Austral Facelift Brings Better Insulation, Smoother Drive, And A Touch Of Luxury

Renault’s giving the Austral SUV a bit of a glow-up, but this facelift isn’t just about looks. According to Renault, this update goes deeper than a few new plastic bits, promising noticeable upgrades in comfort, refinement, and overall driving feel.

Right off the bat, the front end has been completely redone—and we’re not just talking about a new bumper. There’s a brand-new hood in the mix too. Renault’s new angular grille now fully houses the redesigned diamond logo, and the old headlight/DRL setup is gone. In its place? A sleeker, more modern look with slim LED headlights and separate, wing-shaped daytime runners that live independently in redesigned bumpers. 

The rear hasn’t been ignored either. The taillights are still similar in style but have been slightly trimmed down. Unlike the current trend of stretching a light bar across the back, Renault’s keeping it a bit more subtle. Meanwhile, the Renault badge on the tailgate has been smoothed out and integrated into the body for a more refined finish.

Inside, things feel pretty familiar at first glance—there’s still the same 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12-inch touchscreen running Google’s media setup. But Renault has beefed up the tech a little with more app options. The seats are new, too. They’ve been redesigned to offer better ergonomics and extra padding, which should help keep you planted when you’re putting the hybrid system to work.

Speaking of which, the facelifted Renault Austral sticks with the same 197-hp hybrid powertrain—a 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol engine paired with dual electric motors. No wild performance changes, but Renault says the whole experience should feel smoother and more refined this time around.

To back that up, Renault added new door seals, improved insulation under the hood, and even redesigned the mirror bases to help cut down wind noise. Go for the Alpine trim, and you’ll get laminated front windows, too. Plus, they’ve swapped out the engine mounts to reduce vibrations, which should make for a quieter, more composed ride.