2022 Renault Austral breaks cover

The all-new 2022 Renault Austral has been unwrapped online, with the French car-maker revealing its Kadjar-replacing SUV is the first car based on its advanced CMF-CD architecture.

On sale in Australia in the final quarter of this year, the Austral features a full range of electrified powertrains, with the most powerful E-Tech Full Hybrid combining a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor and 1.7kWh lithium-ion battery to produce up to 146kW.

Diesels won't be offered but Renault claims the E-Tech Full Hybrid is capable of completing 80 per cent of urban journeys on pure-electric power alone, with the small SUV averaging 4.6L/100km on the combined cycle, while emitting 105g/km of CO2.

A so-called Mild Hybrid Advanced powertrain has also been developed, combining the same 1.2-litre turbo with a 48-volt lithium-ion battery and a starter-motor-generator. The set-up is said to enable the most efficient models to average around 5.3L/100km with a manual transmission.

Finally, a less sophisticated Mild Hybrid engine blends a 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo with a 12-volt battery and a starter-generator that produces either 103kW or 118kW and can average up to 6.2L/100km.

Measuring in at 4510mm long, 1830mm wide and standing 1620mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2670mm, the new Austral is a fraction longer and taller but narrower than the Renault Kadjar it replaces.

The new platform has stretched the wheelbase by 24mm, which provides rear passengers with claimed best-in-class knee-room.

Set to offer either a fixed or sliding rear bench seat, cargo space varies from 500 to 575 litres, although the full hybrid robs some space and drops to between 430-555L.

Within the cabin, Renault claims there's an extra 35 litres of luggage space to hide away smaller items.

From launch, the less powerful versions of the Austral come equipped with a simple torsion beam rear suspension while the more expensive models get a better multi-link set-up that's combined with 4Control Advanced rear-steer that can pivot the rear wheels by up to five degrees for a tight turning circle of just 10.1 metres.

Borrowing plenty from the recently launched Renault Megane E-Tech all-electric hatch, the Austral gets C-shaped LED headlights and large 20-inch alloy wheels.

For the first time on a Renault, the Austral will have the option of a sporty Esprit Alpine trim that's inspired by the Alpine brand.

Those models will get a unique grey paint that's combined with satin grey and black trim, sportier 20-inch Alpine wheels and, inside, Alcantara seats with blue stitching.

Renault claims the cabin's design, fit and finish has been raised to levels on par with the class above.

There's also a greater emphasis on tech with the new Austral, with a large 12.3-inch instrument cluster combined with the car-maker's latest 12.0-inch OpenR Link infotainment system that lives behind a one-piece Gorilla Glass screen which is claimed to be scratch resistant.

Other new tech includes over-the-air updates, a 360-degree camera, Google Maps and Google Assistant, plus up to 32 different driving aids that are said to provide the Austral with level 2 autonomous driving capability.

European pricing will be released soon ahead of the Austral's launch in the third quarter, but Australian-specific details aren't expected until closer to its arrival Down Under in the final quarter.

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