Renault Austral replaces Kadjar
New ways on well-known paths
Renault Australia
© press-inform – the press office
The previous Renault Kadjar will soon be history. The French mid-size crossover as a twin model to the Nissan Qashqai will be replaced later this year by the new Austral. Diesels have been eliminated and the new petrol engines have been electrified.
The Kadjar was quite a successful car at Renault and shared the technology with the once successful sister company Nissan Qashqai. Nothing will change about that. Nevertheless, not only will the largest Renault SUV be replaced by a second generation, but it will also be given a new name: Renault Austral. The competitor from VW Tiguan, Hyundai Santa Fe or Opel Grandland is currently in the final testing phase and so the prototypes are being put through their paces at high pressure. While many competitors are on the road with more than 250 vehicles in this phase of testing in order to gather the most important final experience in hot and cold countries, as well as in endurance runs, before the vehicle goes into series production, Renault is taking it easy . The current test fleet includes around 100 vehicles and 900 test drivers, who will ultimately have covered more than two million kilometers in all possible regions of the world on roads, test tracks and off-road. By the end of the test, 1.4 million kilometers had been covered on closed test tracks and 600,000 kilometers on public roads – especially in France, Spain, Romania and Germany. The Austral is the first vehicle from Renault that will be on the road with a 48-volt electrical system and should therefore significantly reduce real consumption.
The discontinued Renault Kadjar as a twin of the Nissan Qashqai was rather cautious in terms of engine performance compared to the international competition. After the last facelift, the drive portfolio of the 4.49 meter long crossover was gradually reduced and the 150 hp diesel in particular was eliminated. While the Renault Kadjar is currently still available with a 140 or 160 hp petrol engine and a 115 hp diesel engine, the diesel engines have had their day in the future Austral. The new Renault crossover is only available with electrified turbo petrol engines with displacements of 1.2 and 1.3 liters, which have mild hybrid electrical systems (12 and 48 volts) and are said to deliver up to 147 kW / 200 hp. In addition to the electrified drive range, new driver assistance systems are available on the newly developed CMF-CD03 platform and the Austral is said to achieve significantly better values for noise insulation and suspension comfort than its predecessor. It can be assumed that the Renault Austral will have a similar powertrain package as the Nissan Qashqai, which was presented in its current generation in spring 2021. The core model here is a 1.3-liter four-cylinder turbo with 158 hp, CVT transmission and all-wheel drive. A copy of the Japanese Qashqai Epower variant, where a small combustion engine drives a 140 kW / 190 hp electric motor that provides propulsion, appears more likely than a technically complex plug-in hybrid drive.
Already in 2005, Renault had secured the designation Austral. “The Renault Austral combines strong stylistic elements that give it a dynamic and elegant appearance. With its small gap dimensions and filigree flanks, the quality is visible at first glance,” says Renault designer Gilles Vidal. As with the electric Megane, the striking LED lighting elements at the front and rear catch the eye. The two large, C-shaped rear lights merge with the vehicle’s logo. The front end has a similar design, with eye-catching lamps and a distinctive radiator grille. Nothing should change in the current pricing. Once it started well below 25,000 euros, the Renault Kadjar currently starts at just under 30,000 euros. The particularly economical diesel version with the 115 hp diesel engine scratches the 40,000 euro mark with the seven-speed automatic transmission.