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The Renault Austral is the French manufacturer’s follow-up to the Renault Kadjar, and if nothing else the name now rolls off the tongue a little easier. It’s still related to the Nissan Qashqai, and is a similar size as a result - giving buyers another choice in the hugely popular family SUV market.
Launched in 2022, all models are petrol hybrids, joining many other cars in the Renault range on the way to a fully-electrified lineup. And that’s one of its key selling points, as fuel efficiency is very impressive, on paper at least. The Austral’s cabin is also probably one of the best in class for quality and design, too.
As well as the Nissan Qashqai, other models to consider as alternatives include Renault’s own Arkana and later examples of the old Kadjar, plus well-established rivals like the Ford Kuga, Volkswagen Tiguan, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, and Hyundai Tucson.
Despite the new name the Renault Austral isn’t a huge step on from its Kadjar predecessor, but Renault has improved it in enough areas that it makes a sensible upgrade for previous Kadjar owners, and well worth a look if you’re trading up from another family car or across from a similarly-sized SUV.
The biggest areas of improvement are the new hybrid powertrain, which Renault claims is good for more than 60mpg - very impressive in a car this size, and you don’t need to plug it in - it drives well, and the cabin has taken another big leap forward, so that it’s now among the best in the class.
It’s a smart, modern car inside and out, the cabin dominated by a digital driver display and a touchscreen like many new models, but arguably looking fresher and more tasteful here than in most. Front and rear seat passengers get plenty of space (aided further by a sliding rear bench) while up to 555 litres of boot space is impressive too.
The complicated automatic gearbox arrangement can take a little time to react sometimes, and doesn’t respond well to being driven a little harder (as the sporty Alpine badging might encourage), but driven more sedately it’s smooth and quiet. The Austral handles well too - and top-spec cars with four-wheel steering are very agile for their size, and turn tighter than a Clio in town.
The Austral is similar under the skin to the Nissan Qashqai, but probably a bit more interesting to look at, and more fuel-efficient too. The hybrid Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V are worth a look (and have great reliability reputations), while other mainstream SUVs in this class include the Ford Kuga, Volkswagen Tiguan, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, and Hyundai Tucson - so you really aren’t short of choice.
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As opting for the range-topping models doesn’t get you huge power or any increase in economy, the smart pick is probably lower down the Austral range. Techno trim is already well-equipped and the smaller wheels should help maintain the fine ride quality of the top-spec car we tested in our full review - which gets more sophisticated rear suspension to go with its four-wheel steering, but rolls on larger 20-inch alloys.
Renault has offered the Austral in three trim levels so far, with an entry-level Techno and a pair of Alpine-badged models, Alpine being Renault’s sports car brand and used here in the same way Mercedes applies its AMG brand to its slightly sportier standard cars. The Austral is pretty well equipped across the range, but only the top Iconic Esprit Alpine trim gets the impressive four-wheel steering system that makes it even more agile both in town and on twisty roads.
The Renault Austral’s dimensions are:
The Renault Austral’s boot size is:
Even the most expensive Australs just sneak under the £40,000 mark that sees cars attract a VED or ‘road tax’ surcharge, so taxing an Austral should be no more painful than other cars in this class. £10 less painful than petrol and diesel alternatives in fact, since as a hybrid the Austral currently costs you £170 per year, rather than £180.
Insurance shouldn’t be much of a bother either. The most affordable Renault Australs begin in insurance group 21 and even the most expensive don’t rise above group 23 - one benefit of all models using the same engine. Those groups are slightly lower than the 24-26 of a Nissan Qashqai e-Power, but more than the group 11 the Qashqai starts in at its lowest point.
Read our full Renault Austral review