Renault revamps compact SUV offering with Austral

MADRID -- Renault hopes to reinvigorate its compact SUV sales with the Austral, a feature-packed new model with a plush interior and a powerful but frugal full-hybrid powertrain option.

The Austral is the first Renault to use the Alpine designation for the highest trim level rather than Initiale. The Esprit Alpine trim, in two levels, is cosmetic, but it signals CEO Luca de Meo’s emphasis on racing rather than traditional luxury as a premium signifier. It will appear in showrooms in this month, starting in France.

Renault’s main compact SUV, the Kadjar, is far behind segment leaders in sales, but the coupe-styled Arkana has been a surprise success for Renault, in 10th place through the first half of the year with 42,086 sales, according to figures from Dataforce.

The segment was led by the Hyundai Tucson, with 78,160 sales. The Nissan Qashqai, the Arkana’s sibling model on the same CMF-C/D alliance platform, was in sixth place with 55,823 sales in the first half. In contrast, Renault sold just 14,424 Kadjars in the same time period.

De Meo took the reins at struggling Renault in July 2020 with a focus on compact sales, which have higher margins than small cars, where Renault has traditionally excelled. 

Renault executives said at a test event in Madrid last month that the Austral would improve on the Kadjar’s appeal with higher perceived quality, especially in the interior, which features wood grain, chrome trim and soft-touch surfaces. More aggressive exterior styling marks a clean break from the Kadjar’s rounded forms.

The Austral will have three different drivetrains: A 1.3-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 12-volt mild hybrid system; the same engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid; and the flagship 1.2-liter, three-cylinder full-hybrid E-Tech. The Austral is the first Renault to use the 1.2-liter engine, which will become the basis for all the brand’s European combustion models in the future.

Renault says the 12-volt engine is aimed at non-European customers, while it expects 70 percent of buyers to opt for the full-hybrid variant. 

With a smaller engine but larger battery, the full-hybrid Austral variant has lower CO2 emissions than hybrid competitors in the compact segment -- as low as 102 grams per km.

Read more: Renault Austral hybrid takes a different path to lower CO2

Renault says the full-hybrid system allows for up to 80 percent of urban driving in full-electric mode. Paddles on the steering wheel control regenerative braking force, as they do in the full-electric Megane E-Tech launched earlier this year. 

Prices will start at 32,000 euros for the 12-volt hybrid base model, and go up to 44,000 euros for the full-hybrid model in Alpine trim. The 48-volt mild hybrid model starts at 36,000 euros.

The Austral also gets the third generation of Renault’s 4Control four-wheel-steering system (as an option), which turns the rear wheels up to 5 degrees to assist in low-speed maneuvers such as parking, as well as tight turns. The option reduces the Austral’s turning radius to 10.1 meters, comparable to that of a small car. A multi-link rear axle on 4Control models improves high-speed stability, Renault says, while two-wheel-steering models have a torsion beam rear axle.

Inside, the Austral is closely related to the new Megane E-Tech Electric, with Renault’s RLink screen arrangement, which combines an 12-inch horizontal digital instrument cluster with an 12-inch vertical touchscreen, separated only by a thin air vent to give the impression of a continuous screen. The gear selector on both models is a stalk at the top left of the steering wheel. 

Other optional interior features include a 9.3-inch head-up display projected onto the windshield and massaging front seats. 

There are three standard driving modes (Eco, Comfort and Sport), but drivers can create their own mode with 13 settings, including ride firmness, acceleration and steering response. 

Other driving aids include a predictive hybrid driving feature that optimizes the use of electric-only power to save fuel, and a 360-degree camera function for parking.

Safety features include front and rear autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and rear cross-traffic alert, designed for backing out of parking spaces. Another alert warns the driver not to open their door if a bicyclist or another car is approaching from behind.

Infotainment is achieved via the Android Automotive operating system, with Google Automotive Services, including Maps, Assistant and Play for third-party apps such as Spotify. Android phones automatically pair, and there is an induction charger at the top of the center console. A new Harman Kardon stereo system includes 12 speakers with 485 watts of power.

The Austral is also the first Renault that will be available with so-called usage-based insurance, which takes driving style and distance traveled into consideration. Drivers can get discounts based on data collected while the vehicle is in use, translated into a driving score. The service will roll out first in France, by the end of 2022, and then in Spain, Italy and Germany.