RENAULT AUSTRAL E-TECH

Facelifted SUV eyes class honours with a more down-to-earth approach

- ILLYA VERPRAET

Renault's Sportage rival, the Austral, has had a mid-cycle update.

You'll recognise it by the new headlights, which trade the distinctive 'C' shape of the original for slimmer main units and Scenic-style light-up sideburns.

More interesting, though, are the technical changes.

For a model's mid-cycle update, manufacturers will usually try to draw our attention with some sort of new feature. Hark! Our suspension is now 20% smoother and the infotainment is 15% faster. Not so with the facelifted Austral. It was launched with four-wheel steering on the posher versions - quite an advanced feature for a car in this class. That has now gone, along with the rear multi-link suspension.

Good riddance, I say, because in an unusual twist, de-contenting has made the Austral a better car.

The original was a neatly styled, above-averagely practical car that was capable of distinguishing economy and had very good infotainment, but it was plagued by a wooden ride and weird, twitchy handling that was out of keeping with its mission as a sensible SUV.