The Austral is set to inherit the facial features of the Rafale SUV flagship, alongside a technology boost and a re-shuffled powertrain lineup
February 17, 2024 at 10:43
The Renault Austral, unveiled in 2022, is a recent addition to Europe’s thriving compact SUV segment. Despite its youth, Renault is already gearing up for a facelift expected to launch before the end of 2025, aligning its design with the broader Renault family aesthetic.
After the facelift of the Captur, the Austral, Espace, and Megane E-Tech will be the sole models retaining the French brand’s older headlight design. Consequently, the mid-lifecycle update of the Austral will primarily revolve around refreshing its facial features, drawing inspiration from the flagship Rafale SUV.
Our exclusive rendering depicts a pair of sharper LED headlights, boomerang-shaped DRLs, a darker grille, and a revised lower bumper intake. These features follow the styling language dictated by Gilles Vidal, Renault’s current head of design who used to work for Peugeot.
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Illustrations Jean Francois Hubert/SB-Medien for Carscoops
The rest of the Austral’s bodywork will most likely be carried over since the model still looks quite modern. The only exception might be the taillights that could adopt a simpler and more aggressive design, bringing mild changes on the tailgate.
Similar visual upgrades could also be applied to the Renault Espace, which was introduced in 2023 as a longer version of the Austral with an optional three-row seven-seater layout.
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Interior updates are expected to be more subtle, as the Renault OpenR fully digital cockpit of the Austral is the latest that the company has to offer. Still, the SUV could benefit from upgraded software, bringing more connectivity, comfort, and safety features. Furthermore, designers could offer fresh options for the upholstery and the trim, infusing more sustainable materials all around the cabin.
The Renault Austral will keep riding on the Renault group’s CMF-CD architecture, shared with the Espace and Rafale crossovers. However, there might be some changes coming to the powertrain lineup to ensure all options comply with the upcoming Euro 7 regulations.
The 1.3 TCe four-cylinder powertrain is rumored to face the axe, replaced by an updated version of the 1.2 TCe three-cylinder unit. Furthermore, Renault could introduce a dual clutch automatic option for the 1.2-liter model, as an alternative to the existing six-speed manual.
Competitors to the Renault Austral include the Peugeot 3008, Citroen C5 Aircross, Opel Grandland, Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga, VW Tiguan, Skoda Kodiaq, and others. While several of these rivals will offer electric versions by 2025, the Austral will continue to rely on internal combustion engines. However, it is expected to incorporate a greater level of electrification to enhance both efficiency and performance.
We anticipate gaining more insights into the 2025 Renault Austral as we approach its debut, especially after Renault begins testing development prototype models on the open roads.
Note: The renderings in this story are not related to nor endorsed by Renault
