Used Renault Austral 2023-present reliability review
The Renault Austral has a smart interior and lots of standard kit, but it suffers from poor reliability and a fidgety ride.
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What's the used Renault Austral like?
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George Hill
Updated: 3 March 2026
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What should I look for in a used Renault Austral?
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.
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The Austral will likely have been used on the school run, so check the interior for signs of wear and tear. Be sure to inspect the bodywork for stone chips and parking scuffs, as well the alloy wheels for damage. Make sure the car has a full service history and check the electrics are all working as they should be.
What are the most common problems with a used Renault Austral?
At the time of writing, the Renault Austral has just one recall listed. To check whether a car has been affected, you can contact your local Renault dealer. You will not need to pay for anything involving the recall.
Reason for recall
For certain vehicles, a concern involving the electric traction reducer parking brake mechanism actuator or gearbox engagement actuator within the gearbox may result in the parking brake mechanism actuator no longer correctly positioning the locking pawl in the lock.
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How the manufacturer will repair: Replacement of the electric traction reducer parking brake mechanism actuator or gearbox engagement actuator.
Number of affected vehicles: 11
Date of recall: 09/09/2025
Is a used Renault Austral reliable?
The Austral is not a reliable car, according to the What Car? Reliability Survey. It finished in 72nd place out of 76 cars in the family SUV category, with a disappointing score of 80.4%. That’s above the 2024-present VW Tiguan, but below the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai and Toyota RAV4.
As a brand, Renault didn’t do much better. It finished in 20th place out of 30 manufacturers, which places it above Ford, MG and Nissan, but below Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Skoda and Toyota.
If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.
Tips & Advice
Choose the right breakdown cover
You may already have a breakdown policy through your home insurance or new-car warranty so check to avoid paying twice
Make sure you have warranty cover
New cars usually have warranties that last between three and seven years that can help cover the cost of mechanical faults. But this protection can last longer with an extended warranty
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Renault Austral
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£13,999
Renault AUSTRAL ESTATE
1.2 E-TECH techno Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£14,100
Renault Austral
1.2 E-TECH iconic esprit Alpine Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£14,980
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1.2 E-TECH techno esprit Alpine Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£15,990
Renault Austral
1.2 E-TECH techno esprit Alpine Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£16,690
Renault Austral
1.2 E-TECH techno Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£16,730
Renault Austral
1.2 E-TECH techno esprit Alpine Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£16,780
Renault Austral
1.2 E-TECH techno Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£16,782
Renault AUSTRAL
1.2 E-TECH techno Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £33,765
£16,791
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About the writer
Name: George Hill
Title: Used car writer
Follow George Hill on
George Hill first joined the What Car? team as a staff writer in 2021, before becoming a used car writer in 2024 and a reviewer in 2026. In his current role he writes new car reviews for What Car? magazine and whatcar.com.
If you follow What Car? on social media, you might see him presenting the odd video on new cars too.
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