Renault Boreal: An Elegant Frustration for the French!

With the Boreal, Renault has just unveiled a modern, elegant, and decidedly technological SUV, designed to meet our expectations.

This Renault Boreal, with its refined design and strong technological promise, seems perfectly equipped to appeal to a demanding audience. However, it will not be marketed in France. And that’s where the issue lies.

Developed as part of the “Renault International Gameplan 2027,” the Boreal is part of an offensive strategy aimed at strengthening the brand’s presence in over 70 emerging countries. This model is designed for markets where demand for family SUVs is rapidly growing, notably in Latin America, the Middle East, Turkey, or North Africa. Renault targets an ultra-strategic C segment with a more upscale positioning, in line with the upgrade strategy initiated by Renaulution.

Technically, the Boreal is based on the modular CMF-B LS platform, already proven on other group models like the Duster or the Bigster… Hmmm… Its industrialization will take place close to the target markets: in Curitiba for Latin America, and in Bursa for Mediterranean countries and the Middle East. A bicontinental setup that optimizes costs and speeds up logistical deployment.

Not in France, but almost

And in France? Nothing. The Boreal is not on the radar for Western Europe. Too bad, because this model could have fitted neatly between a nearly end-of-life Captur and a more stately Austral. It embodies a new form of robust elegance, both versatile and accessible, which is quite appealing.

Unable to purchase it, we would have liked at least to test drive it… and in fact, that’s possible! Because this Boreal is nothing other than a badge-engineered Dacia Bigster, barely disguised to adopt Renault’s aesthetic codes. Redesigned grille, specific headlights and bumpers, the SUV retains most of the DNA of Dacia’s future flagship. It might even offer, rare luxury, a 7-seater version, currently absent from the Bigster catalog.

The paradox is here. This SUV, which we regret not seeing with Renault badges in France, is very present here under the Dacia emblem.

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