Renault Austral review: Hybrid SUV with diesel range?

Range is the new status symbol – especially for electric cars. Anyone who can cover more than 600 kilometers can already count themselves among the long-distance heroes of electromobility. But the Renault Austral E-Tech Full Hybrid 200, with almost 1,000 kilometers per tank, sets a benchmark that all-electric premium SUVs can't match. It requires neither fast-charging stations nor charging breaks, but combines traditional combustion engine technology with an efficient electric drive. The result is a hybrid SUV that excels in everyday endurance.

At the heart of the Austral is a complex drive concept: a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo engine with 131 hp, coupled with two electric motors that coordinate their power via a multi-mode transmission. Renault forgoes a traditional clutch. Instead, predefined driving modes manage the interaction between the gasoline engine and the electric motor.

In serial mode, the combustion engine becomes a generator, while propulsion is entirely electric. The system's acoustics are reminiscent of earlier diesel engines. The small three-cylinder engine sounds ragged and present when generating power, almost like an old common-rail diesel in cold weather.

The transmission, which operates with a theoretically possible 15 gear ratios, ensures efficient transitions, albeit not always smoothly. Jerking when engaging and noticeable pauses during gear changes can disrupt the harmony.

As complex as the technology may seem, the results speak for themselves: an average of 5.7 liters per 100 km (44.4 mpg) with restrained driving. The Austral's hybrid advantages are particularly evident in city traffic, with long periods of pure electric driving, sometimes even at 80 km/h (50 mph). The highlight: With a tank capacity of just 55 liters, the SUV achieves nearly four-digit ranges. This is thanks to the successful coordination of recuperation, electric drive, and efficient combustion engine. A typical diesel figure, just without the diesel.

In the real-world endurance test, fuel consumption fluctuates depending on the driving profile: from a frugal 5.6 liters to 7.4 liters under brisk highway driving. That's a remarkable figure for a fully equipped SUV with 200 hp of system power.

The Austral not only scores points for fuel economy. In everyday use, it benefits from its sophisticated space concept. The rear seat is sliding, and the rear offers a total cargo volume of up to 1,736 liters. There are also numerous storage compartments and a double cargo floor.

The Iconic Esprit Alpine equipment It has everything you could wish for: matrix LED headlights, head-up display, heated leather steering wheel, and all-wheel steering. The latter noticeably reduces the turning circle – almost to compact-class levels in narrow streets.

Nevertheless, it is not Everything is perfect. The voice control keeps failing, the rain sensor is overwhelmed in snow, and the digital instrument cluster is also confusing with distance readings in seconds instead of meters—French idiosyncrasies you have to like.