Renault Austral | Test Drive | Auto Class Magazine

Renault Austral | Test Drive

Words Marco Mancino / Photos Daniél Rikkard

I have always seen the Kadjar as an interesting car, an excellent choice without necessarily having to move to the next size represented by the Koleos. So much so that they are both retiring and the model that replaces the Kadjar arrives with a lot of innovations that rewrite the standards for Renault, increasingly focused on elevating its brand image with cutting-edge solutions on both a mechanical and aesthetic level. It’s called Austral, it’s a C-segment SUV that also winks at the world of crossovers and doesn’t hide at all the desire to demonstrate how it is one of the best mild-hybrids you can possibly put your hands on.

Apart from the fact that it is available in various versions, including Full Hybrid, the one of our test could make most people turn up their noses. In fact, there are rumors of a concept that sees Renault as a brand on the rise in terms of construction compactness and solutions derived from the top racing category (F1), yet the Austral in question is powered by a modest 3-cylinder. Never judge a book by its cover and this is yet another demonstration. Combined with a 48V light hybrid unit with two electric motors – the first providing traction and the other acting as a high-intensity generator – the 1.2 delivers 130 horsepower on the front wheels and does so – although also available with manual gearbox – via a rather precise dual-clutch gearbox, regardless of the driving mode selected. Okay, let’s slow down for a second. What exactly is this Austral?

4.5 meters long, 1.8 wide and 1.6 meters in height, it is a compact SUV that offers great habitability on board. There is therefore space for five people and luggage, but above all there is much more that tickles the curiosity of those who may have never considered a Renault SUV until now. The look remains faithful to the brand’s latest stylistic features, but the clean cuts – especially at the front – mark a clear departure from the past: the Austral is aesthetically spot on in every corner. Try saying the opposite. There is a decent height from the ground, which although not designed for off-road routes, allows total freedom when you have to tackle a rough route, or terrain in less than optimal conditions. It matters little if it is not possible to have all-wheel drive, because the rear-steering axle comes in handy in most cases, making it agile in the city and guaranteeing confidence on b-roads, an ideal context for such a small engine with extraordinary skills.

The setup of our specimen is called Esprit Alpine and it is nothing more than the new way to define what until some time ago was called RS Line, in this case with a very personal look and Alpine logos inside and outside. The dedicated 20-inch wheels and the seats with Alcantara profiles and a proud French flag on the side are very beautiful. They are heated as well and with the numerous massages they are able to accompany you even on long journeys. By the way, it will happen that you drive for a long time, precisely because fuel consumption is really reduced. In fact, you travel about 650 km on a full tank of petrol, with a mixed cycle calculated at around 16 km/l, but the surprising aspect is that the small electric unit comes into play many more times than one might imagine, becoming useful and effective in the city and therefore cutting consumption precisely in the most critical phases. Let’s talk about the steering wheel for a moment, because apart from the slight confusion that can arise from having the automatic gear lever on the right, crowded together with that of the windshield wipers and the large and obsolete satellite for the radio controls, it has an Alcantara crown and a truly unprecedented precision. In short, tightening it and going down a winding road tastes really good.

This, despite the fact that the overall power and reactivity are not at all aiming at sports cars figures. Among the driving modes, you can choose whether to travel in Personal, Comfort, Eco or Sport, each of which intervenes to best enhance its objective, letting the gearbox work well on its own and the engine best manage the dialogue between the electric unit and the 3-cylinder internal combustion pot. An aspect that you have to get used to and which – at least during my test – was a bit annoying at the very beginning, for the perception of resistance felt on the pedals, when a marked regeneration of electrons by the recovery system takes place. Well, especially in the city, I found it unsettling to say the least. Nothing, however, that has made me disaffection from the best Renault (excluding the Megane RS) tested in recent years, also enhanced by a special matt Schist Grey, which in combination with the black glass roof gives a very sporty look to a car I’d call sensational.

The Austral starts at around €32,000, while for a model set up like the one of our test you need to spend at least 10 thousand Euros more (€44,000). It must be said that by checking the list of options, you notice that many items that are difficult to give up have to be paid for, inevitably raising the final price. We thus arrive at an important figure, but the actual value of the Austral is such that my opinion does not change: it is a truly exceptional small SUV – or medium, as you prefer. A clear leap forward for Renault, a model that manages to capture the attention of even the most skeptical customers and which marks a new point of reference for its brand, a worthy representation of what we could define as an evolution that many others should take as an example.