It seems that automakers can’t have enough SUVs in their lineup to keep their customers satisfied. According to the latest reports, Renault is planning yet another high-riding model, this time focusing on the compact segment. The yet-unnamed SUV is expected to arrive later this year, filling the gap between the soon-to-be facelifted Captur and the Austral.
The goal of the new offering is to compete against the likes of the Toyota C-HR and the Honda HR-V. In terms of footprint, it could measure around 4,400 mm (173.2 inches) long, which is slightly more than the 4,329 mm (170.4 inches) of the Captur, but less than the 4,510 mm (177.6 inches) of the Austral.
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Earlier reports from French automotive media suggested that Renault is working on a longer version of the Captur with a stretched body, resulting in more space for the rear passengers and their luggage. Still, it is not clear if the new SUV will share body panels with the slightly smaller Captur, or feature a unique design. Note that Renault has a similar strategy with the Austral and the Espace siblings, making us wonder if this could be replicated in smaller segments.
According to Autocar, the new model will likely share the CMF-B underpinnings with the Clio, the Captur, and the Arkana, allowing it to be priced from around £25,000 (€29,181 / $31,770). Furthermore, the platform’s proven compatibility with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains is important for the compact SUV segment – especially in Europe, where the majority of automakers offer more than one electrified options for their models.
Speaking about their strategy, Bruno Vanel, Renault’s product performance boss, said: “We were a lot focused on the B-segment (sub-compact)- maybe a little bit too much – whereas the European market is at least as much focused on the C-segment (compact).” Vanel added that Renault will now balance its focus a little bit more between those segments. A new offering in this space would contribute to the brand’s push for higher margins. As for the automaker’s market positioning, Vanel said that Renault doesn’t want to become a premium brand, but prefers sitting “at the top of what you call the mainstream”.
If the rumors about a 2024 reveal are true, then our spy photographers should start spotting camouflaged prototypes of the Fench compact SUV out in the wild, revealing the extent of visual differentiation with the Captur. The latter is also up for a mid-lifecycle update in 2024, adopting the latest styling language, introduced last year by the Rafale and the Scenic E-Tech.
