Name: Renault Rafale review (2024 – ) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Renault Rafale
Rating: 71.0

Summary

The Renault Rafale is a family-sized coupé-SUV that arrived in the UK towards the end of 2024. The range includes both petrol-electric hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

Based on the same foundations and sharing most of its build components with the Renault Austral SUV, the Rafale has a sloping rear roofline like the brand’s smaller Arkana family car and is named after a 1930s racing aircraft of the same name.

The Rafale marks another attempt by Renault to challenge the sales of established upmarket rivals like Audi and BMW, and Carbuyer’s Charlie Harvey argues that there is a lot to like: “It’s stylish inside and out, includes some quirky, futuristic features and is very spacious despite its rakish appearance.”

The Top Gear team agrees that Renault have got a lot right, including the coupé-SUV’s competitive UK pricing, but nevertheless concludes that the Rafale “arguably misses the point of what a family SUV should really do”, explaining that the model “doesn’t drive as keenly as Renault would like us to believe” and doesn’t have the interior quality of some upmarket alternatives.

“In a way, the Rafale is the automotive equivalent of the Maginot Line”, says James Fossdyke of The Sunday Times. “It’s strong in quite a few places but easily outflanked.”

As of April 2025, the Renault Rafale holds a New Car Expert Rating of A with a score 71%. It scores highly for its excellent Euro NCAP safety rating and low CO₂ emissions, but its running costs are only average and its media review scores are poor.

More Renault Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

Rafale highlights

Smart exterior looks
Well-equipped as standard with good pricing
Intuitive infotainment
Spacious rear seating

Rafale lowlights

Rather stiff ride quality
Inconsistent engine performance
Rivals offer sharper driving dynamics
Alternatives are more luxurious inside

Key specifications

Body style: Medium SUV/crossover
Engines: petrol-electric hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £38,195 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2024
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“While the coupé SUV market is swelling with new models, the Rafale adds a stylish, economical and practical option to the mix.”

Model reviewed: 1.2-liter petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Atelier Alpine

Score: 7 / 10

Read full review

The Car Expert

Trinity Francis

“Renault’s stylish hybrid flagship features a tech-laden and spacious interior, but doesn’t drive as well as its upmarket SUV rivals.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 7 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Ellis Hyde

More reviews

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Big, practical and good to drive the hybrid-powered Rafale is Renault’s latest attempt to move into the premium sector.”
Author: Dan Trent
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“If you’re looking for a family SUV that’ll excite in the bends, the Renault Rafale is not for you, at least not this version. Yes, it grips well, and the four-wheel steering certainly boosts agility, yet overall this is an SUV that feels like it’s trying to be something it isn’t.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.8 / 10
“There’s certainly a lot to like about the Renault Rafale – it’s stylish inside and out, includes some quirky, futuristic features and is very spacious despite its rakish appearance.”
Author: Charlie Harvey
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overview
“The Renault Rafale is stylish inside and out, but interior storage could be better thought out and engine choice is limited.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6.6 / 10
“The boot isn’t quite as impressive as it looks on paper, but there’s still a useful amount of space and flexibility. It’s also frugal and grippy, but never feels like something that relishes being driven hard. Ultimately, a Skoda Kodiaq is a much more sensible choice in this class.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“In a way, the Rafale is the automotive equivalent of the Maginot Line. It’s strong in quite a few places but easily outflanked.”
Author: James Fossdyke
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Nice inside but hard-riding – the Germans won’t be losing any sleep.”
Author: Andrew English
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Renault offers an X4 rival at X2 prices and gets a lot of it right, but arguably misses the point of what a family SUV should really do.”
Author: Stephen Dobie
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: November 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 87%
Child protection: 83%
Vulnerable road users: 69%
Safety assist: 87%

Euro NCAP awarded the Rafale a full five-star safety rating towards the end of 2024, based on safety testing conducted earlier on the structurally similar Renault Austral SUV.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of April 2025, the Renault Rafale has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Hybrid models	60 mpg	A	60 – 60 mpg	A – A
Plug-in hybrid models	484 mpg	A	404 – 565 mpg	A – A

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Hybrid models	106 g/km	A	105 – 107 g/km	A – A
Plug-in hybrid models	14 g/km	A	12 – 15 g/km	A – A

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	62 miles	C	59 – 65 miles	C – C

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	30	C	29 – 39	C – C

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£272	C
Year 2	£688	C
Year 3	£1,091	C
Year 4	£1,276	C
Year 5	£1,719	C
Overall	£5,046	C

The Renault Rafale can be a rather expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

The coupé-SUV is fuel efficient however, which should save you money at the pumps. The petrol-electric hybrid version has an average fuel efficiency of 60mpg which is above the market average, and plug-in hybrid models look amazing on paper, but keep in mind that this is largely thanks to ridiculous EU/UK government lab tests that are completely inadequate for plug-in hybrids. There is no way you will ever travel for 484 miles on a single gallon (4.5 litres) of fuel and some electricity…

The plug-in hybrid’s battery range is fairly average when compared to other plug-in hybrid rivals and the car’s insurance bracket is pretty average too – not expensive but not exactly cheaper either.

Finally, the car’s servicing and maintenance costs aren’t on the cheap side. The estimated cost over the course of the first five years of ownership is over £5k – £500 more than the estimated costs for the Austral SUV and smaller Arkana coupé-SUV.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of April 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Renault Rafale to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Rafale, we’ll publish the results here.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Renault Rafale

As of April 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Renault Rafale. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.

You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Renault dealer.