Renault · 2022–present

Renault Austral

The Renault Austral is a compact crossover SUV (C-segment) manufactured and marketed by Renault. It was unveiled in March 2022 as a successor to the Kadjar, and built on the third-generation CMF-CD platform. It was publicly exhibited for the first time at the 2022 Paris Motor Show. Production began in July 2022 in Spain at the Palencia plant. Its derivatives include the sixth-generation Renault Espace, a long-wheelbase family-oriented version of the Renault Austral with three-row seating, and the Renault Rafale, a coupé SUV. The three vehicles are sharing 75 percent of their parts.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Renault Kadjar

All Renault Austral data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Overview

The "Austral" name was derived from the Latin word "australis", and has been trademarked since 2005. The Austral has the new retro-inspired Renault logo that debuted on the Mégane E-Tech, has full-LED headlights using Renault's C-shaped signature daytime running lights, and boomerang-shaped LED taillights joins the logo on either side of the tailgate. The Austral adopts Renault's new design, called Sensual Tech. According to Agneta Dahlgren, Renault design project director, "the result is materialized by the combination of generous shapes, curved shoulders, projecting sides and the integration of subtle technical details such as high-tech headlamps. which reinforce its identity design”. The dashboard of the Austral, called OpenR (Google with openR Link), is largely inspired by that of the Mégane E-Tech, but the layout is slightly revised.

Facelift

The facelifted Austral was revealed on 2 April 2025. The model adopts a similar front end to the Renault Rafale as well as new seats, a brand new hood, new tailgate, new door seals, and new rear lights. Renault launched the facelifted Austral in the Egyptian markets on December 23, 2025.

Related models

=== Renault Espace === Unveiled on March 28, 2023, the sixth-generation Espace is heavily based on the Austral, sharing most of the body panels including the front end. It features an extended wheelbase and is available in five and seven-seater versions. It is 140 mm (5.5 in) shorter in length and 215kg lighter than the previous generation. The Renault Espace orders started in spring 2023, and is produced at the Palencia plant in Spain alongside the mechanically-related Austral and the Rafale. However, it will not be available in the UK market. Renault Rafale. The Rafale (codenamed DHN) is a coupe SUV unveiled on June 18, 2023 at the 54th Paris Air Show in Le Bourget. While sharing the CMF-CD underpinnings with its Austral and Espace counterparts, it features a distinctive design with unique body panels, being the brand's first production vehicle designed entirely according to the new visual language penned by Gilles Vidal. The Rafale is named after the C.460 Rafale monoplane introduced in 1934 by the Caudron-Renault aviation company, although the name was also used more recently on the Dassault Rafale fighter jet. The car received a new plug-in hybrid powertrain with 300 hp (304 PS; 224 kW) and all-wheel drive by installing an electric motor at the rear.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Renault Austral
Manufacturer: Renault
aka: Renault Espace (LWB)
Production: July 2022 – present
Designer: Michael Han, Marco Brunori, Pierre Sabas, Alexis Martot, Andrey Basmanov, Alan Derosier
Assembly: Spain: Palencia (Renault España)
Class: Compact crossover SUV (C)
Body style: 5-door SUV
Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform: Renault–Nissan CMF-CD
Related: Renault Espace VI, Renault Rafale, Nissan Qashqai (J12)
Engine: Petrol hybrid:, 1.2 L HR12 I3 turbo mild hybrid, 1.2 L HR12 I3 turbo full hybrid (E-Tech Hybrid), 1.3 L H5Ht I4 turbo mild hybrid
Transmission: 6-speed manual, Multimode clutchless automatic hybrid transmission, X-Tronic CVT
Battery: 12V (1.3 mild hybrid), 48V (1.2 mild hybrid), 400V (1.2 full hybrid)
Wheelbase: 2667 mm
Length: 4510 mm
Width: 1825 mm
Height: 1644 mm
Kerb weight: 1421–1517 kg
Predecessor: Renault Kadjar, Renault Koleos (for Espace, Europe), Renault Grand Scénic (for Espace, Europe)
sp: uk

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111149358CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_AustralCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1374854806 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Renault_Austral_1X7A6753.jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Alexander-93 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Manufacturer website (link only) — https://www.renault.fr/vehicules-hybrides/austral.htmlLink only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.