By admin 
Beneath the bonnet sits Renault’s acquainted E-Tech Full Hybrid powertrain, which on this utility pairs a 129bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine with a 67bhp front-mounted electrical motor and a 34bhp built-in starter-generator. All in, it makes 197bhp and 302lb ft for a relatively modest 8.4sec 0-62mph time.
Just like the Rafale, the Austral pulls away in pure-EV mode, with the petrol triple springing to life while you ask for extra gusto. Preliminary response from standstill is a bit underwhelming because the automotive makes an attempt to maneuver its 1538kg heft utilizing solely the electrical motor.
Choose Sport mode and there’s extra verve, with the engine and motor working in unison to ship most energy. That is particularly helpful while you’re powering out of corners or overtaking.
Renault has up to date the software program for the Austral’s ‘multimodal’ auto gearbox to enhance responsiveness. You barely discover the automotive flicking between its two powertrains and, because of its massive (1.7kWh) battery, you possibly can cowl significant distances in pure EV mode, even at increased speeds.
There’s nonetheless a little bit of a pause earlier than the gearbox finds the precise ratio while you bounce on the throttle. It will get fairly vocal below load, too, and even after you’ve lifted off the accelerator, the revs typically stay excessive earlier than it will definitely upshifts.
That being stated, the Austral’s engine doesn’t sound unrefined, and it’s nicely remoted, because of that extra soundproofing over the earlier model. There’s nonetheless some vibration and grumble when the engine kicks into life, nevertheless.
As a driver, you’ve completely no management over the automotive’s gear choice, so that you is likely to be stunned to seek out paddles behind the steering wheel. As a substitute, they management the regenerative braking system, a function extra sometimes related to pure-electric automobiles, however made doable by the Austra’s huge battery and electrical motor.
Whereas the regenerative system works nicely and simply adjusted, the brake pedal is a bit over-sensitive and more durable to modulate when each methods are working in unison. Flip the regenerative brakes off and the pedal has extra really feel.
Total, it is refined hybrid powertrain and feels pretty much as good, if not higher than these from Kia, Nissan, and Toyota.