We tested the Renault Austral hybrid : an SUV with an interior that has arguments to dethrone the Hyundai Tucson

Renault is renewing its offer in the compact SUV category with an ambitious model that it defines as a "winning horse": it is the new Renault Austral, which replaces the  missing Kadjar  and continues the path marked by the  "Renaulution" strategy , in which the  Arkana  and the   100% electric  Mégane E-Tech are also framed.

Among the different versions that will hit the market on  November 1 , we have been lucky enough to test the  200 hp Renault Austral E-TECH full hybrid  with the new top-of-the-range finish, the Esprit Alpine, and these are our first sensations on the fly

With all the meat on the grill

The  Renault Austral  is the first vehicle from the French brand designed on the third-generation CMF-CD platform (the same as the  Nissan Qashqai  ) jointly developed within the  Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance .

It has dimensions of 1.62m high, 1.83m wide and 4.51m long with a wheelbase of 2.67m and, unlike its predecessor, it has a modern and powerful design.

On the engine side, we anticipate that the Austral will arrive with  a new version of the E-TECH full hybrid system  (not plug-in hybrid) under the more powerful and efficient hood, and a  mild hybrid 12V petrol engine  (light hybridization or micro-hybridization ).

No trace of diesel in the offer, although from the brand they point out that "other versions of the model could arrive" in the medium term.

Manufactured from the Palencia plant for the rest of the world, the Austral aims to be one of the mainstays of Renault's recapture of the crowded C-segment and points directly to rivals such as the best-selling  Hyundai Tucson ,  SEAT Ateca ,  Peugeot 3008 ,  Kia Sportage  or the  Toyota RAV-4 .

It's not easy at all, because beyond this established "top 5" it has fifty other rivals, but among its best cards it has a striking exterior, a very comfortable and technological cabin with a system of high-performance information and entertainment systems, or  up to 32 driving aids. Of course, there are also "buts".

New platform, new style and new design

The Austral arrives with   the brand 's new design language , the main keys of which have already been unveiled by the Renault Mégane E-Tech.

Although logically, the SUV adds more typical characteristics of its segment to achieve its own personality, among which a higher ground clearance (18 cm), front and rear protectors, side linings, marked wheel arches or the prominent underbody.

At the front, which gives a  feeling of width and strength , our eyes turn to the important grille made up of squares and finished in black, which frames the LED optics (with small diamonds integrated and in the shape of a C) and houses the  new Renault "Nouvel'R" logo in the center , in brushed satin chrome.

In the lower part, the higher versions like our test unit incorporate distinctive elements such as a sports slat matching the body color or side air vents in glossy black which, in addition to contrasting, give it more dynamism.

In the lower part of the flanks of the body there is a marked crease inclined forwards, which underlines the silhouette of the model with a very successful optical effect. The mirrors or the shark-type antenna complete the set as well as the large wheels (up to 20 inches and 720 mm in diameter with us).

Overall, it's a very proportionate car, although it may look bigger than it is. Continuing the game of optical effects, in the upper part of the windows, a stainless steel trim stylizes the silhouette of the car and reaches the rear.

Here, the vehicle name below the logo is framed by very characteristic elongated C-shaped headlights with micro-optic technology and integrated dynamic indicators. The E-Tech full hybrid versions stand out because the “E” at the end of the name is gold, and in the Esprit Alpine version it is blue.

A comfortable cabin packed with technology

As soon as we approach the car, it detects the key and welcomes us with a dynamic light signature and the automatic adjustment of the controls to the position in which we have configured them. The giant screens do the same, and a characteristic welcome sound is also incorporated.

Unlike the bulkier and more assertive exterior design, the interior of the Austral  is more refined and technological , in line with what the Mégane has already advanced.

It's obvious on the face of it that the brand's efforts to give the SUV a higher perceived quality than its defunct predecessor has worked because, unlike this one, it looks "built to last" and features some very advanced advancements. significant.

Although not having such a leap in quality, the difference is also noticeable compared to other models of the diamond firm such as the Captur.

In this sense, soft to the touch and quality materials predominate (in the higher versions we can have finishes such as ash wood), and details such as the contrasting stitching on the doors or on the dashboard are one more. Like  the LED Mood Light , which can be customized to adapt to outdoor light or automatically change color every 30 minutes.

One of the possible "cons" to mention from within the Austral may be  , although there is nothing written about the likes, its shape slightly flattened or square at the ends, may be somewhat shocking not only on sight, but during maneuvers, for example.

The same goes for certain controls, since the gear selector, the driving mode button (four in total) and the turn signal lever are concentrated on the right side of the steering wheel. You have to get used to it.

Something to be grateful for is that  the climate control buttons are analog  and are very close to the driver's hand.

For its part,  the front seats are comfortable and enveloping , adjustable, heated and with a massage option in our unit. The position is really elevated and general visibility is quite good.

In addition, the feeling of space is remarkable, both for people of average height like me, and for other taller colleagues (about 1.80 m) who did not have space problems either because from the headroom to the ceiling, either for the knees on the rear seat, which can also  be moved longitudinally  up to 16 cm when we need to gain more space in the trunk.

This one, by the way, has an electric gate and a hands-free function, although its capacity varies depending on the version. So in the so-called mild-Hybrid we will have  500 liters with the bench in its natural position  or 575 liters with the bench in its most forward position.

In the full hybrid versions like the one we were able to test, the volume is reduced to 430 l (or 505 with the bench seat in its most forward position), due to the position of the batteries. With the seats completely folded down in the best case, we will have up to 1,525 l of capacity.

Technology and connectivity as major protagonists

But without a doubt the main protagonists of the interior of the Austral are its  screens with the OpenR link system,  which have very successful graphics and optimal definition. In total, there are two 12'' screens plus the 9.3'' dashboard screen, with different display options and completed by a Head-Up Display.

The multimedia system  bears the Android Automotive seal and is managed by Google , which works practically like any smartphone and can include a large number of applications: from Google Maps to Spotify, passing through Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, among others . In addition, it responds perfectly to voice commands and is very agile.

If you haven't tried this system on the Mégane -as I did-, and you're also an Android user, you'll be pleasantly surprised by its simplicity and practicality. Otherwise, know that the system is also compatible with Apple CarPlay both wired and wireless and is quite intuitive. And if you run out of battery, the sliding armrest has wireless charging.

The system is scalable and up-to-date using  FOTA (Firmware Over-The-Air) technology . In the case of Google applications, mapping and points of interest are carried out without user intervention. For updates to the system itself, you just have to validate a message that will appear on the central screen.

First impressions behind the wheel

In addition to the good feelings that the Austral transmitted to us in terms of exterior design and comfort in its cabin, in terms of equipment,  the Renault Austral has up to 32 ADAS  (including systems classified in level 2 autonomous driving) against the 26 that the Mégane integrates.

It also incorporates 'Multi-sense' settings very focused on driving comfort and  4CONTROL Advanced technology  : the third generation of the four-wheel steering system developed by Renault, which makes the car gain in stability and self-assurance and that it is difficult to take less of the 4x4 technology from the better equipped Kadjar in working order.

This equipment (optional) is perceptible at the controls, because at low speed it allows the rear wheels to turn up to five degrees in the opposite direction in relation to the front wheels  to gain up to 1.5 m in turning diameter  and therefore add integers in handiness.

Above, they turn in the same direction as the front ones, which increases their agility, for example in turns.

Diagram of the 4CONTROL system

The  multi- link rear suspension  completes the system and allows greater comfort, both front and rear, as it properly absorbs rough terrain.

At the moment we cannot compare with other different versions or with inferior finishes, but the truth is that our 200 hp Renault Austral E-TECH full hybrid has pleasantly surprised us, among other things, due to the response of its main engine, which didn't feel like a three-cylinder to use.

Clearly advantaged by hybridization, it displays contained consumption, because on national and mountain roads (with steep slopes) we were able to maintain the average consumption of 5.5 l despite light and inconsistent driving.

Renault assures that the Austral is capable of carrying out "80% of its urban journeys in a 100% electric way" and, although there is no doubt about it, it will be necessary to shoot in another environment to see how it behaves and a priori, to practice driving very relaxed to do so.

In addition, you can use the paddles behind the steering wheel, which control the  different levels of braking regeneration . These have four levels of incidence on the brake pedal, and in the last it can make the feel of the pedal feel strange, because if the car holds back the maximum, the touch will be extremely hard, almost unnatural.

On the other hand, without being a car designed for sporty driving, thanks to the different driving modes (  Eco, Comfort, Sport and Custom  ) you can play with the response of the engine, the gearbox and the harshness of the steering. In the fourth we can easily adjust a large number of parameters so that the car adapts to our driving style, but we cannot forget that we are not dealing with a sports car.

So what we can expect from the Austral is exactly what it offers us: maximum dynamism and comfort with average performance:  175 km/h top speed and 8.4 seconds  to stop the chrono from 0 to 100 km/h.

Engines and finishes of the Renault Austral

On the mechanical side, the entire Renault Austral range benefits from  the DGT ECO label . And it is that, in a first level of access, the offer is made up of two Mild-Hybrid or Micro-Hybrid versions, which have a 1.3-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with a direct injection turbocharger developed in collaboration with Daimler.

This block has a 12 V auxiliary electrical scheme and provides 140 HP in the access version or 160 HP in the case of the superior. Both have  CVT-type gearboxes,  although the more powerful ones can be paired with a six-speed manual.

For its part, the Full-Hybrid or non-rechargeable hybrid like the one we had the opportunity to discover during this first contact with the model, reaches 200 hp thanks to two electric motors and a three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine. powered by 1.2 l which is always associated with a  “multimode” automatic transmission.

Below,  there is a 160 hp version , also associated with two engines. In both cases “a traction motor” with more power and more torque (respectively 50 kW and 205 Nm), and another which acts as a high voltage generator of the HSG (High-Voltage Starter Generator) type. The battery is new, lithium-ion and with a higher capacity (2 kWh / 400 V).

Regarding the finishes, the range has three: the balance access, the techno and the iconic, and for the first time in a vehicle of the French brand, the one called  "Alpine Spirit"  which brings an additional spice to the wheel and a little more sporty. touches in the exterior and interior design, and it is available in the top two versions.

Renault Austral price and availability

The brand has announced that the first units will arrive in dealerships in just a few days, before  November 1,  and estimates that the first deliveries will be made by the end of the year.

The Austral is one of the most balanced cars in the current Renault range and, without being a particularly cheap car, it offers a fairly acceptable price-quality ratio compared to competitors in its segment, given the equipment that it offers, its consumption content and the advantages provided by its ECO label, among others.

As to whether the price difference between the versions is worth it, from the characteristics, the equipment, the quality of the materials and the sensations it transmits, the top-of-the-range version like the one we tested would be  a option clearly to be valued according to our point of view,  if it fits in our budget.

It is clear that, unlike what happened with the Kadjar (which was born "  in the shadow of the Nissan Qashqai  "), this SUV has many assets to succeed.