2022 Renault Austral small SUV confirmed, Australian plans unclear
Despite a name conjured to elicit the “vibrancy and heat of the southern hemisphere,” it’s so far unclear if Renault’s new SUV will be offered to Australian buyers.
French manufacturer Renault has confirmed plans to launch an all-new small-to-mid-size SUV – dubbed the Renault Austral – early next year, however the model’s plans for Australia are not yet clear.
Measuring 4.51 metres from nose to tail and carrying up to five passengers, the Austral will indirectly replace Renault’s outgoing Kadjar, introduced overseas in 2015.
Powertrain details are yet to be confirmed, however reference to “eco-driving” in official press material suggests hybridisation is possible.
A spokesperson for Renault’s Australian importer Ateco told Drive there is “nothing I can confirm” in regards to a local launch for the model.
However, considering the similarly-sized, 4568mm-long Renault Arkana (shown above) is already on sale locally – which in fact replaced the Kadjar in Renault’s Australian range – it’s likely the
It also remains to be seen whether the Austral will be built in South Korea (as part of the Renault-Samsung joint venture), like the current Arkana and larger Koleos – key to ensuring a sharp starting price that can compete with
mainstream Japanese and Korean rivals.The 2022 Renault Austral is slated to arrive in European showrooms sometime between March and May of next year, with a date for a global reveal yet to be announced.
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