Renault hopes first compact SUV will be popular in China

Saint-Denis, France

FRENCH carmaker Renault unveiled its first compact SUV, a "crossover" vehicle it hopes will cater to the tastes of urban drivers in Europe and China and rival the popularity of Nissan's Qashqai.

"Our range has been enriched with a masterpiece," said Renault chief executive Carlos Ghosn as the car was unveiled on Monday to reporters in Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs of Paris. He added that the new mid-size crossover, a mix between a passenger car and an SUV that will go on sale later this year, would allow Renault to continue its "development in a market in full expansion".