Renault Austral review | Auto Express

There are three trim levels to choose from with the Austral, starting with Techno, then moving through Techno Esprit Alpine and Iconic Esprit Alpine. The latter two feature sportier styling inspired by Renault’s Alpine sporting brand, while standard equipment on all cars includes two-zone climate control, park assist, keyless entry and starting, reversing camera, auto main beam matrix LED headlights, a 12-inch portrait touchscreen and 12.3-inch driver’s display.

Renault Austral prices and latest deals

How much does the Renault Austral cost? Well, official ‘on the road’ prices range from £35,275 to £38,775 but you can currently save an average of £4,701 through the Auto Express Find A Car service, where prices start at £30,928. You can lease a Renault Austral from £341 per month or buy a used model at prices starting from £18,249.

Check out our latest new car deals, leasing deals and used car deals for the top offers available now on Auto Express. And don’t forget we can help you sell your car, too.

Prices for the Austral start from just under £35,000 and rise to around £39,000, although Renault is known for its competitive offers, especially on finance. The Auto Express Buy a Car service can save you £4,000 or more off list price, while lease deals come in at around £300 a month.

All versions of the Austral feature a hybrid powertrain based around a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine and two electric motors. Renault fits what it calls a multi-mode gearbox, and this manages energy flow between the power sources and the wheels, with one of the motors acting as a heavy-duty starter-generator, the other driving the front wheels. This has two speeds to boost its effectiveness, while the engine has four, and the electronics juggle between them.

Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed

This set-up has been enhanced in the latest model, with a torque boost (up from 350Nm to 410Nm) helping the Austral to feel lively off the line. The 0-62mph time is healthy, and the car sprints away with the minimum of fuss, because the electric motor offers instant torque while the engine gets up to speed, if you’re accelerating hard. Take a gentler approach, and the engine may not even fire up, because the powertrain favours the electric part of the system over the combustion engine.

Town driving, visibility and parking

The hybrid powertrain works well around town, where Renault estimates that the car will run on electric drive for around 80 per cent of the time. The Austral’s comprehensive trip computer logs how often the system runs on electricity alone, but we’re confident that most urban drivers would be able to meet that target. It’s helped by the regenerative braking that’s available, with paddles on the back of the steering wheel allowing you to adjust the braking strength on the fly.