Renault Rafale

Renault Rafale at a glance

The Rafale is named after the Caudron C.460 Rafale racing monoplane of 1934. It sits between the Arkana and the larger Espace in the Renault catalogue.

Generations and versions

There is one generation. Orders for the full hybrid opened in early 2024 (13 February in Italy), and the plug-in hybrid 4x4 followed with prices announced in July 2024 and deliveries from autumn 2024.

For 2026 Renault updated the Rafale with a Qi2 magnetic wireless phone charger, built-in data (Airnity, 2 GB a month for three years), Google Gemini in place of Google Assistant, a driver-monitoring camera in the A-pillar that can bring the car to a stop if the driver is unwell, and a new "Smart" drive mode that switches between Eco, Comfort and Sport automatically. The update went on sale in France in March 2026.

Engines, hybrid systems and performance

E-Tech full hybrid. The 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder (HR12) gives 96 kW (131 PS) and 205 Nm. It works with a 50 kW traction motor and a 25 kW starter-generator through Renault's multimode automatic gearbox. Renault claims up to 1,100 km on a tank and a WLTP average of 4.7 l/100 km.

E-Tech 4x4 plug-in hybrid. The engine is tuned to 110 kW (150 PS) and 230 Nm, and a second electric motor of 100 kW (136 PS) and 195 Nm drives the rear axle. Renault quotes about 1,000 km of total range with the 55-litre tank and up to 100 km on electricity. The PHEV charges at up to 7.4 kW on AC and has no DC fast-charging option. Wikipedia gives the combined output as 224 kW; Dutch press material quotes 220 kW (300 hp).

Dimensions, space and boot

Despite the sloping roof, rear headroom is quoted at 880 mm, and the full hybrid's boot holds 627 litres. The plug-in hybrid loses some volume to its battery and rear motor. To check how a 4.71 m car fits next to your current one, try our size comparison tool.

Fuel economy and running costs

The full hybrid's official 4.7 l/100 km is low for an SUV with 147 kW (200 hp). The PHEV's WLTP figure of 0.6 l/100 km only means something if you charge regularly: Irish magazine CompleteCar measured 8.0 l/100 km in winter with long motorway trips and no home charging, and estimated about 75 km of real electric range.

Trims, equipment and prices

The range is split into Techno, Esprit Alpine and the top Atelier Alpine; the two Alpine-badged versions account for about 85% of Rafale sales, and more than half of buyers are new to Renault. The Solarbay panoramic roof uses PDLC glass that turns from opaque to clear by button or voice command.

Techno cars have 20-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, a 12-inch infotainment screen and adaptive cruise control. Esprit Alpine adds heated front seats, a powered tailgate and 4Control Advanced rear-wheel steering, which steers the rear wheels to make the car more manoeuvrable in town and more stable at high speed. On the PHEV 4Control is standard, together with adaptive dampers and Comfort, Dynamic and Sport modes.

Safety

The Rafale carries the five-star Euro NCAP rating of the Renault Austral, tested in 2022, which applies to all full-hybrid Rafales: 87% adult occupant, 83% child occupant, 69% vulnerable road users and 87% safety assist. The rating is based on the Austral 1.3 TCe, not on a separate crash test of the Rafale. You can compare it with rivals in our safety ratings.

Reliability and known criticisms

The Rafale has been on sale for less than three years and we have no owner-survey reliability data yet. Road testers have raised several points: CompleteCar found the PHEV's rear end could feel unsettled with four-wheel steering when pushed hard, the ride could thump on 21-inch wheels, steering feedback was limited, and resale values trailed German rivals. The lack of DC charging on the PHEV is a real drawback for long trips.

Rivals

The Austral is the cheaper, more conventional sibling with the same technology. Use our comparison tool for current figures.

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