New Renault Rafale flagship coupe-SUV on sale now from £38,195

• All-new Renault coupe-SUV model
• 197bhp hybrid and 296bhp PHEV powertrains
• On sale in the UK now from £38,195

The all-new Renault Rafale has hit the UK market, taking the top spot in the French brand’s model hierarchy. The coupe-SUV made its global debut at last year’s Paris Air Show, but only now have UK prices been confirmed: entry-level versions of the Rafale will start from £38,195, rising to nearly £45,000 for top-spec models.

The Rafale sits above the Austral SUV in the Renault lineup, aiming to bring a sportier look and driving experience to the traditional family SUV. Initially, it will be offered with the E-Tech self-charging hybrid system found throughout the Renault range, while a more powerful plug-in hybrid model with four-wheel drive will follow at a later date. 

What does the Renault Rafale look like?

The Rafale is 4,710mm long, making it a significant 200mm longer than Renault’s next-largest car, the Austral SUV, but on par with rivals such as the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-60. Unlike those cars, the Rafale takes on a coupe-esque profile, with a sloping roofline similar to the smaller Renault Arkana.

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The Rafale offers plenty of bold, premium design elements worthy of a range-topper. That should come as no surprise as Renault’s design director, Gilles Vidal, was also behind the styling of the Peugeot 508 saloon – a car that has played an important role in redefining Peugeot as a more upmarket brand. 

At the front, the Rafale gets Renault’s latest light signature that first appeared on the Renault Clio, and has more recently been applied to the Renault Symbioz SUV. The brand’s newly-redesigned diamond logo sits within a grille made up of a scale-like diamond pattern, while on either side, you get the same arrowhead-shaped daytime running lights that Renault uses across all of its new models.

Step around to the rear and you’ll find the sloping roofline that sets the Rafale apart from traditional, boxy SUVs. A sharp bodyline stretches from above the 20-inch wheels to the angular rear lights, which sit beneath a small ducktail spoiler. Customers will be able to choose from five paint colours, including two UV-resistant matte finishes.

What about the Renault Rafale’s interior?

The interior is similar to that found in the Austral and benefits from plenty of high-quality materials that should help cement the Rafale’s premium image. The driver gets a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, as well as a central 12-inch infotainment touchscreen running Android Automotive as its operating system – not to be confused with the smartphone mirroring software Android Auto, which the Rafale comes with as standard along with Apple CarPlay.

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The infotainment system features downloadable apps and can be controlled via Google Assistant voice commands. You can even use your voice to operate the optional Solarbay panoramic sunroof, which can electronically transition from opaque to transparent.

The Rafale is offered in three trim levels – Techno, Techno Esprit Alpine and Iconic Esprit Alpine – but all models come with wireless phone charging, four USB-C ports, a reversing camera, and dual-zone climate control. Esprit Alpine models get a splash of blue for the perforated Alcantara seats, along with more interior equipment.

What engines are available for the Renault Rafale?

The Renault Rafale comes with a choice of two engines, starting with the 197bhp E-Tech hybrid system. This uses a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine combined with two electric motors. Acceleration is respectable for a car of this size – 0-62mph is dispatched in 8.9 seconds – but fuel economy is where this engine really shines. Renault claims efficiency figures of up to 60.1mpg are achievable, while CO2 emissions stand at 105g/km.

The Rafale will be offered with a 296bhp plug-in hybrid system at a later date, which gets an additional electric motor on the rear axle to provide four-wheel drive, and a larger battery pack to serve up an improved electric range. 

Other than the entry-level Rafale Techno, all models come with Renault’s 4CONTROL four-wheel steering system that can adjust the angle of the rear wheels to improve both low-speed agility and high-speed stability.

How much does the Renault Rafale cost and when can I buy one?

Prices start at £38,195 for the Rafale in Techno trim. For the four-wheel steering system and other features, such as LED matrix headlights, an automatic-opening tailgate, heated seats and a head-up display, buyers will have to upgrade to the £42,195 Rafale Techno Esprit Alpine.

Top of the range is the £44,695 Rafale Iconic Esprit Alpine, which adds niceties such as the Solarbay sunroof, a Harman Kardon sound system and a 360-degree parking camera.

UK customers can place an order for the Rafale with the E-Tech hybrid powertrain now, while the plug-in hybrid will join the range in the future.

What does it mean for car buyers?

The Rafale will go up against a growing market of coupe-SUVs mostly made up of more traditionally upmarket rivals such as the Audi Q5 Sportback, BMW X4 and Mercedes GLC Coupe. It will also be competing against the all-electric Skoda Enyaq Coupe, although there are currently no plans to offer an electric version of the Rafale.

If you want to hear about one of Renault’s latest all-electric offerings, read our review of the Renault Megane E-Tech…