Renault Austral

The UK will only take the top model of this hybrid, likely to cost £40,000.

Renault’s innovative two-motor hybrid system features a 1.2-litre, 129bhp/151lb ft threecylinder engine as well as a drive battery. It’s more responsive and refined than the 1.6-litre unit in the Arkana, but the drivetrain is still quite noisy.

The ride is pretty terrible, especially at low speeds where the 1.52-tonne weight and 20-inch wheels crash over sharp-edged bumps. You can throw it around at speed with gusto, that’s not the point of family haulers.

This is nicer to sit in than it is to drive, with a quality facia, a logical touchscreen and comfortable seats. With smaller wheels, less aggressive damping and a lower price, it would be a perfectly acceptable family SUV – but not much more.