New Renault Austral Full Hybrid E-Tech 200hp (2023 - )

French cars have always been comfortable. They haven’t always been desirable, though – not in the way that BMWs and Audis have been. But there’s a quirkiness about Gallic vehicles – and the interiors seem well built - and last for ages, writes Tim Barnes-Clay. 

From personal experience, I’ve had a Peugeot in the family for 12 years – and it's seen us through three children. It is still alive and well – and the cabin – with everything that's been thrown at it – still looks as good as new. I also had a Renault Laguna company car for four years. That came with a bullet-proof interior, too. But, we're talking about modern Renaults here – and the focus is on the new Austral – a vehicle similar to the Nissan Qashqai.

Since the model’s ushering in three years ago, the Austral has achieved notable success, boosting the Renault marque’s position at the premium end of the family-sized car market. It is a key member of Renault's hybrid lineup, which includes the new Espace and Rafale – and, impressively, 44% of buyers have chosen the high-end Esprit Alpine model. Meanwhile, the full hybrid E-Tech 200 powertrain makes up 80% of total sales.

Now, the Austral has been improved. How? Keep reading to find out.
 

The three available trim levels reflect those of the pre-facelift model, featuring the Techno, Techno Esprit Alpine, and Iconic Esprit Alpine variations. However, the new Renault Austral's exterior design has undergone significant updates.

The revamped bonnet, bumper, and grille now exude a stronger character, reminiscent of the Rafale and new Espace designs. Small embossed 3D diamonds artistically placed around the central logo on the bumper create a distinctive identity. The design of the front lights and taillights complements the attention to detail. This stylistic refresh also extends to other body features, particularly noticeable at the back, where the upper and central sections of the tailgate feature more refined lines.

The Austral remains available in Gloss Schist Grey, Starry Black, Pearl White, and Flame Red while introducing two new exterior colours: Ultramarine Blue and Satin Pearl White. The Satin Schist Grey and Satin Pearl White options are exclusively reserved for the Esprit Alpine variant. The popular two-tone finish featuring a Starry Black roof can now also be chosen from the Techno trim.

New High-Gloss Black strips have been integrated with the lower side body protection, providing an extra layer against stone chips on the rear wings. This design enhances the Austral's athletic appeal, as does the radiator grille styled in Metal Grey for the Techno finish and Ice Black for the Esprit Alpine variant.

Inside, the refreshed Renault offers better comfort. It houses redesigned seats that look and feel premium – and provide good lateral and shoulder support. Additionally, the gear lever has been repositioned higher up the steering column to prevent any mix-up with the windscreen wiper control. Like the old Peugeot I mentioned at the top of this piece, the cabin appears as though it'll stand the test of time.

Regarding technology, the Renault's OpenR twin display combines a 12-inch digital instrument panel with a nine-inch or 12.3-inch multimedia screen, featuring a total display area of 1,000 cm². That is equivalent to three touch-screen tablets.

What’s more, enhanced Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity include updated graphics. The central console consists of an induction charger, two USB-C ports, and a 12V socket, while rear passengers can enjoy additional USB-C ports and a 12V socket in the armrest.

With Google built-in, the OpenR Link multimedia system offers access to Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play's app selection. Recent updates include sending destinations from your phone, multi-point route planning, eco-friendly route options, and reporting of road incidents like speed cameras and closures.

The high-end Iconic Esprit Alpine reviewed here also features a 360-degree camera and a Harman Kardon sound system.
 

On the move, the new Austral delivers what you’d expect from a family car – and more. Yes, it’s slightly sportier in looks and feel – but it is no hot hatch. And why should it be? If, like me, you're transporting your family around – then you want comfort, space, safety and efficiency from a car. More on those elements in a bit. Looks are important, too – after all – don't you want to be proud of your new purchase or company motor? I think it ticks the boxes for many of the above – but let's get back to focusing on the handling and performance.

The Renault Austral full hybrid E-Tech 200hp, driven here in the top of the pile Iconic Esprit Alpine trim, accelerates to 62mph in 8.4 seconds. The 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol and six-speed automatic transmission give you enough power to overtake slower-moving vehicles in rural areas - and the confidence to get up to speed when joining motorways. On that note, the self-charging car can get from 50 to 75mph in 5.6 seconds. Furthermore, the Austral, which has a top five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, will reach 112mph – far faster than you'll ever need to drive in the UK. 

The new Austral generally handles well – and feels nimble enough in urban areas. It is not a small car – and it's heavy. You can tell that from the squeal of rubber if you tackle bends a little too enthusiastically. Yet, for all its bulk, the car is quiet, soothing, and almost graceful when not pushed hard around corners. This is mainly due to enhancements in soundproofing. Wind noise has been cut by two decibels thanks to new door seals and wing mirrors designed with better aerodynamics. In the edition driven here, the laminated front side windows further boost acoustic comfort because of their three-layer construction and increased thickness.
 

The self-charging hybrid is good for five-up, so it's a genuine family-focused mid-size crossover and a decent halfway house if you're not ready to go completely electric. 
It is easy to get in and out of the Renault, and there are enough storage places for everyone aboard. 

The boot is a bit of a letdown, with only 527 litres of space with the rear seats in place - we expected more. Still, thanks to the sliding row of back seats, it does increase to 657 litres. 

The folding, reclining rear bench seat is designed to move 16cm to adjust to the load capacity as required. If you kick the rear seat passengers out and fold the seats down, the space expands to 1,736 litres. This is handy if you're going on a tip run, collecting furniture, or whatever you do when your whole family isn't in the car.
 

The Austal's complete hybrid E-Tech powertrain boasts a 200hp system featuring a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine generating 130bhp. The system includes a couple of electric motors. One produces 70 horses and draws power from a 2kWh, 400V battery, enabling some electric-only driving. The secondary one generates 25hp. Its functions include starting the combustion engine and assisting with gear transitions.

The hybrid system is clever in its ability to transition between petrol and electric without you noticing, boosting efficiency. While the Renault's battery pack doesn't hold enough charge for extensive electric-only driving, it switches in and out as necessary, even at motorway speeds. Significant regenerative braking is also available, and it can be operated using paddles behind the steering wheel.

The official mpg of the test car here is 58.9, with low CO2 emissions of 108g/km. Renault’s warranty is three years or 60,000 miles – and you can expect to service the Austral every year or 18,000 miles.

Furthermore, the 2025 Renault Austral E-Tech full hybrid offers a relatively low Benefit in Kind (BIK) rate due to its CO2 emissions being under 110g/km. This makes it a potentially appealing choice as a company car - and for businesses looking to adopt cost-effective electrified vehicles.
 

French cars are growing on me. I have a fondness for them – and still love the old Peuegot 5008 workhorse in my family. The Renault Laguna was an odd company car choice – kind of thrust upon me – but I got weirdly smitten.

The same is true of the latest Austral. I found it attractive when I first saw it, but that wasn't enough to convince me to fall in love. I still haven't – but I like it. The car would suit my family of five well – but I’m just not convinced I could afford nearly £40,000. Okay, you don’t have to spend that – lesser trims cost, erm, less – but it's still not that affordable. That said, not many brand-new family cars are – and you get a fair amount of equipment in the top-of-the-line Iconic Esprit Alpine trim.

Overall, 2025's Austral is tempting with its comfort, sleek design, and premium-esque vibe. It is fuel efficient, has a spacious cabin, and delivers a pretty quiet ride. Nonetheless, the boot capacity could be even better, and a lighter build would be advantageous. While it's not without its niggles, the new Austral has some real positives and comes across as posher than the Nissan Qashqai. Also, if you're savvy in negotiations with a Renault dealer, you might secure a better deal off the fairly steep sticker price.