1996 RENAULT Safrane 2.0L 5MT FWD (138 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The Safrane was the last successful luxury vehicle from the French manufacturer. It was introduced on the market in 1992 and it was refreshed in 1996, like the last sprint of a marathoner.

The French luxury seemed to hardly keep up with the Germans. Its idea of front-wheel drive limousines didn’t pay off. Even the Audi, the last brand to attend the premium market was already ahead of them with the introduction of the A6 and A8. The Safrane facelift was the last show before the fat lady sang.

Sleek and well proportioned, the 1996 Safrane featured a new grille on the front, with a different styling depending on the trim level. The clear-lens headlights were new as well. The taillights were mounted in an L shape, in an opposite way than the non-facelifted version. But it still retained the black door handles on most of the trim level and the steel wheels.

Inside, the Safrane offered different levels of comfort and features, depending on the trim level. From the basic, cloth, upholstery from the RN level up to the leather seats for the Initiale and Baccara.

The 1996 Safrane was offered with a choice of three gasoline and one diesel engines. Two of the gasoline versions were bought from Volvo, the V6 was a revamped engine developed in the late ’70s with Peugeot-Citroen and the 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel. But all of them offered less power and higher fuel consumption than the German vehicles. In the end, the Renault Safrane was sold in fewer numbers than the Renault 25 which it replaced. The lack of drivetrains, new suspension systems and features along with the high price, made the car fall out from the premium segment and competing with the German non-premium brand Opel (Omega).