So in fact, those sitting in the back should have absolutely no complaints, because even six-foot-tall adults have headroom to spare, plus more than enough space to stretch out their legs. There’s almost no hump in the floor either, making it easier to squeeze three onto the rear bench. Alternatively, there are two sets of Isofix mounting points for child seats, with another set on the front passenger seat.
Rear-seat passengers will also appreciate the amenities available, in particular Renault’s ‘ingenious’ rear armrest that includes two cup-holders, USB-C charging ports and handy fold-out smartphone holders.
Dimensions and size
At 4,710mm long, 1,866mm wide and 1,613mm tall, the Renault Rafale is bigger than its chief rival, the Peugeot 3008, and isn’t far off the new Audi Q5 Sportback either.
Boot space
The 535-litre boot in the Rafale can’t quite match the 588 litres offered in the 3008, or the Cupra Terramar’s 540 litres, but it does manage to trump the Q5 Sportback’s 515 litres. You can, of course, fold down the seats in the Renault for a maximum of 1,600 litres of luggage capacity.
The Rafale doesn’t feature a sliding rear bench, like you’ll find in the smaller Renault Captur or Renault Symbioz, however the bigger issue is the lack of any underfloor storage for the plug-in hybrid version, and the charging cables take up a good amount of space in the boot.
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 4,710mm |
| Width | 1,866mm |
| Height | 1,613mm |
| Number of seats | 5 |
| Boot space | 535 litres |
The Renault Rafale comes equipped with lots of driver-assistance tech, and an easy way to turn them off
| Pros | Cons |
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The Rafale Euro NCAP score is based upon the Renault Austral (tested in 2022) it shares a platform with, along with additional testing of the plug-in hybrid Rafale in 2024. It received the maximum five-star rating for its performance, plus 87 per cent scores for adult occupant protection and safety assist categories.
