Usually, a car’s design goes back to the drawing board after three to four years to refresh it for the second half of its career. Not so with the Renault Austral, – the successor to the Kadjar – which gets the new family face a little more than two years after its market introduction. Renault is seizing the moment for various changes and improvements to the Austral, of which 200,000 have now been sold.
Why a facelift for the Renault Austral so soon?
As you may know, the Renault Clio was the first to get the new family face in the spring of 2023. Design chief Gilles Vidal (ex Peugeot, with Renault since 2020) is largely responsible for that. That facelift was not long after the Renault Austral made its debut. There is an extended version of the Austral, which has been christened the new Espace. That already received a beauty treatment earlier this year and even beats the Austral in terms of speed. In any case, the program is now up to date, with the exception of the Arkana, which probably won’t get the new front anymore.
How should I place this Renault?
We can imagine that you are a bit lost in terms of names and models at Renault. The choice in models with a high entry, let’s say the SUVs and crossovers, is huge at the French brand. Let’s list them, in order of size: the Captur, the Symbioz, the Arkana (coupé) the Austral, the Espace and the Rafale (coupé). And then there are the electric Scénic and the recently introduced R4. The Austral is 4.53 meters long, the Captur measures 4.24 meters, the Symbioz sees its 4.41 meters nicely in between.
What’s new on the Renault Austral?
At the front, the hood, bumper and grille are new, and the daytime running lights on the corners immediately catch the eye. Together they form the brand logo. The rear of the renewed Renault Austral received new light units that taper to a point and are not connected to each other. Inside, Renault uses new upholstery fabrics, the front seats have been improved and extra attention has been paid to sound insulation. Furthermore, we see a knob on the A-pillar with the ‘eyes’ in it that monitor the driver and that, thanks to facial recognition, set all your personal profiles after getting in. Not visible are the other shock absorbers and the improved suspension of the engine.
Is it always a hybrid?
There are two types of powertrain available for the Renault Austral. First, a 1.3-liter four-cylinder, coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which goes through life as X-Tronic. We are talking about a mild hybrid here. Then there is the real hybrid, with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder and a 50 hp electric motor. Like the 1.3, this engine also has a starter/generator that provides a little extra assistance and fulfills the role of the starter motor and the dynamo.
New fabrics in the interior and the seats have been improved.
Weaker version can pull more
Looking at the specifications of both powertrains, it is noticeable that the version with 158 hp (the 1.3 mild hybrid) has a torque of 270 Nm and the full hybrid delivers 200 hp, but has a maximum torque of 205 Nm. Apparently, the hybrid is less suitable for a heavy trailer, given its maximum towing weight of 1,500 kg, compared to 1,800 kg for the seemingly weaker motorized Austral.
Standard equipment already complete in the base
Only the full hybrid has an entry-level model called Evolution. It can be recognized on the outside by the 18-inch wheels and on the inside by the multimedia screen that is 9 inches in size, instead of 12 inches. Things like adaptive cruise control, parking sensors front and rear, LED headlights and taillights are standard. Then comes the techno, which rolls on 19-inch wheels and has the large screen. The Iconic Esprit Alpine – quite a mouthful – is the top model and stands on 20 inches, has, among other things, electrically adjustable and heated seats, an electrically operated tailgate, a sliding rear seat and a sportier finish.
The distance between the stems has been increased to prevent mistakes.
What are the competitors of the Renault Austral?
In its price and size class, the Renault Austral encounters several competitors, including plug-in hybrids. From its own country, these are the Peugeot 3008 and the Citroën C5 Aircross. We also see the Kia Sportage, the Hyundai Tucson, the Ford Kuga and the Nissan Qashqai in this playing field. And then the brand itself has several alternatives in the showroom. Such as the slightly smaller and also slightly cheaper Symbioz that has just received a new hybrid powertrain with a 1.8-liter engine. Or what about the fully electric Scénic, should you already be considering switching to electric.
Two engines, two transmissions
For this first acquaintance with the renewed Renault Austral, we are driving the hybrid, if only because it is actually the most logical choice, unless you really need that extra towing weight. Of course, the hybrid is more economical than the other version and thanks to its lower CO2 emissions, that saves about € 6,000 in BPM.
The front wheels are driven by the electric motor, the fuel engine or a combination of the two. With a special type of transmission: four gears for the fuel engine and 2 for the electric motor. The software has been further improved, but you still occasionally feel a moment of doubt. Pulling away is almost always electric and once at speed, the electric motor often takes over, powered by a 2 kWh battery. Add to that the switching work of the two engines and you understand that there is a lot going on. If you go full throttle, there is some doubt and a moderate acceleration, even in sport mode. Furthermore, it is a pleasant hybrid that is aimed at low consumption. The steering works with great precision and the chassis is more sporty than comfortable. The winding mountain roads we drive don’t seem to go so well with the Michelin e.Premacy. If it goes a bit fast, the Austral already starts to slide over its front wheels.
The hybrid has a trunk space of 448 liters and the mild-hybrid 517 liters.
Is the renewed Renault Austral more expensive?
Due to the discontinuation of the manual entry-level version, you now have to spend almost three thousand euros more to become the owner of a Renault Austral. The party starts at € 42,990 for the 200 hp strong Austral hybrid. The techno has not increased in price. The Iconic Esprit Alpine is now the top model and replaces the Techno Esprit Alpine. In the case of the 160 X-tronic you will then spend € 1,300 more, but with the E-Tech 200 that has become € 1,500 less and costs the same as the equally equipped Austral with 158 hp with its price of € 47,490.
New is this camera with facial recognition that can be linked to your driving profile.