturers have adopted this additional expense so far, but it will soon become standard, especially to aim for a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

As for driver assistance systems, the SUV is very well equipped. To the point of excess, as it offers 32 such systems! Of course, the basics include adaptive cruise control with “Stop & Go” and lane centering, as well as a specific mapping system that adapts to the road’s topology.

In this context, the Renault Austral will be able to slow down approaching a roundabout and then accelerate again by itself. The new Renault will also alert you if you exceed the speed limit and help you improve your eco-driving in various ways, including stiffening the accelerator pedal.

Finally, emergency automatic braking in reverse, a parking exit warning in reverse, and a “safe exit of occupants” function to prevent inappropriate door opening will be offered. Many of these systems will be optional and, hopefully for some, disconnectable…

Three different displays

To access information, the driver can choose between the 12.3-inch digital meters with onboard navigation or the large 12-inch central touchscreen, “for multimedia” as Renault suggests.

A third display, head-up style, projects essential information onto the lower part of the windshield. The software, heavily linked to Google services (Maps, voice assistant, applications), can receive over-the-air updates like the electric Megane.

First deliveries of the Renault Austral in September 2022, at what price?

For now, Renault plans to open orders just before summer. First deliveries are expected in September. No official prices have been announced, but the entry-level version could start around €30,000 to serve as an attractive entry point. However, the mid-range should be above €35,000, a figure that has become the minimum entry ticket for a well-equipped compact SUV.

The marketing will also play a major role, as the Austral will be the first Renault model to feature the Esprit Alpine finish, with large 20-inch wheels, badges with the letter and the blue of Alpine, as well as a new matte paint finish, making the Austral the first widely available Renault to receive such a factory color.

Note that the Esprit Alpine version will also come with the 4Control chassis and four-wheel steering as standard. This makes it the future favorite version among the French.

In 2023-2024, the Austral lineup could expand with a long version, seating seven, to succeed the large Koleos. But it might also get a coupe-like model with sporty accents. A replacement for the Arkana?

Also read: Toyota bZ4X review: how good is the first 100% electric?