Petrolblog has been running a Renault Rafale E-Tech hybrid since early February 2025. In those five months, it has racked up nearly 10,000 miles, around 1300 of which were completed on a road trip through France and Spain. Enough time to assess the car's strengths and weaknesses, which will be covered in a separate review, but in the meantime, here are some of the questions you're asking online.
Is the Renault Rafale a good car?
Yes, the Renault Rafale is a good car. Although some of the reviews have been a bit mediocre, it feels like an upmarket SUV that's practical for a family of five, loaded with some interesting tech and cheap to run.
Is the Renault Rafale a plug-in hybrid?
The Rafale is available with a choice of standard (self-charging) hybrid or plug-in hybrid power. Predictably, the E-Tech plug-in hybrid 300 is the more expensive option, with the Techno Esprit Alpine costing £44,245 and the flagship Atelier Alpine £46,495. Thanks to a 22kWh battery, the Rafale plug-in hybrid offers an official 62 miles of electric-only range.
Is the Renault Rafale electric?
While all versions of the Renault Rafale feature an electric motor, it's not possible to buy a fully electric version of the SUV. For that, you'll need to look at the Scenic E-Tech Electric or Mégane E-Tech Electric.
What is the price of the Renault Rafale?
These are the current prices at the time of writing (July 2025):
- Rafale E-Tech hybrid Techno: £37,195
- Rafale E-Tech hybrid Techno Esprit Alpine: £41,245
- Rafale E-Tech hybrid Iconic Esprit Alpine: £43,245
- Rafale E-Tech plug-in hybrid Techno Esprit Alpine: £44,245
- Rafale E-Tech plug-in hybrid Atelier Alpine: £46,495
How much is the Renault Rafale?
See above, but prices range from £37,195 to £46,495 before options.
Where is the Renault Rafale made?
The Rafale is built alongside the Austral and Espace at Renault Group's Palencia plant in Spain. The factory was created in 1978 to build the Renault 12 and 18 models, and has also seen production of the 14, 9, 11, 21, 19, Laguna and Mégane.
Is the Renault Rafale on Motability?
The Renault Rafale is not currently available to order on the Motability scheme.
Is the Renault Rafale worth it?
A £40k price tag feels like a lot of money for a Renault SUV, but it's worth noting that Audi Q5 Sportback prices start from around £53,000, and that's before you explore the trim levels and options. Sure, the Q5 feels even more upmarket and has the ‘right’ badge, but the Rafale doesn't disappoint. Like all big Renaults, depreciation could be an issue; used prices start from around £28,000 for a 2024 car, so it might be worth letting somebody else take the initial hit.
Is the Renault Rafale noisy?
The Rafale spends a surprising amount of time in electric mode, so you can enjoy near-silent driving as you tip-toe through towns and villages. Unfortunately, the 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine is noisy when pushed hard, and can also sound like a generator when it's cold. Some passengers have commented on the vibration when the Rafale switches from electric to petrol power.
Is the Renault Rafale reliable?
The Renault Rafale is too new to appear in any reliability surveys, but the recent Auto Express Driver Power customer satisfaction survey would suggest that Renault is a brand on the up. The French company finished sixth on a list of 31 manufacturers, with Subaru, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus occupying the top three slots.
How economical is the Renault Rafale?
The Renault Rafale E-Tech hybrid offers an official 60.1mpg on a combined cycle, while the Rafale E-Tech plug-in hybrid should deliver 470.8mpg to 564.9mpg, depending on the spec. This assumes that you remember to recharge the batteries every night, otherwise you're simply paying extra to carry a heavy battery pack with you.
Over 10,000 miles, the Rafale E-Tech hybrid is averaging 48.5mpg – some way short of the official figure, but it does spend a lot of time in EV mode with the engine switched off. It's most economical in towns and cities, while keeping the speed below 70mph will improve matters on a long trip. On the evidence of the drive through France, an autoroute with a 130km/h speed limit is the enemy of a large SUV with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine.
What are the competitors of the Renault Rafale?
Renault Rafale rivals include the Audi Q5 Sportback, BMW X4, Cupra Terramar, Peugeot 3008, Peugeot 408 and Citroën C5 X.
What segment is the Renault Rafale in?
Renault's coupé-SUV sits in the D-segment, which means it's a large family SUV.
Is the Renault Rafale bigger than the Austral?
The Renault Rafale is 4710mm long, 1866mm wide and 1613mm tall, which means it is 178mm longer, 23mm wider and above the same height as the Austral (without roof bars).
What is the difference between Renault Kadjar and Rafale?
The Renault Kadjar was on sale in the UK from 2015 and 2022. It shared its underpinnings with the Nissan Qashqai and was less interesting to look at, less enjoyable to drive and less pleasurable to travel in than the Rafale. It was replaced by the Austral.
What is the safety rating of the Renault Rafale?
Although the Renault Rafale hasn't been tested by Euro NCAP, it shares a five-star rating with the Austral. When it was tested in 2022, the Austral was given an 87 percent rating for adult occupant safety, 83 percent for child occupant, 69 percent for vulnerable road users and 87 percent for safety assist technologies.
What is the power of the Renault Rafale engine?
The Rafale E-Tech hybrid offers a combined 197bhp, while the E-Tech plug-in hybrid delivers a total of 296bhp. In hybrid guise, the Rafale will sprint to 62mph in 8.6 seconds, while the plug-in hybrid does it in 6.4 seconds.
These answers are based on some of Google's most common questions. Leave a comment if you'd like Petrolblog to answer a specific question before you visit a Renault dealer.
