Renault Rafale Hyper Hybrid E-Tech 4 x 4 300: the best French vehicle on the market?

The Renault Rafale Hyper Hybrid E-Tech 4 x 4 300 marks a new step in the company's top ambition range of the brand with the diamond.

On paper, the Rafale is a large SUV coupe that is quite ambitious. Once you're behind the wheel, you can feel everything Renault has set the bar higher than usual and this Rafale fully assumes its transition to the premium category.

A strong design, a sharp hybrid system, a hint of Alpine magic... and a conduct that gives clearly want to extend the road. Yes, the move upmarket is there.

The technical sheet of the Rafale could almost be scary as it seems so complicated but you have to admit that it works with disconcerting ease.

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  300 hp from a 1.2 turbo supported by three electric motors
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  A 4 x 4 transmission thanks to the rear electric motor
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  A 22 kWh battery allowing up to 100 km of electric range

On the road, it is Translated into quiet start-up, immediate push-up and Very smooth thermal/electric transitions.

Acceleration is Straightforward: 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds, enough to give character, without seeking brutality.

What surprises the more, it is this consistency. Despite the complexity of the system (four sources of power) everything follows one another as if a single engine managed the whole.

Driving The Rafale is dynamic, showing real confidence. The combination of the chassis Alpine-powered Predictive Suspension, Predictive Camera Suspension, 4Control (four-wheel steering) and 4 x 4 creates a surprisingly agile package for a SUVs of this size.

An SUV that reassures? Yes. An SUV that gives Want to attack a little? Also.

Visually, the Rafale is one of those cars that catches the eye. Its SUV profile The coupé is slender, the surfaces are taut, the proportions well balanced. The model tested in finishing Atelier Alpine added just the right amount of cachet:

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  21-inch wheels
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  GNE Star Black Paint
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  Black grille with hints of Alpine blue
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  Decorative yellow headlights at the front, rally spirit

The result: a modern, assertive, almost sculptural, but not ostentatious. You can feel the work on aerodynamics, light signatures are neat... In short, the Rafale has a lot of style without To do too much!

Once installed at On the other hand, the atmosphere is frankly successful. Renault has found a happy medium between technology and comfort, without falling into the gimmick.

First, the Built-in Google multimedia: Fast, clear, hassle-free. No need to plug in your phone to access Maps or Spotify and it avoids overheating or untimely disconnections. A real plus on a daily basis.

There are also :

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  A large, highly responsive vertical display
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  A clearly readable head-up display
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  Plenty of space in the back
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  A very generous trunk despite the presence of the battery

Special Mention to the opacifying panoramic roof: spectacular to show, pleasant to use and which does not transform the interior into a greenhouse even in transparent mode.

We will also note this Ingenious armrest with modular storage. A detail, but when the passengers begin to notice it and to use it spontaneously, it is because The idea is good!

Even out of fashion electric, the Rafale remains fuel-efficient: 0.5 to 0.7 L/100 km announced in cycles WLTP. With 15 to 19 g of CO₂, we are clearly in the best levels for an SUV of this power.

Behind the wheel, comfort is on the agenda:

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  A very appreciable silence
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  Reassuring stability
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  Predictive suspension that absorbs imperfections well

Large rims sometimes remind us that we are on a sporty version, but nothing prohibitive. And four-wheel steering changes everything in the city: the radius steering is very good, which quickly makes you forget the size of the vehicle.

With the Rafale Hyper Hybrid E-Tech 4 x 4 300, Renault clearly shows that they can compete with premium brands.

In short, the Rafale has:

• Strong design
• A real family space
• Top technology
• Driving that makes you smile
• Real performance
• Electric range useful for everyday use

But most importantly, the Rafale is not trying to copy anyone. He keeps his identity and that feels good!

The Rafale Hyper Hybrid E-Tech 4 x 4 300 is not just a great technological showcase for Renault. It's a car in which you feel good, that you want to Take for long journeys as well as for small improvised escapades. It combines pleasure, Efficiency, comfort and originality: everything you expect from a coupe SUV high-end products.

If you are looking for a A premium, different and successful alternative, it clearly deserves its place in top of your list!