2022 Renault Austral coming to Australia? The SUV replacing the Kadjar targets the Nissan Qashqai and Toyota C-HR with hybrid and mild hybrid powertrains.

The Renault Austral is larger than the Kadjar but smaller than the Mazda CX-5.

Renault has unveiled its electrified replacement for the much-loved Kadjar, and it's on the cards for Australia.

The new Austral SUV fills a gap in Renault's global lineup left by Nissan's Qashqai Kadjar twin, which lasted just one year in the Australian market.

The Austral complements Renault's expanding lineup of small SUVs, which already includes the South Korean Arkana coupe and the Megane E-Tech EV, which was recently launched in Europe.

It is based on the latest version of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance CMF-C/D platform, which also underpins the new generation Nissan Qashqai and X-Trail, the Mitsubishi Outlander, the new Renault Kangoo van and many more.

In terms of dimensions, the Austral is larger than the Kadjar, 61mm longer, 5mm taller and 25mm wider, with a 21mm longer wheelbase.

It sits somewhere between the old Kadjar and the Mazda CX-5 in size, meaning it can compete with larger small SUVs like its Qashqai cousin and Kia Seltos, as well as the CX-5 and Honda CR- V in the medium SUV segment. .

The luggage compartment of the Austral can hold 500 liters, which is 28 liters more than the Kadjar, but this drops to 430 liters for the production hybrid.

All three powertrain options have some form of electrification, there is no diesel option. The powertrain line-up starts with a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, a 48-volt lithium-ion battery and a starter motor with a total output of 97 kW. It is paired with a manual transmission and consumes 5.3 liters of fuel per 100 km.

The 12-volt mild hybrid is also available with a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine developed in partnership with Mercedes-Benz, producing 104 kW with a manual transmission and 119 kW/270 Nm with an automatic transmission. This installation consumes 6.2 l / 100 km.

The flagship powertrain at the moment is the "self-charging" hybrid of the E-Tech series, which combines a 1.2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, an electric motor and a 1.7 kWh lithium-ion battery with a voltage of 400 V. 146 kW and a fuel consumption of 4.6 l/100 km.

Despite being mechanically related to the Nissan Qashqai, the two models have different hybrid setups. Nissan uses a four-cylinder engine producing 140 kW/330 Nm and consuming 5.3 l/100 km.

All three powertrains feature regenerative braking, and the Austral chassis comes with two different suspension setups - a torsion beam for two-wheel steering models and a multi-link rear axle with 4CONTROL Advanced for four-wheel steering.

For the first time, a new top model will be offered, dubbed the Esprit Alpine, a nod to the Renault Group's flagship sports car brand, featuring a sporty exterior and interior design.

Inside, Austral is getting a big digital boost compared to Kadjar. Renault calls the setup its "OpenR" screen, which combines a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 12-inch vertical media screen. It also features a 9.3-inch projection display.

There are several buttons on the dashboard, and the center console is mounted high to serve as armrests for the driver and passenger. The shift lever is located on the steering wheel, as is the case with most Mercedes models, allowing for a large, cantilevered palm rest that Renault says makes using the touchscreen more convenient.

It will be offered with a full suite of advanced driver assistance features – Renault says 32 to be exact – including stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, front and rear automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, safe exit warning. and much more.

A spokesperson for Renault Australia said there were no details to share at this stage, adding: "But we welcome all RHD products and look forward to assessing their suitability for our market."

In the event that Austral gets the green light for Australia, it could hit showrooms in 2023 given that it won't go on sale in Europe until the fourth quarter of this year. And given the popularity of hybrids, you can expect a production hybrid to be offered here.