The 2022 Renault Austral , which has been seen with teaser images for a long time, has finally been officially introduced. Sales of the new Austral, which is preparing to replace Kadjar, will begin at the end of this year.
2022 Renault Austral design and features
The new Renault Austral will hit the production line at the company's factory in Valencia. The new SUV model uses the most advanced version of the group's CMF-C/D platform. This has led to many changes in the vehicle (according to Kadjar), especially in the design and cabin layout, driving assistants and hybrid technology.
Austral was announced as 4.51 meters long, 1.83 meters wide and 1.62 meters high. In this context, it has similar dimensions to the model it replaces. However, it is completely different in design and inspired by the electric Megane E-Tech 100% Electric. This makes the Austral the first internal combustion engine Renault to use the 'sensual tech' design language we saw in the electric Megane.
interior
The similarity continues in the console of the 2022 Renault Austral. The OpenR cockpit, which we are familiar with from Megane, consists of a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch vertical multimedia screen powered by Android Automotive. Apart from this, there is also a 9.3 inch head-up display projected onto the windshield. Thanks to its automatically adjusted brightness and optimized reflective feature, there is no need to use a visor on the OpenR cockpit.
The interior of the new Renault Austral can consist of real wood, leather and Alcantara surfaces, depending on the equipment level chosen. In addition, among the extra features offered, there is an adjustable light system called 'Living Lights'. Renault underlines that the legroom of 27.4 cm for rear-seat passengers is the best value in this category.
The living area of the new SUV has storage spaces of up to 35 liters in total. In addition, some versions of Austral have rear seats that can be slid back and forth and folded in 2/3-1/3 ratios thanks to 16 cm rails. Luggage capacity, which is accessed via the electric tailgate, is 500 liters in mild hybrid versions. Thanks to the rear seats that can be moved forward, this space increases to 575 liters. When the seats are folded, we see an area of 1525 liters.
Esprit Alpine trim level
A new trim level called 'Esprit Alpine' is available in Austral. At this equipment level, there are touches that make the exterior design of the SUV more sporty, special exterior color options and 20-inch wheels. In the interior, there are differences such as Alcantara upholstery and Nappa leather steering wheel.
Standard models in the 2022 Renault Austral come with a torsion bar. However, when the rear axle steering system called 4Control is also preferred, a multi-link setup is started at the rear. This feature reduces the turning circle of the SUV to 10.1 meters. According to Renault's statement, the body of the new Austral has been made more rigid. The chassis has also been made lighter and more rigid to offer the best comfort/efficiency/response ratio on the market.
Renault Austral engine options
There are hybrid and mild hybrid options under the hood of the new Austral. The diesel engine has been removed from the range. The full hybrid version, called E-Tech, has a 1.2 liter three-cylinder petrol engine, a 70 hp electric motor and a 1.7 kWh 400V battery. The system, which has 160 and 200 horsepower options, is always in electric mode when the vehicle is first started, and this system promises 4.6 l/100 km fuel consumption.
The Mild Hybrid option is also powered by a 1.3-liter four-cylinder turbo petrol engine. Developed in cooperation with Mercedes, the engine is supported by an integrated starter and a 12V lithium-ion battery. The system in question has 140 horsepower with manual transmission, 140 and 160 horsepower with X-Tronic transmission. The 160 hp 12V mild hybrid engine offers 270 Nm of torque in the 1800 - 3500 rpm range and promises a mixed fuel consumption of 6.2 l/100 km.
The new Austral also has a Mild Hybrid Advanced option. Shown as an alternative to diesel, this system combines a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo petrol unit, an integrated starter and a 48V lithium-ion battery. This 130 horsepower system promises 5.3 l/100 km fuel consumption when combined with a manual transmission, which Renault underlines is 20 percent lower than a non-hybrid equivalent gasoline engine.