A few years ago, the CEO of Renault Group announced that the company was entering a revolution – or as he called it, the “Renaulution” – aimed at making the brand more competitive and firmly anchored in the worlds of technology, services and clean energy.
One of the first tangible results of that promise was the Austral. A C-segment crossover that soon after its launch won the 2023 Car of the Year award in Bulgaria in the crossover category. It competes against models such as the Toyota RAV4, Peugeot 3008, Hyundai Tucson and many others.
I initially “slept through” its arrival, as I tend to find family crossovers rather dull. Eventually, however, curiosity won and I decided to understand what exactly impressed Bulgarian journalists enough to award it the 2023 title.
Design
The Austral’s design is an evolution of the visual language Renault has been developing since the launch of the Renault Talisman nearly a decade ago. Brand identity is expressed mainly through the distinctive lighting signatures at both the front and rear, with the familiar LED “light signature” further refined here.
The front end looks modern, easily recognisable and pleasantly restrained. The side profile follows a fairly conventional SUV silhouette. In my view, nothing extraordinary – but the proportions are well judged for the segment. The black roof of the test car adds a welcome touch of dynamism.
Interestingly, in this price range Renault also offers the Renault Arkana, which prioritises design over practicality, so buyers do have a choice depending on their priorities.
At the rear, the main highlight is the boomerang-shaped light units, which look genuinely contemporary. I was also pleased to see the absence of fake exhaust outlets – those decorative bumper elements pretending to be tailpipes. An unfortunate trend that, thankfully, has spared the Austral.
Overall, I like the Renault Austral’s design. It feels technological, relatively clean and easy to digest – perfectly suited to the mainstream segment where this model is positioned.
Interior
While the exterior carries clear references to Renault models from the past decade, the interior takes a more radical approach. The first impression is dominated by the large screens in front of the driver and on the central console. And this is where I want to begin.
Renault has managed to create a remarkably balanced and user-friendly infotainment system. It is called openR link and integrates built-in Google services (the less pleasant news being that at some point these services will require a subscription).
The digital instrument cluster measures 12.3 inches, offers sharp graphics and good customisation options, including a mode that displays the navigation map across almost the entire screen. The map, unsurprisingly, comes from Google Maps – which is genuinely convenient.
The vertically oriented 12-inch central screen is intuitive to operate. Google Assistant is available, along with apps such as Spotify. In fact, this is arguably the best infotainment system I have experienced over the past year.
Crucially, despite the large displays, Renault has retained physical buttons. In contrast to the worrying trend of increasingly minimalistic and less functional interiors, the Austral still offers proper climate controls, brightness adjustment buttons and shortcuts for certain safety systems. Cruise control speed is adjusted via real buttons on the steering wheel, and there is a separate audio control stalk behind it. In real-world driving conditions, this makes a tangible difference. Well done, Renault.
Speaking of buttons, one of the more visually interesting ones is the Multi-Sense controller. Its placement reminds me of Ferrari or Alfa Romeo. While in those Italian cars such a button starts the engine, here it switches between five driving modes, including a configurable individual setting.
As for storage space, the front door pockets are somewhat narrow and, unfortunately, not lined with fabric – meaning loose objects may rattle. On the other hand, the central console area is generous. Thanks to the gear selector mounted on the steering column, behind the cup holders there is a sliding module hiding a deep storage compartment. The module includes a wireless charging pad – which holds the phone securely even on twisty roads – and an armrest that, although not particularly attractive, is comfortable when interacting with the touchscreen. Beneath the traditional central armrest, there is yet another storage compartment.
My overall impression of the Austral’s cabin is genuinely positive. Beyond its strong ergonomics, the design feels appealing – a mix of avant-garde touches with subtle 1980s references (at least in my view), solid build quality and pleasant materials. In this top version, Alcantara trim stands out, including on parts of the steering wheel, along with tricolour stitching echoing the French flag and Alpine logos on the headrests. I like it.
The only clear drawback for me is the lack of adequate shoulder support in the front seats.
In the rear, space is sufficient, with generous knee room and a relatively high seating position that allows for a comfortable posture. The optional panoramic roof does not open, but it enhances the sense of space and outward visibility.
On the Road
The Austral is offered exclusively with petrol engines. There are 1.3-litre four-cylinder units producing 140 or 160 hp. The flagship version, however, is somewhat unconventional – and that is the one tested here.
It combines a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine with a 68 hp electric motor, delivering a total system output of 200 hp. A second, smaller electric motor acts as a starter-generator. The system is paired with a multi-mode E-Tech transmission, offering two gear ratios for the electric motor and four for the internal combustion engine.
Renault claims urban fuel consumption between 4.6 and 5.2 l/100 km. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 8.4 seconds.
My encounter with the Austral began on the streets of Sofia, where it feels entirely at home. The hybrid system works very well in the city. At times, the wake-up of the three-cylinder engine is accompanied by slightly more vibration than ideal, but I would not call it a major issue. On the positive side, the system allows for a high proportion of fully electric driving, and fuel consumption can drop below 5 l/100 km.
Another urban advantage is the 4Control four-wheel steering system. It enables the rear wheels to turn by up to five degrees, resulting in easy manoeuvring and a tight 10.1-metre turning circle.
Outside the city, the Austral remains a pleasant companion. Despite its 200 hp, the 0–100 km/h time of over eight seconds feels somewhat modest given the power and kerb weight of around 1,600 kg. Nevertheless, during normal driving I felt comfortable, and overtaking was not problematic.
On the twisty roads around Koprivshtitsa, the car handled well, and 4Control adds a certain sense of agility. However, there is nothing genuinely sporty or particularly engaging about the experience. Which brings me to a question: what is the point of such a firm suspension setup? A more comfort-oriented tuning would suit a family car like the Austral far better.
In general, the car is comfortable on long journeys, sufficiently quiet on the motorway, and the hybrid system delivered an average of 5.5 l/100 km across mixed conditions – a very good result.
Conclusion
It did not take long to understand how the Austral impressed Bulgarian journalists. Renault has simply built a very good car in one of the most popular segments in Europe.
The interior won me over – attractive design, interesting details, solid build quality and, above all, a properly executed infotainment system. There is technology here, but not at the expense of ergonomics. That is refreshing.
The powertrain is also competent, although dynamic performance is slightly compromised. The hybrid flagship impresses with low fuel consumption and its ability to run on electricity for a significant portion of the time, yet the combination with a three-cylinder engine is not perfectly refined. I suspect the 160 hp four-cylinder version, which costs approximately €3,000 less, may be the more sensible choice for most buyers.
As for pricing, the Austral starts at approximately €27,500. Even the base version offers solid equipment, which makes it an attractive proposition today. The hybrid starts at around €38,300 and reaches approximately €41,300 for the top trim tested here.
Eng. Tsvetan Iliev
