Renault planning one more new SUV with new Toyota C-HR rival – report

Renault is reportedly planning a new small crossover to join its increasingly dense SUV range, which will take on rivals like the Toyota C-HR and Mazda CX-30.

According to Autocar, the French brand could expand its line-up with a new model to slot in the narrow space between the Captur and Arkana, sharing their CMF-B underpinnings and measuring around 4400mm long.

While the CMF-B platform can support hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains, it’s unclear what the upcoming model will be powered by.

Autocar reports the small SUV is expected to be revealed in 2024.

“We were a lot focused on the B-segment – maybe a little bit too much – whereas the European market is at least as much focused on the C-segment,” product performance boss Bruno Vanel told Autocar.

“What we did is balance our focus a little bit more between the C-segment and B-segment – and from less than 25 per cent of our sales being C-segment, we have almost reached 40 per cent in recent months.”

The B-SUV segment, as it’s categorised by European industry reporting firm JATO Dynamics, includes models like the Renault Captur, Mitsubishi ASX and Suzuki Vitara.

The C-SUV segment, in contrast, covers vehicles like the Renault Arkana, Kia Sportage and Toyota RAV4.

“We are not aiming at being premium…I would say being at the top of what you call the mainstream, but a little bit more at the top than at the bottom, for sure,” said Mr Vanel.

Mr Vanel mentioned to Autocar the upcoming SUV will slot into a place where Renault can reach for higher margins and attract a new demographic, while noting the brand doesn’t want to lose its regular customer base.

Renault already has several similarly sized SUVs.

Its SUV range in Europe opens with the Captur, which measures 4227mm long on a 2639mm wheelbase and rivals the Toyota Yaris Cross and Nissan Juke, the latter of which it shares its CMF-B platform with.

Above it sits the Arkana, also on the CMF-B platform, which rivals models like the Hyundai Kona and Skoda Kamiq. It measures 4425mm long on a 2665mm wheelbase.

Over the past few years, Renault has revealed the Austral, Rafale and Scenic E-Tech and Espace, filling gaps in the brand’s SUV range and, in the case of the Scenic and Espace, replacing increasingly unpopular people movers.

The Austral replaced the Kadjar in 2022 as Renault’s rival for the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, measuring 4510mm long on a 2670mm wheelbase.

While the Kadjar was briefly sold here, the Austral has yet to be confirmed for Australia.

The Austral is based on the same CMF-CD platform as not only the Qashqai, but also the larger, three-row Espace and flagship Rafale crossovers.

There’s a variety of electrified powertrains available across Renault’s European SUV range, including mild-hybrid, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and, in the case of the Scenic E-Tech, electric powertrains.

The only SUVs Renault Australia sells are the Captur, Arkana and the moribund Koleos. None of these are offered with electrified powertrains.

It also sells the electric-only Megane E-Tech, which blurs the lines between hatchback and crossover.

It has even more SUVs in other markets, including the sub-4m long Kwid and Kiger in markets like Latin America and India.