Renault has done it again: no SUV offers as much as the Rafale E-TECH 4x4 300 CV at this price

The Renault Rafale E-TECH 4×4 300 CV, the plug-in hybrid version of the SUV coupé, now has its price. And, as we anticipated when we told you about the main features of the Rafale PHEV, it finally exceeds 50,000 euros. But it does so by a very small margin in the entry-level version, which makes the Rafale E-TECH 4×4 the most affordable SUV coupé with plug-in hybrid technology and 300 CV on the market. These are its list prices announced by Renault:

• Rafale E-TECH 4×4 esprit Alpine: 52,100 euros
• Rafale E-TECH 4×4 Atelier Alpine: 57,100 euros

Some considerations about the prices: on the brand’s configurator they are advertised from 50,537 euros and 55,387 euros respectively, including a promotional discount – no financing needed – and the contribution the brand must make if you take advantage of the Moves Plan, which is around 1,000 euros. On top of these prices you could still count on the Moves purchase aid , which, as it is a PHEV with more than 90 km of homologated electric range, can amount to up to 7,000 euros if you hand in an old car for scrapping, or up to 4,500 euros if no old vehicle is scrapped.

If we stick to the list prices, there is no other plug-in hybrid SUV coupé on the market that offers so much for this money. A Audi Q3 Sportback 45 TFSIe with 245 CV starts at 56,240 euros. The CUPRA Formentor VZ eHybrid, with 272 CV, exceeds 56,000 euros. And the Mercedes GLC Coupé costs 70,000 euros both in the 300 version with 333 CV and the 300 e with 313 CV. Compared with the non-plug-in Rafale Hybrid of 200 CV, the price difference for the same esprit Alpine equipment is 4,400 euros, which I think is little for everything the PHEV brings: 100 CV more, total traction, CERO label instead of ECO, four-wheel steering…

Features and equipment of the Rafale PHEV

To recap, this version of the Rafale uses a propulsion system with a 1.2 Turbo three-cylinder engine producing 150 CV and a maximum torque of 230 Nm – 20 CV and 25 Nm more than the non-plug-in Rafale Hybrid – combined with a main 70 CV electric motor and 205 Nm, and a secondary 34 CV motor with 50 Nm of torque that works as generator and starter motor, as well as synchronising the gearbox. In the 4×4 PHEV version, a 136 CV motor on the rear axle with 195 Nm of maximum torque is added, reaching a total system power of 300 CV, which allows a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 6.4 seconds. The battery of the Rafale PHEV has a capacity of 22 kWh and provides up to 105 km of electric range.

Among the standard equipment of the Rafale E-TECH 4×4 esprit Alpine, the 4Control Advanced four-wheel steering system stands out, along with 20-inch wheels, black exterior decorative details, specific bumpers and the safety pack. The Atelier Alpine version costs 5,000 euros more, and as highlights over the esprit Alpine it adds 21-inch wheels, matrix LED headlights, a specific chassis tuning, including adaptive damping that “reads” the road thanks to a video camera and adapts the suspension predictively, electric front seats with massage function, the city premium pack (360 3D camera + hands-free parking + light signature projected on the floor) and the driving & heating pack.

As the most interesting options, the Solarbay panoramic roof costs 1,520 euros, the Harman Kardon audio system is priced at 970 euros, and an instrument display projected onto the windscreen can also be fitted for 720 euros.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverRenault Rafale11 versions · from 43,250 €