BMW X5 vs Renault Austral

BMW X5

BMW’s large luxury SUV.

Renault Austral

Renault’s modern compact SUV.

First car

Second car

Pick this one if…

BMW X5

Pick the X5 for a luxurious cabin, strong engines and generous space in a large premium SUV.

Best engine: The xDrive30d (diesel) or xDrive40i (petrol).

Read the full guide

Pick this one if…

Renault Austral

Pick the Austral for a modern compact SUV with an efficient E-Tech hybrid.

Best engine: The 1.3 TCe (petrol) or E-Tech Full Hybrid 200.

Read the full guide

Performance

B58 40i · Petrol vs 1.2 E-Tech 200 · Hybrid

	BMW X5	Renault Austral
Power	340 hp Winner	200 hp
Torque	450 Nm	—
0–100 km/h	5,5 s Winner	8,4 s
Top speed	243 km/h Winner	175 km/h
Power-to-weight	159,3 hp/t Winner	128,2 hp/t
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	198 g/km	108 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)	8,6 L/100km	4,7 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

	BMW X5	Renault Austral
Boot	650 L Winner	430 L
Boot (seats folded)	1.870 L Winner	1.525 L
Wheelbase	2,98 m Winner	2,67 m
Length	4,92 m	4,51 m
Width	2,00 m	1,83 m
Height	1,75 m	1,62 m
Seats	5	5

Powertrain & tech

	BMW X5	Renault Austral
Platform	CLAR (longitudinal engine, rear-wheel-drive base)	CMF-CD3
Drive	All-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive
Engine family	B58 petrol · B57 diesel · PHEV	1.2 TCe · 1.3 TCe · E-Tech Full Hybrid 200
Fuel	Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid	Petrol · Hybrid
Transmission	8-speed Steptronic automatic	6-speed manual · EDC7 · E-Tech automatic
Euro standard	Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later)	Euro 6d
LEZ access	Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)	Euro 6d allowed in the LEZ

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

BMW X5

Transfer case (xDrive) needs maintenance
Air suspension (if fitted)
Cooling system needs checking
EGR on diesels

Renault Austral

Infotainment software needs updates
Electrical gremlins on early cars
E-Tech hybrid: 12V battery drain

Pros

BMW X5

Luxurious, premium interior
Strong B57/B58 engines
Light, stiff CLAR body

Renault Austral

Modern interior with a big screen
Efficient E-Tech Full Hybrid 200
Roomy, modular boot (430–527 L)

Cons

BMW X5

High running costs
Air suspension & xDrive upkeep

Renault Austral

No diesel offered
Infotainment takes getting used to

Driving experience

BMW X5

Luxurious, composed and surprisingly agile for its size. Steering is accurate and well-weighted, body control excellent, and the X5 hides its bulk through bends with real composure. xDrive delivers tenacious all-weather grip and a reassuringly planted feel. Air suspension, where fitted, spans cushioned to firmly controlled and irons out rough roads. The B58 petrols are smooth and muscular, the B57 diesels pull strongly and stay hushed, and the xDrive45e plug-in glides on electric power. The ZF 8-speed is quick, seamless and always in the right gear. Overall a polished, capable luxury SUV that feels smaller and sharper than it is.

Renault Austral

A refined long-distance cruiser rather than a dynamic driver's car, helped by optional rear-axle steering (4Control) that tightens the turning circle in town. Steering is light but accurate enough for daily use, with Sport mode adding more weight. The ride is firmer than many rivals, especially on larger wheels, and can feel unsettled over sharp bumps, though body control is reasonable. The E-Tech full hybrid feels responsive in mixed driving and can cover short distances on electric power alone, while the 1.3 mild hybrid is adequate once moving. Low-speed transmission behaviour can show hesitation or judder on early hybrid examples.