Renault's Austral - its replacement for the Kadjar SUV - has arrived in Ireland with a starting price of €45,295.
1.2-litre hybrid
The Austral comes only with hybrid power in Ireland, a 200hp system based around a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine with a 400V 1.7kWh lithium-ion battery.
That gives it some impressive on-paper fuel economy and emissions figures. Renault says that the Austral will average 4.7 litres per 100km and put 1,100km between trips to the petrol station. CO2 emissions are a fairly trim 105g/km, and Renault further claims that in urban driving, the Austral can spend as much as 80 per cent of its time on electric-only power.
Expand in the C-segment
"This is our opportunity to re-conquest the C-segment," said Renault Ireland's product manager Jeremy Warnock.
"Our C-segment offering will expand again next year, but this Austral should capitalise on the demand we've seen for the Arkana. We've sold 2,200 Arkanas so far in Ireland, and 50 per cent of those were hybrid models. We could have sold more if we'd been able to get them. Everything that's come in on a ship has had a number plate put straight on it and been sent out to a waiting customer."
If the Austral proves at least as popular as that, it will be doing well. Nominally, it's a replacement for the Kadjar and is similarly sized on the outside, but thanks to a longer wheelbase, it's roomier inside and has a very useful 555-litre boot.
Inside, the cabin layout and design are lifted largely from the Megane E-Tech electric hatchback, so you get a big 12.3-inch digital display for the driver, and there's a big, upright 12.3-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash for the infotainment system, too, the first time that has been available in a right-hand-drive model. The screen's operating system is by Google, so you can log in and call up your usual Google Maps destinations and so on.
"No entry-level"
The starting price of €45,295 gets you a basic Techno model, although, as Warnock says: "We don't do entry-level anymore." Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED vision headlights, mirage-effect rear LED lights, flush roof bars, shark fin antenna, surround parking sensors with rear-view camera and a hands-free key card with keyless entry. The two big screens and a head-up display are also standard. Two front and two rear USB ports ensure connectivity with the eight-speaker Arkamys audio system.
Two higher-spec models are based on Renault's new sporty Esprit Alpine trim level, named after the company's sports car and F1 brand. First up, at €47,795, is the Techno Esprit Alpine, which comes with 20-inch 'Daytona' alloy wheels, Esprit Alpine detailing and black Esprit Alpine carbon fabric and Alcantara upholstery with blue stitching, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, electric power tailgate, electric front seats with massage function for the driver, traffic and speed sign recognition with overspeed prevention, and adaptive cruise control with lane centring.
Finally, at the top of the range is the Iconic Esprit Alpine, which costs €52,295 and comes with 4Control Advanced four-wheel steering (enabling a Clio-sized 10.1m turning circle), 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, 360-degree 'Around View' 3D camera, panoramic sunroof, and wireless phone charging station.
The Austral is in Ireland now and available to order, and Renault is offering a €379 per month PCP deal through its in-house Mobilize Finance bank.