Renault Austral review - MPG, running costs & CO2 emissions

As is the case with the majority of mid-size family SUVs, the Renault Austral is offered with a hybrid powertrain to keep running costs to a minimum. Renault claims the 1.2-litre petrol hybrid engine under the Austral’s bonnet will return up to 61.4mpg on the combined WLTP test cycle. This is ahead of the 54.3mpg official figure for the Nissan Qashqai e-Power hybrid.

For private buyers, the Austral E-Tech makes a good deal of sense, with impressive fuel economy meaning you won’t have to fill up all too often. Thanks to that clever hybrid tech, the Austral runs in fully electric mode most of the time in town. Renault reckons up to 80% of urban mileage can be covered without burning petrol.
 

How much will the Renault Austral cost in tax?

While the Renault Austral is eligible for a £10 annual discount as an alternative fuel vehicle thanks to its full hybrid powertrain until April 2025, this will no longer apply from then on and buyers will have to pay the standard rate. It’s a shame there’s no plug-in hybrid version, as these models tend to have low CO2 emissions which put them in low Benefit-in-Kind tax bands for company car buyers, so if you’re a business buyer your money may be better spent elsewhere.

What will the Renault Austral cost to insure?

Insurance groups for the Renault Austral range from 21 to 23 out of 50 groups. This is slightly lower than the Nissan Qashqai e-Power which spans groups 24 to 26, meaning the Austral will be cheaper to insure.