Renault Kadjar

French carmaker Renault is about to jump start its Australian operations yet again – but this time the company will be boosted by the newest model range in the industry. In the space of just 12 months Renault’s line-up will be comprised of completely new or updated models. Some will be here before the end of this year. The all-new Renault Kadjar compact SUV and updated Renault Koleos mid-sized SUV are due in showrooms next month.

Nissan has announced a new powertrain for the top-selling Qashqai in Europe, a 1.3-litre turbo petrol, which hits showrooms in the region from November. The new powertrain makes its debut in the Nissan line-up – already offered in the related Renault Kadjar – replacing the outgoing 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre turbo units.

The big-selling Mazda CX-3 compact SUV has been awarded a shock four-star Euro NCAP crash test rating in the latest round of testing. The CX-3 scored a less-than-perfect four-star Euro NCAP rating because, according to a release from the testing authority, despite offering autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as an option in that market, the uptake is expected to be low. (It’s optional on lower-spec models in Australia, too).

Renault Kadjar will be the name used for the French brand's first C-segment SUV, which will be unveiled in full on February 2, 2015. Believed to be a spin-off model of the Nissan Qashqai, the new Renault Kadjar has been spied in disguise by CarAdvice's overseas snappers from the outside, while we've also see interior images of the new small SUV.