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Renault Austral
Qashqai rival receives comfort-focused update and fresh new look Just two-and-a-half years on from its launch, the Renault Austral SUV has been given a refresh to boost its appeal and fend off rivals like the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai. Much of the old Austral remains, but it has been tweaked and fettled to bring it right up to date with Renault's current line-up of hybrid models. As such, the Austral has gained revised gearbox software, additional soundproofing and new dampers all fitted in a bid to improve mechanical refinement, cabin isolation and ride comfort respectively over those of the outgoing model. It still shares its CMF-CD platform with Nissan Qashqai, and is available in the UK as a full-hybrid E-Tech model only. That means it's powered by the latest iteration of Renault’s E-Tech hybrid system with its unsynchronised and clutchless gearbox. But after its latest round of updates, how does the Austral fare in a class that is extremely popular, rather crowded and very competitve. The range at a glanceMODELPOWERFROME-Tech196bhp£35,000 (est)Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Qashqai rival receives comfort-focused update and fresh new look
Just two-and-a-half years on from its launch, the Renault Austral SUV has been given a refresh to boost its appeal and fend off rivals like the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai. Much of the old Austral remains, but it has been tweaked and fettled to bring it right up to date with Renault's current line-up of hybrid models. As such, the Austral has gained revised gearbox software, additional soundproofing and new dampers all fitted in a bid to improve mechanical refinement, cabin isolation and ride comfort respectively over those of the outgoing model. It still shares its CMF-CD platform with Nissan Qashqai, and is available in the UK as a full-hybrid E-Tech model only. That means it's powered by the latest iteration of Renault’s E-Tech hybrid system with its unsynchronised and clutchless gearbox. But after its latest round of updates, how does the Austral fare in a class that is extremely popular, rather crowded and very competitve. The range at a glanceMODELPOWERFROME-Tech196bhp£35,000 (est)Transmission: 5-speed automatic 
