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Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Renault Austral I: the buying guide

SUV · since 2022 · Hybrid

✓ 24 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Buy with care
Reliability
3.5/5
Limited hindsight: recent model, score capped at 4.5/5
Estimated monthly cost
€557/month
Indicative prices
€25,300 – €31,500

5 known faults

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Renault Austral I, front three-quarter view

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Buy with care

Well-protected compact SUV (5 stars at Euro NCAP in 2022), but with disappointing early reliability: electronic bugs, a 12 V battery that discharges and, on the E-Tech 200 hybrid, gearbox and cooling faults plus a recall for the risk of engine failure. Check against the serial number that all the campaigns have been carried out.

Reliability
3.5/5
Indicative prices
€25,300 – €31,500
Monthly cost
€557
Euro NCAP
5/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: Mild Hybrid 160.

  • Mild Hybrid 140

    Hybrid · Manual · 140 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.3 TCe with 12 V mild hybrid, paired only with the 6-speed manual gearbox.

    Engine: Renault-Nissan-Mercedes 1.3 TCe / DIG-T (H5Ht, HR13DDT, M282)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice

  • Mild Hybrid 160

    ✓ Recommended

    Hybrid · Automatic · 160 hp · 6.2 L/100 km · 140 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1

    Same 1.3 TCe raised to 160 hp and 270 Nm, with the X-Tronic automatic gearbox. CarVerif presents it as the best choice in the range, with a complete history.

    Engine: Renault-Nissan-Mercedes 1.3 TCe / DIG-T (H5Ht, HR13DDT, M282)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice

  • E-Tech full hybrid 200

    Hybrid · Automatic · 200 hp · 4.7 L/100 km · 106 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1

    Non-plug-in hybrid with a 1.2 three-cylinder engine and automatic gearbox, 200 hp combined. The most economical version, but also the most affected by faults (gearbox, cooling, oil-vapour breather hose).

Market prices

€25,300 – €31,500

Indicative range: 2022 to 2026, yearly medians of 1736 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

E-Tech hybrid gearbox: “gearbox breakage risk” message

Severity 2/3 · Costly

On the E-Tech 200, owners report the warning “gearbox breakage risk”, sometimes with the engine cutting out. L'argus records gearbox interventions (electrical connections or replacement of the actuator) on cars built up to the end of 2023.

Versions
E-Tech full hybrid 200
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

E-Tech 200 cooling system

Severity 2/3 · Costly

The message “engine breakage risk” can appear because of the electric water pump on the 1.2 hybrid engines (H5F) built up to 30 June 2023; the pump was improved afterwards and the remedy is its replacement. L'argus also reports a drop in coolant with the message “injection to be checked”, which owners describe with no visible leak.

Versions
E-Tech full hybrid 200
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

12 V battery discharging

Severity 1/3 · Annoying

Owners report a discharged 12 V battery preventing the car from starting. Car Verif cites the first mild-hybrid production runs up to 30 June 2023; on the E-Tech, the Renault forum mentions a control unit that does not go to sleep, corrected by a software update and, if necessary, replacing the battery.

Versions
Mild Hybrid 140, Mild Hybrid 160, E-Tech full hybrid 200
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Electronic and multimedia bugs

Severity 1/3 · Annoying

L'argus reports numerous bugs (reversing camera stuck, digital instrument display), which sometimes persist despite updates. The OpenR Link multimedia system can freeze or lose the Bluetooth connection. Carchecker also cites software bugs from early production.

Versions
Mild Hybrid 140, Mild Hybrid 160, E-Tech full hybrid 200
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Oil-vapour breather hose (risk of engine failure)

Manufacturer recall

Renault launched campaign 0EWA at the end of 2025 for about 25,000 Austral and 7,000 Espace hybrids built between 6 June 2022 and 20 December 2024: the oil-vapour breather hose can cause a smell of petrol in the cabin, a rise in the oil level and, if the signs are ignored, engine failure. The repair (replacing the hose and reprogramming the hybrid control unit) is free of charge.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
E-Tech full hybrid 200
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Renault Austral”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€153
Insurance€88
Maintenance€33
Depreciation€283
Total per month€557

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Maintenance: budget of a closely related model.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Fuel (petrol)€153

Mild Hybrid 160 version: combined consumption of 6.2 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.

6.2 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €153

Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.

Insurance€88

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€33

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€283

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Have a Renault dealer check, using the serial number, that the campaigns have been carried out: oil-vapour hose (0EWA) on the E-Tech, ABS-ESP module, parking brake.
  • E-Tech: ask for a read of the fault codes (gearbox and cooling) and check the coolant level.
  • Check the oil level and that there is no smell of petrol in the cabin (E-Tech).
  • Test the 12 V battery and starting, then the multimedia screen, reversing camera and digital instrument display.
  • Carry out a long test drive including restarts and electric/petrol transitions: some faults only appear once the engine is warm.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Have the recall campaigns and software updates been carried out at Renault? Do you have the repair orders?
  • Has the car displayed “gearbox breakage risk”, “engine breakage risk” or “injection to be checked”?
  • Has the 12 V battery already been recharged or replaced?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Peugeot 3008

II · 2016–2023

Buy with care
Price
€7,980 – €17,294
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nissan Qashqai

II · 2014–2021

Buy with care
Price
€9,000 – €18,490
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: (G)jabz, CC BY 4.0

Dacia Duster

II · 2018–2024

Buy with care
Price
€11,700 – €20,500
Reliability
not rated
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Renault Austral I (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Renault Austral reliable?

Its early reliability is disappointing: What Car? ranks it among the weakest family SUVs in its reliability survey, and L'argus reports numerous electronic bugs. The E-Tech 200 hybrid combines gearbox and cooling faults with a campaign for the risk of engine failure; check that the fixes have been carried out.

Which engine should I choose on a used Austral?

Car Verif recommends the 1.3 TCe Mild Hybrid 160 with X-Tronic gearbox, with a complete history. For an E-Tech 200, insist on proof of the gearbox and cooling fixes and of the technical campaigns.

What is the boot capacity of the Austral?

According to Renault, 555 L for the mild-hybrid version and 527 L for the E-Tech full hybrid with fixed rear bench; up to 673 L and 657 L with the sliding rear bench (16 cm of travel).

Found a listing?

Soon, we will analyse your Renault Austral listing: price, mileage, watch points.

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