The Renault Austral – a twin to the favored Nissan Qashqai – shapes as a pure slot in SUV-hungry Australia. Nonetheless, the model’s native boss says there are alternate options that might be higher suits.
Talking with CarExpert on the launch of the refreshed Arkana crossover coupe, Renault Australia basic supervisor Glen Sealey mentioned the Austral can be a fantastic addition to the native vary, however Australian prospects don’t reply nicely to late arrivals.
“It might [come here], however one factor I find out about Australians is we don’t prefer to get a automobile that has been launched in [overseas markets] years in the past and we get the facelift. If we get it, we get it – so I’m fairly acutely aware of that,” Mr Sealey mentioned.
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“There are different choices inside the Renault model – the Symbioz that’s simply been launched [overseas] can be a great automobile for right here. You’ve nonetheless obtained the Dacia vary that we’re completely trying into – Duster and Bigster – so there’s an entire heap of choices there.
“We’ve simply obtained to be very cautious that any automobile we usher in immediately, has to have a mannequin future that rolls into an NVES calculation,” Mr Sealey added.
The 2025 Renault Symbioz was revealed earlier this 12 months for abroad markets like Europe and the UK. Regardless of being equally sized to the Austral (4413mm v 4515mm), it’s constructed on an prolonged model of the Captur’s CMF-B compact structure.
At launch, the one drivetrain obtainable is an E-Tech Full Hybrid system comprising a 69kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, a 36kW traction motor, 18kW high-voltage starter generator, and a 1.2kWh battery pack.
These parts work collectively by means of a “multi-mode clutchless canine field” with 4 gears for the petrol engine and two for the principle electrical motor, with a system energy output of 107kW. Gasoline financial system is claimed to be a miserly 4.6L/100km in line with the WLTP normal.
The Symbioz seems to be a extra budget- and practicality-conscious providing in comparison with the extra premium and tech-focused Austral.
It sports activities a boxier design aligned with the brand new Scenic E-Tech Electrical, and a cabin design that appears prefer it has been lifted straight out of the smaller Captur. The frontal design can also be just about all new Captur, too.
Key rivals embrace the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross, each of which promote in good numbers domestically and provide hybrid drivetrains.
The Renault Austral, in the meantime, is bought in Europe and the UK – which means it’s obtainable globally with right-hand drive, not like the bigger Espace which is principally Renault’s model of the brand new Nissan X-Path.
Within the UK, the Austral is solely supplied with a 1.2-litre turbocharged hybrid system incorporating a small lithium-ion battery and a pair of electrical motors for a system energy output of 146kW.
Gasoline use is as little as 4.7L/100km on the WLTP cycle and CO2 emissions are rated at 110g/km. That betters the Toyota RAV4 2WD Hybrid, which within the UK quotes as much as 5.7L/100km and emissions of 129-132g/km on the identical official take a look at cycle.
Each the Austral and Symbioz function successors to the previous Renault Kadjar, itself the French model’s twin beneath the pores and skin to the previous-generation Nissan Qashqai.
The Spanish-built Kadjar was launched in Australia in 2019, and was pulled from sale simply over 12 months later. Renault bought 132 examples in 2019, with its first full 12 months on sale netting 500 gross sales. The Qashqai, in distinction, registered 7057 gross sales in 2020.
Whereas the Arkana serves as a distinct segment providing within the small SUV market Down Beneath, Renault has been with no correct rival to the likes of the aforementioned Qashqai, Mazda CX-30, and Hyundai Kona because the Kadjar’s demise.
The small SUV section is among the hottest in Australia, accounting for 174,481 registrations in 2023, a rise of 21.5 per cent 12 months on 12 months.
Thus far this 12 months, the coupe-styled Renault Arkana is barely accounting for 0.3 per cent of the market, although that’s partly right down to the changeover between the previous mannequin and the brand new facelifted vary launching this month.
Austral or Symbioz? Which hybrid SUV from Renault would you prefer to see in Australia?
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