Renault Rafale (2024) in the test: Really flagship-ready?

The SUV roadster with 200 hp full hybrid doesn't seem like a top model at first, but it does score points in the test

Do you remember anything halfway pompous from Renault? And something that was also successful? Gee... the air is getting pretty thin. Fans of the extraordinary will think of names like Safrane, Vel Satis or Avantime. The last two in particular are actually really great, but also so weird that they didn't stand a chance with the masses. Then there's the charm. That one didn't have any chance either, but that was for other reasons.

Now here comes one, a completely new one, which Renault is once again burdening with the aura of a flagship. They even did this quite openly at the press conference for the first drive. And you had to smile a little bit of pity, because on the other hand it was said that the competition for its new top model called Rafale (pronounce it "Rafall") was vehicles such as the VW Tiguan R-Line, Peugeot 3008 GT, Alfa Romeo Tonale or BMW X2.

That is about as far away from a flagship as Renault culinary expert Luca de Meo is from a friendship with Stellantis manager Carlos Tavares. But the Rafale will probably sell more often than all previous Renault flagships combined. Because even if it looks very avant-garde at first glance, at second glance it pushes pretty much all the buttons that are currently attracting standard customers.



00:00 - Intro
01:48 - What is it?
05:34 - Exterior
06:38 - Interior



#renault #renaultrafale