Renault Austral
| Company type | Automobile model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | March 2022 |
| Headquarters | Palencia , Spain |
| Products | Compact crossover SUV |
The Renault Austral is a compact crossover SUV belonging to the C-segment, developed and sold by Renault. Introduced in March 2022 as the replacement for the Kadjar, it utilizes the third-generation CMF-CD platform. The model made its first public appearance at the 2022 Paris Motor Show, with manufacturing commencing in July 2022 at Renault's facility located in Palencia, Spain.
Variants of the Austral encompass the sixth-generation Renault Espace, a family-oriented SUV featuring three rows and an extended wheelbase, alongside the Renault Rafale, a coupé-style SUV. These three vehicles share close to 75% of their components, showcasing Renault’s focus on platform sharing and parts standardization to improve production efficiency and control costs.
Overview
The name "Austral" originates from the Latin term australis and has been registered as a trademark since 2005.
The Austral sports Renault's updated retro-inspired emblem, initially introduced on the Mégane E-Tech. Its design includes full-LED headlights with distinctive C-shaped daytime running lights and boomerang-shaped LED rear lights positioned on either side of the tailgate. This model exemplifies Renault's Sensual Tech design philosophy.
Agneta Dahlgren, Renault’s design project leader, emphasized the blend of ample curves, rounded shoulders, and refined technical elements such as advanced headlamp technology that collectively define its visual identity.
The interior features an OpenR dashboard concept inspired by the Mégane E-Tech but with an updated configuration.
Facelift
Unveiled on 2 April 2025, the refreshed Austral presents a front fascia resembling that of the Renault Rafale. It also incorporates redesigned seats, a new hood, tailgate, door seals, and rear lighting to boost its attractiveness in the market.
Powertrain
| Model | Code | Configuration | Engine Size | Power Output | Torque | Gearbox | Battery Type | Maximum Speed | 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) | Fuel Efficiency | CO2 Emissions | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol hybrid powertrains: | |||||||||||||
| 1.3 Mild Hybrid 12V | H5Ht | Inline-4 turbocharged | 1333 cc | 140 hp (100 kW) | 260 N⋅m (190 lbf⋅ft) | 6-speed manual / X-Tronic CVT | 12V Lithium-ion | 175 km/h (109 mph) | 10.7 s | 6.2 L/100 km (46 mpg‑imp; 38 mpg‑US) | 139–142 g/km (7.9–8.1 oz/mi) | Euro 6d compliant | |
| 160 hp (120 kW) | 270 N⋅m (200 lbf⋅ft) at 1800 rpm | X-Tronic CVT | 9.7 s | 6.2–6.3 L/100 km (46–45 mpg‑imp; 38–37 mpg‑US) | 141–142 g/km (8.0–8.1 oz/mi) | ||||||||
| 1.2 Mild Hybrid Advanced 48V | HR12 | Inline-3 turbocharged | 1199 cc | 130 hp (97 kW) | 205 N⋅m (151 lbf⋅ft) | 6-speed manual | 48V Lithium-ion | 8.4 s | 5.3 L/100 km (53 mpg‑imp; 44 mpg‑US) | 123 g/km (7.0 oz/mi) | |||
| 1.2 E-Tech Full Hybrid | 200 hp (150 kW) | ICE: 205 N⋅m (151 lbf⋅ft) Electric motor: 205 N⋅m Combined: 410 N⋅m (300 lbf⋅ft) |
Multimode clutchless automatic hybrid transmission | 400V Lithium-ion, 1.7 kWh | 4.7 L/100 km (60 mpg‑imp; 50 mpg‑US) | 105–106 g/km (6.0–6.0 oz/mi) | |||||||
Renault Espace
Revealed on March 28, 2023, the sixth-generation Espace heavily derives its design from the Austral, sharing the majority of its exterior panels, including the front fascia.
This iteration incorporates a longer wheelbase and is available in configurations accommodating five or seven passengers. Compared to the previous generation, it is more compact and sheds 215 kilograms in weight.
Customer orders commenced in spring 2023, with manufacturing taking place at the Palencia facility in Spain, where it is produced alongside the Austral and Rafale models. Notably, this version is not marketed within the United Kingdom.
Renault Rafale
The Rafale (internally designated as DHN) is a coupe-style SUV that made its debut on June 18, 2023, during the Paris Air Show held at Le Bourget.
Built on the CMF-CD platform shared with the Austral and Espace, it features exclusive bodywork and represents Renault's inaugural production vehicle developed entirely under Gilles Vidal's updated design philosophy.
Its name pays homage to the historic Caudron C.460 Rafale monoplane and aligns with that of the Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft. The model introduces a novel plug-in hybrid drivetrain that delivers power to all four wheels through an electric motor positioned at the rear axle.
Awards
The Renault Austral was honored with the Autobest 2023 award, selected by a panel comprising representatives from 31 European nations.
External links
- Official site (France)