1988 RENAULT 25 2.1Td 5MT FWD (85 HP)

Vehicle Overview

It was the last stint for Renault’s flagship model, the 25, a car that appeared on the market in 1982, and after six years, it started to show its age.

Unlike other automakers who thought that an executive vehicle should be a three-box sedan vehicle, Renault considered that a two-and-a-half shape would do just fine or even better. It was wrong, but the French company didn’t want to change that.

For the refreshed version, Renault managed to apply a consistent change to the car’s look. Thus, the headlights were no longer just simple, rectangular headlamps. They sported an angled-down inner side that merged towards the one-slat thin grille. Moreover, the car’s profile looked more refined thanks to the body-colored flush door handles and matching door mirrors. In addition, depending on the trim level, a chromed line adorned the rubber strips mounted on the door panels, the fenders, and the bumpers.

The interior looked very different from other automakers. In front of the driver, Renault placed an instrument cluster that looked like a command and control panel with various buttons on its left and an upper visor that protected them from sunlight. In addition, on the center stack, the automaker placed a slanted panel for the audio controls. The comfortable bucket seats at the front were made for long travels, while the rear bench was good enough for two passengers. Also, the bench sported a split-folding mechanism that extended the trunk’s size when needed.

Under the hood, Renault ditched all the carbureted engines and installed only fuel-injected ones. In addition, apart from the mundane 2.0-liter powerplants, it added the smooth and revised PRV engine or a punchy 2.5-liter turbocharged unit. For those concerned about fuel efficiency, Renault offered a choice of two sluggish diesel units.