Renault Austral, the attractive replacement for the Renault Kadjar

It’s official! The Renault Austral has arrived to stay, and it will replace the Renault Kadjar. The new Austral is the diamond brand’s major bet in the SUV segment and forms part of the manufacturer’s electric revolution, also known as Renaulution. The first units of the new Renault Austral will arrive in summer, and all versions will feature electrified engines; yes, mild-hybrid and full-hybrid with E-Tech technology, like the Renault Mégane E-Tech that we were able to test a few days ago.

For now, prices are unknown, but as the model’s experts confirmed at the exclusive presentation we attended, the Austral will have very competitive prices, since the versions sold in Spain will not pay registration tax as they have emissions below 120 g/km. The new SUV of Renault is built on the third generation of the Alliance’s modular CMF-CD platform. It belongs to segment C and will be manufactured at the Palencia plant.

The Renault Austral kicks off the Renaulution

This attractive SUV, available with satin paint thanks to a spectacular exclusive Esprit Alpine trim, is 4.51 metres long, 1.62 metres tall, 1.83 metres wide and has a wheelbase of 2.67 metres. At a single glance, you will notice how eye-catching its front end is. It offers a “checkerboard” effect and C-shaped light signatures that can be chosen from up to three technologies: LED Pure Vision, LED Adaptive Vision and LED Matrix Vision. Drivers can also choose wheels measuring between 17 and 20 inches.

The Esprit Alpine version, as we have mentioned, will feature satin paint that can be chosen in grey with a black roof. The interiors embrace sportiness with bucket-style sports seats in Alcantara and blue Alpine stitching, among other details.

As for engines, the Renault Austral will offer three powertrains: 12V, 48V and full-hybrid E-Tech, but only two will be sold in Spain. The 1.3-litre Mild-Hybrid, developed with Daimler, has a 12V lithium-ion battery and delivers 140 and 160 CV. This powertrain is paired with an X-Tronic automatic gearbox or a six-speed manual if the lower-power option is chosen. The hybrid version, also called E-Tech, uses a 1.2-litre engine with three cylinders and two high-voltage electric motors. One starts the engine and the other acts as a generator. It produces 160 and 200 CV and CO2 emissions of 105 g/km. This powertrain is linked to a seven-speed gearbox: 2 for electric mode and five for hybrid mode.

Among other features, the four-wheel steering stands out. It is the third generation of the system called 4Control, which adds the Advanced name. This system works together with the multi-link rear axle, which allows the rear axle to turn five degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnijU9Lgz_w

A real technological commitment

Once inside the new SUV from Renault, the Renault Austral, you can enjoy a multitude of screens. It features the OpenR system with a 2.3-inch screen that manages the digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch screen in portrait orientation for the dashboard. The system also includes integrated Google functions. In addition, passengers can enjoy ambient lighting called Living Lights, which change colour automatically every 30 minutes. It is worth mentioning that these lights are based on the human body’s biological rhythm.

The interior is designed for the users’ comfort. The steering wheel is flattened at the top and bottom, and it has a sliding central armrest. In addition, in front of the armrest, there is a system to rest your wrist when operating the vertical screen and avoid uncomfortable arm drop. It offers generous headroom and legroom in both the front and rear seats. The rear bench can slide up to 160 mm, which makes a boot capacity of 575 litres possible.

If you are wondering about the technological equipment, you should know that the new Renault Austral will come with no fewer than 32 driver assistance systems, such as adaptive contextual cruise control and emergency braking when reversing.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverRenault Austral12 versions · from 33,620 €