Styling tweaks to the grille and headlights are obvious in the pictures, but Renault says noise and comfort levels are also improved
April 3, 2025 at 06:28
- Renault has facelifted the Austral SUV, which originally debuted in 2022.
- New lights, DRLS and grille give the tweaked model a more expensive look.
- More soundproofing and extra seat padding promise better refinement.
Renault has been working through its lineup, gradually giving each model a new family look, and the latest to get the facelift treatment is the Austral compact SUV. This makeover is more than skin-deep, though, according to Renault, which also claims a test drive will reveal big improvements in comfort and refinement.
It’s the design tweaks inspired by the Rafale – and recently also given to the facelifted Espace – that might hook buyers in to take that test drive in the first place though. The updated SUV has a completely new front end, and that even includes a new hood, not just plastics, making this an expensive refresh for Renault.
Related: Renault Espace Gets An Early Facelift With Sharper Looks And More Comfort
The company’s diamond logo is now entirely contained within the new, more angular grille, rather than pushing up into a cutout in the hood. Also new are the slim-line headlights, whose DRLs are no longer attached and slung below, but airplane-wing-shaped and mounted independently in the also-new bumpers.
Renault didn’t skip a chance to make changes to the rear either, though the mods back there are more subtle. The taillights are a similar shape, but slightly shorter despite the industry’s trend for full-width light bars, and the Renault diamond no longer stands proud of the bodywork.
Inside, the 12.3-inch instrument panel and a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen will be familiar to anyone who’s jumped behind the wheel of the current SUV, though there are more apps available via the Google-equipped media system this time around. But the new-look Austral gains more ergonomic seats with extra padding to keep you located when you’re hustling the dual motors and 1.2-liter petrol engine that makes up the 197 hp (200 PS) hybrid powertrain.
Renault says the new Austral isn’t only more comfortable, but smoother and quieter as well. It’s given the SUV new doors seals, new door mirrors bases and better underhood insulation, and the Alpine trim gets laminated glass for the front doors, all of which helps cut noise. The engine mounts have also been swapped to reduce vibrations reaching the cabin.
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