Renault Rafale E-Tech plug-in hybrid (2024 – ) review

Adding plug-in hybrid system (PHEV in the jargon) to the Rafale line-up unquestionably increases the car’s appeal to company car drivers in particular. And with a useful electric range of up to 65 miles and ridiculously low CO2 emissions, it will certainly keep the tax bills in check. The buying decision will require a bit more number crunching for private buyers though. For those doing mostly local journeys with only the occasional longer drive the plug-in can operate almost exclusively as an electric vehicle, assuming you can keep the battery topped up. But for those without access to home charging or covering greater distances, the standard hybrid is already very efficient and less expensive to buy, finance or lease, meaning the PHEV’s extra cost may not be recovered in fuel costs if your usage doesn’t align with its talents.

Renault has thankfully upped its game since the days when French cars were a byword for flaky reliability. The 1.2-litre engine and hybrid technology in both the standard Rafale and this plug-in hybrid is largely tried and tested, having already seen service in other vehicles from Renault’s range. However, minds won’t necessarily be put at ease by a nondescript three-year warranty, especially when the likes of Lexus, Hyundai and Toyota are offering considerably longer and more competitive warranties.

Renault has a longstanding reputation for safety, and the brand consistently nails five-star safety ratings from independent safety test body Euro NCAP. The Rafale is no exception, with a strong showing in adult and child occupant protection. It performs well with driver assistance tech, too, with plenty of features including systems to stop the car if the driver misses a hazard and to prevent it wandering out of lane. Speed limit warning technology is included, too, although the system consistently called it wrong on our test drive. Thankfully, it can be disabled easily enough via a configurable ‘hot key’ you can preset with your preferred level of warnings.

The plug-in hybrid Rafale’s cabin is pretty much identical to that of the standard version, so the space inside is more or less unchanged. That’s a good thing, because part of the Rafale’s appeal is Audi Q5 space for Audi Q3 money. The boot is huge, and rear legroom is generous, too, even though there isn’t much space for passengers’ feet under the seat in front. Headroom is also plentiful despite the sloping roof, and even very tall passengers will be perfectly comfortable. Renault also claims the plug-in hybrid offers a more comfortable ride, thanks to a clever suspension system offered on top-of-the-range models. It uses a camera to scan the road ahead and adjust the suspension before it reaches the bumps, supposedly combining opposing attributes of sportiness and comfort. A pity it doesn’t play out that way, the Rafale bobbing like a sailing dinghy on a rough sea in Comfort mode and becoming noticeably more jiggly in Sport but without the necessary improvement in steering sharpness to deliver on the promise.

Just like the standard Rafale the PHEV’s interior is dominated by a huge, vertically orientated screen powered by a Google operating system intended to bring Android phone usability to your car. And it works, with a sharp screen that’s easy to navigate and use, while a selection of apps – including Google Maps – reinforces its smartphone-like interface. The screen is backed up by a clear, high-resolution digital instrument display and an optional head-up display, both of which are difficult to criticise. You still get proper buttons for climate control and some other features, which is ergonomically sound, and there’s a clever centre arm rest in the rear seats including fold-out holders for smartphones and tablets. Top of the range models also get the ‘Solarbay’ panoramic glass roof, which uses electronic opacity control in place of a blind. But for all the good work Renault has done on many of the details, there are still issues. Build quality, for example, is hit-and-miss, and the confusing mess of steering-column stalks behind the wheel means the Rafale never feels like a triumph of usability.

For all the high hopes the plug-in is surprisingly similar to the standard hybrid, and built around the same 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine and automatic gearbox. On top of this the plug-in Rafale has a bigger rechargeable battery and three electric motors so it can operate as an electric car on short and middle-distance journeys, while also providing all-wheel drive for token off-road capability. That gives the Rafale much more flexibility, allowing it to operate effectively as a fully electric vehicle on short journeys, or as an efficient hybrid on longer trips. With 300 horsepower on tap it has noticeably more get up and go than the standard car as well. It’s refined enough that you don’t always notice when the petrol engine is running and it’s also incredibly efficient, even when the battery is running low. A selection of driving modes controls the system’s behaviour, with sporty settings for maximum performance, off-road modes for adverse conditions and economy settings for minimum fuel consumption.