First drive: Renault’s Rafale is now offered with a punchier plug-in hybrid powertrain

We seem to be in a world where SUVs are becoming the only option when it comes to buying new cars and Renault has more than enough offerings in this category. There’s the Captur, Scenic, Symbioz and Arkana to name just a few. Then there’s this – the flagship Rafale.

With its coupe-esque body, bold styling and French flair, the Rafale is guaranteed to turn heads and now with a new plug-in hybrid, Renault is spreading this D-Segment SUV’s appeal even further.

The Rafale was introduced just last year, but the plug-in hybrid model adds more power and promises better efficiency and a sharper drive.

There is a choice of two trim levels with a new ‘Atelier Alpine’ version being the new flagship model that boasts 21-inch wheels and self-adjustable suspension with a camera located at the top of the windscreen to predict the road surface.

But, what’s this PHEV version of the Rafale like to drive, and is it an improvement over the standard model? We’ve been finding out.

Underneath the bonnet, you’ll find the same 1.2-litre three-cylinder unit as in the ‘regular’ hybrid version, but this plug-in hybrid model benefits from a new turbocharger alongside a 22kWh battery pack that Renault claims can take the car up to 65 miles on electric power.

In terms of performance, with an added electric motor on the rear axle to make four-wheel-drive, the Rafale PHEV produces a total of 304bhp and 230Nm of torque. Acceleration stands at 0-60mph in 6.2 seconds and the car has the same top speed of 111mph as the standard hybrid variant.

When it comes to economy, Renault claims that our test car can achieve up to 403.5mpg and has CO2 emissions of as little as 15g/km. Bear in mind that that the claimed fuel efficiency is usually produced when the car is running solely on battery power – so expect somewhat lower during mixed driving.

The standard Rafale hybrid isn’t the most composed or refined car to drive due to its clunky powertrain and sluggish performance. But, this beefier plug-in hybrid variant does make a lot more sense. It drives better with the car having much more pulling power along with improved turn-in around the bends. A selection of different modes including ‘hybrid’, ‘electric’ and ‘e-save’, allows you to tweak the powertrain depending on the kind of driving you’re doing.

In town, the electric mode does a great job of utilising its motor with the petrol engine acting as a generator, making it more relaxing and efficient. The standard 4Control four-wheel steering helps out with the turning circle, too.

However, the Rafale plug-in hybrid still has some of the flaws that the cheaper hybrid is also affected by – mainly the firm ride. Even with our test car’s self-adjustable suspension which is there to monitor and scan the road ahead, it still results in a choppy experience. The rear visibility is poor, which is made worse when it’s raining due to the lack of a rear wiper. Also, when in hybrid mode, the car still suffers from the same unpolished transition between petrol and electric driving.

The plug-in hybrid variant of the Rafale looks almost identical to the lower-powered hybrid model.

That means it still retains the diamond-effect front grille with the firm’s new Nouvel’R logo. It utilises lots of gloss black plastic around the wheel arches and there is a rear roof spoiler and a sloping back end.

Our test car is running on the larger 21-inch alloy wheels which make the car look a lot meaner and the boomerang LED daytime running lights and rear tail light design remain the same as in the standard hybrid model.

The Rafale’s interior is a nice place to be with materials feeling of high quality everywhere you look. The car still keeps the 12.3-inch TFT digital instrument cluster and 12.9-inch portrait infotainment system with Google Built-in, too.

Aluminium pedals, sports seats with illuminated Alpine logos and Alcantara trim all add to the sporty appeal of the Rafale and there are a decent amount of storage areas located throughout with two cup holders and a split centre armrest that reveals extra storage.

Rear passenger space hasn’t been lost over the standard car with masses amounts of head and legroom – despite the very low roofline and our test car’s Solarbay panoramic roof.

However, boot space is where the PHEV version falls flat, offering just 539 litres of room – compared to the hybrid’s 647 litres. This is due to the location of the battery pack and four-wheel-drive system which eats into the luggage compartment. Happily, the car still features a 40:20:40 split folding rear seat to make it easier to carry those longer items.

In terms of what you get for your money, Renault is offering the plug-in hybrid version of the Rafale in two guises – Techno Esprit Alpine or Atelier Alpine.

You’ll have to pay a premium over the standard hybrid Rafale’s £38,195 starting price to get into a PHEV variant with the entry-level Techno Esprit Alpine coming in at £45,695. But, it does come very well equipped including 20-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights and the 4Control four-wheel steering.

We’re driving the flagship Atelier Alpine which comes in at a rather steep £49,695 and boasts 21-inch alloy wheels, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, a Solarbay panoramic sunroof, self-adjustable suspension, a powered tailgate and a 360-degree surround camera.

The standard hybrid version of the Rafale is let down by a disappointing driving experience, but thankfully this four-wheel-drive PHEV variant makes a lot more sense with its lower CO2 emissions and sharper driving dynamics.

It still comes with plenty of standard equipment and features lots of interior space – though a small boot capacity does let the side down. However, the firm ride and rather coarse hybrid powertrain is still not as good as it could be– plus the rather steep asking prices mean that this low-emission PHEV variant will be more suitably positioned in the company car park.