The second generation Renault Captur, which is about to receive a mid-career restyling. © Renault/Yannick Brossard
Renault took time to develop a serious offensive on SUVs, which now represent one in two sales in Europe. The brand certainly succeeded in demonstrating its mastery of the B segment with the Captur city SUV, which was an immediate success, but it was slow to offer models with serious ambitions in higher segments. Unlike the Peugeot 3008 and 5008, the Renault Kadjar and Koleos were not really striking. We also had to wait many years for Renault to combine its lead in the electric car with an SUV body, even if it is finally done with the new Scenic which is becoming an electric crossover.
Renault wants to fill the slightest hole in its range
From now on, Renault no longer wants to miss out on any market share and is seeking to reduce its dependence on lower segments. This strategy is reflected in a range which includes no less than six different SUVs, even if it means making the positioning of each model ambiguous. However, you will have to get used to it, since Renault is preparing to launch a new SUV (DJB project), positioned between the Captur (segment B) and the Austral (segment C), expected in 2024.
The Austral is Renault’s compact SUV which replaced the Kadjar.
There was once talk of a seven-seater version, like the future Citroën C3 Aircross, but it seems that this is ultimately not the case. The new model should therefore be perceived as a “Grand Captur”, even if it should not take a name in affiliation with its little brother. On the other hand, it should inherit the CMF-B platform, the associated gasoline and hybrid engines, the sliding rear seat and the interior furniture of the Captur, whose mid-career restyling is imminent.
This new model should measure around 4.40 m long, compared to 4.23 m for the Captur and 4.57 m for the Arkana. The latter already takes up the technical basis of the Captur. As for the Austral, which is based on the CMF-C platform, it measures 4.51 m long.
The Renault Arkana is a “coupe SUV” derived from the Captur. © Renault Design
The future vehicle will allow Renault to offer an alternative to the thermal Mégane, which will soon leave the catalog. It should display prices lower than those of the Austral, sold from €35,500, but which we imagine will cannibalize part of the sales. This new model will compete with the Kia Niro (4.42 m long) and Toyota C-HR (4.36 m long), in particular, and will position itself in a way as the thermal counterpart of the new Scenic E-Tech electric (4.47 m long).