You wait for one new Renault and three of them come along together, Scenic, Rafale and Captur and they are very different from one another.
First up is a revised version of the Captur, Renault’s small SUV which has sold over 14,000 units since its launch 10 years ago.
The Scenic is a reworking of an old favourite, reinvented as a family friendly EV. It’s already taken the European Car of the Year title and it promises to deliver over 600km of range.
Finally, there’s the Rafale, a top of the range halo car for the Renault range. It’s powered by a hybrid powertrain with a 300bhp PHEV going on sale by year’s end.
Rafale
Let’s start with the Rafale with its 200bhp E-Tech hybrid engine making for strong performance. The Rafale takes its name from a racing aeroplane, the Caudran Rafale, designed by a Renault subsidiary in the 1930s. You can see some of that aero heritage in the styling and it’s certainly an attractive exterior.
The interior, if anything, is even more striking, with top quality materials, including the option of natural slate and burnt cork. It makes for a unique look with the central and drivers’ screens coming together in a cohesive L shape. There’s plenty of tech too. Along with the expected Apple CarPlay and Android auto, the car’s operating system itself is google based and that includes intuitive voice control, with over 70 commands understood by the system.
There’s more, with a Solarbay opacifying panoramic sunroof. This has the ability to darken under electronic control without the need for a sunblind. It’s quite something to see the panels darken at the press of a button.
For passengers, there’s a cool feature shared with the Scenic. A very clever rear arm rest features two swivelling arms which allow phones or tablets to be mounted. You also get USB-C ports along with cupholders and space to stow electronics. All very helpful for longer family trips.
The Rafale drives very well and even though the test drive was brief and on streaming wet roads, it gripped very well and steered impeccably. It also features four wheel steering, which at low speeds can steer the rear wheels by up to 5 degrees, bringing the turning circle right down to that of a Clio.
The Rafale comes in two versions, Techno and Esprit Alpine with pricing starting from €51,495 or €55,695 for the Esprit Alpine. At the end of the year, the range will be joined by a 300bhp PHEV variant, with 4wd.
It’s available until September 30th with 3.9% APR PCP finance or 0% HP finance or with a €1,500 trade-in bonus offer.
Scenic
The Scenic is an equally interesting proposition. Remember the original Megane Scenic took the 1997 European Car of the Year title and this iteration of the car has already taken the same gong, which bodes well for its chances in the market.
This time around, it’s a full EV, built on the AmpR electric platform. Being an EV, it’s allowed Renault to put a wheel at each corner, liberating as much interior space as possible.
A WLTP range of 610km is impressive and fast charging up to 150kW is on offer. Depending on trim, a 170bhp or 220bhp is fitted, both driving the front wheels.
Peformance is strong, certainly on the 220bhp version that I tried and the car is very quiet, with a slippery body keeping wind noise to a minimum.
Like the Rafale, the Scenic also benefits from the opacifying panoramic roof and the clever arm rest in the back seat.
There’s a 545 litre boot, which of course can be expanded by folding back the seats. Incidentally, the arm rest doubles as a ski hatch, allowing longer loads to be carried easily.
The Scenic 170bhp version comes with the option of two trim levels – evolution and techno. The more powerful 220bhp motor is available in techno, esprit Alpine and Iconic trim.
The 60KWh 170bhp version is available in two trim levels – evolution and techno and the 87kWh 220hp version is available in techno, esprit Alpine and Iconic trims.
Pricing ranges from €39,995 to €54,795 and 3.9% APR finance is available for cars ordered by September 30th, with 0% HP finance or a €1,500 trade-in bonus also an option. Any car ordered before the end of September will also come with a €500 hotel gift card.
Captur
The final Renault is more familiar, with the Captur a popular choice in the small SUV sector.
It has been updated with a fresh design at the front and a more premium look courtesy of sleeker lines.
The interior also benefits from the openR Link multimedia system, which is powered by Google and offers Google Maps, Voice Assistant and over 50 apps sourced from Google Play.
It also offers a sliding rear seat, which can be adjusted to prioritise either rear leg room or greater luggage space. It’s an unusual but very welcome feature in the segment.
Captur buyers can choose between 0% APR or a €1,500 trade in bonus up to the end of July and prices start from €29,120 for the TCe 90 manual. An E-Tech full hybrid with 145bhp is also on offer from €33,990.
