AUSTRAL'S SOFTER FOCUS

MORE COMFORT AND STYLE BUT BRITS STILL MISS RENAULT SUSPENSION UPGRADES

- 

RENAULT has a dizzying number of SUVs in its line-up.

The Austral sits between the smaller Captur and the coupe esque Rafale, offering an alternative to the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage.

It's a competitive segment and buyers are more savvy than ever when choosing a family-friendly SUV cross-over, which is why the Austral has had an upgrade.

WHAT'S NEW?

The original Austral was criticised for an overly firm ride, which is why Renault has aimed to improve the overall efficiency and comfort.

It now features improved door seals and under-bonnet sound-proofing for a quieter driving experi-ence, while the front seats have been redesigned to be more comfortable and supportive.

In typical facelift fashion, you'll find tweaks to the exterior, with new headlights and a new high-gloss black finish for wheel arches.

UNDER THE BONNET?

There's quite a compact motor driv-ing this relatively large car.

It's a 1.2-litre three-cylinder tur-bocharged petrol, which is then linked up to a pair of electric motors for extra zip.

You'll get just shy of 200bhp and 410Nm of torque, enabling a 0-60mph time of 8.1 seconds and a top speed of 111mph.