Tour the south of Portugal in Renault Austral with sustainability in mind
We get to know better the new Renault Austral SUV, whose sales in Portugal started at the beginning of 2023. We made an appointment early in the morning in Oeiras, where the various cars in the range available for this long test, which had the Algarve as the final destination, were, and we started the journey.
AN first stop was made at the port of Setúbalwhere we took a ferry to Tróia. We continued along the Costa Vicentina to Vila Nova de Milfontes, where he allowed a stop for lunch. no restaurant ferry port we enjoyed a fresh fish lunch and exchanged our first impressions of the Austral.
With lunch finished, we continued our journey in this new car from the French brand along the national road that took us to to the last stop of the day – reservoir.
On the roads of Portugal
Curves and curves, ascents and descents are the characteristics of the roads we travel on this stage. We even passed through the interior of villages. THE car responded to requests for acceleration and braking, conveying great securityeverything you need for trips on these types of roads.
At the end of the day, upon arrival at the hotel, we prepared ourselves for a presentation to the press of the Renault Austral, which was attended by the General Manager of the brand in Portugal, Ricardo Lopes.
During the presentation it was revealed that the Light vehicles Renault sold to individuals now have a seven-year warranty, a measure already implemented and which also applies to the Austral. Electric models, such as the Twingo E-Tech and Megane E-Tech, have an eight-year warranty.
A new day started and we started with an exercise to get to know the new turning system present in the Austral that can make day-to-day maneuvering or parking easier. After this moment, the first rehearsal of the day took us to Faromore precisely to Municipal marketwith half of the journey being made in electric mode.
Inside the market, we started a new activity prepared for the press – buying ingredients to make the lunch that took place in the restaurant. Algarvian Gathering. The result was a delicious Cataplana, a typical dish of the region.
With our bellies full, we were ready to say goodbye to the Algarve and return to Lisbon. The last test behind the wheel of the Austral was done on a motorway, over a 292 km route.
Upon arriving in Lisbon, we encountered the usual rush hour confusion, both on the access to the 25 de Abril bridge and on the A5. THE Austral had an exemplary behavior. With the other cars approaching, he braked alone so that we were at a safe distance.. On the driver’s panel it is possible to see the measurement of this distance.
The renovation being operated by Renault
All routes were made using the Google Mapsfully integrated into the Austral’s infotainment system. This system also contains Google Assistant applications, wazeSpotify and Vivaldi Browser where you can watch YouTube videos.
Getting to know Renault’s new SUV in detail
Not that it touches operating in hybrid mode, Is it possible to make a sustainable trip in the city, that is, using the electric mode. It should be noted that this new Renault model recharges its energy quickly. AN version of the Austral we drove was the E-Tech Full Hybrid 200, sold from €41,700.
From this experience it is possible to conclude that in addition to the commitment to hybrid motorization, the Austral is also a showcase of technology at the service of comfort and safetyconcluding that we took this trip to the south of Portugal.