Renault Austral replaces Kadjar
The Renault Austral has been revealed, and it’s set to replace the Kadjar as the French manufacturer’s C-segment SUV. It will also offer more extensively electrified powertrains and sit slightly more upmarket, with more advanced technology and extra kit. While not yet officially confirmed for the UK market, sales of the Austral SUV will commence in Europe in late 2022, and it’s likely to cost from around £25,000, and inline with rivals.
Set to take on the Ford Kuga, Honda CR-V and its sister car, the Nissan Qashqai, it’s the first Renault to adopt the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance CMF-CD platform, designed from the outset to be compatible with a wide range of electrified powertrains. A pair of E-Tech full-hybrid options will be offered, based around the 1.2- litre turbocharged petrol engine, an electric motor and 1.7kWh battery for either 158bhp or 197bhp. Mild hybrid engines will sit below these, but a plug-in hybrid isn’t anticipated. The E-Tech Austral models will send their power to the road via a seven-speed automatic transmission and charge the battery during deceleration. This system is so effective, Renault claims, that up to 80% of city driving can be fully-electric.
Official figures quote combined fuel economy of 61.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 105g/km. Measuring in at 4,510mm in length, 1,830mm wide and 1,620mm tall, the Austral is similar in size to the Kadjar, but its design is a complete rethink. In fact, it owes more to the smaller Megane E-Tech crossover, helping give Renault’s new model push a unified appearance. Its nose is dominated by a large mesh grille, an oversized Renault badge sporting the latest design, and flanking C-shaped headlights. It also features a flat and heavily sculpted bonnet for a tough and premium look.
There are 20-inch alloy wheels, high-gloss wheel arch surrounds and exterior trim, and a contrasting black roof, door pillars and window frames. The interior is equally radical, with a flat-bottom and flat-topped steering wheel that sits ahead of a large 12.3- inch digital instrument display, flanked by a 12-inch scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass portrait infotainment screen angled towards the driver, a setup that Renault calls OpenR. These sit ahead of the dashboard, which is very slim and dominated by air vents and an illuminated strip.
It’s also likely to be the first Renault to be offered with the new Esprit Alpine trim, inspired by the sports cars from sister brand Alpine. These versions get special alloy wheels, satin grey paint and Alcantara-upholstered seats with blue logos and stitching.