Renault pins hopes on Austral
THE AUSTRAL SUV is Renault’s all-new replacement for the Kadjar, which will bow out later this year.
Designed to “win back” buyers in the fiercely competitive mid-sized crossover segment, it is styled with influence from the new Mégane E-tech EV. It boosts the tech offering with a pair of 12.0in screens and a raft of driver aids and comes equipped with a choice of mild-hybrid or full-hybrid petrol engines.
Renault has yet to confirm its reborn Toyota RAV4 rival for a UK launch, but Autocar understands a decision will be made before its mid-2022 arrival in mainland Europe.
Renault sold 1618 Kadjars in the UK in 2021, while sibling brand Nissan sold 29,992 examples of the closely related Qashqai.