At the same price, Tesla Model Y or Renault Rafale?

You may think this question doesn’t make any sense, but with a monthly rent of less than 500 euros, what is the best choice?

Comparing the Tesla Model Y, the world leader in electric vehicles, and Renault’s ambitious hybrid is ultimately not that complicated. Primarily because both cars are almost identical in size.

	Tesla Model Y	Renault Rafale
Length	4,750 mm	4,710 mm
Width	1,920 mm	1,860 mm
Height	1,620 mm	1,610 mm

One might legitimately think that both cars cater to a similar clientele, mainly families looking for a modern coupe-style SUV and not afraid of electrified powertrains. There is only one powertrain available for the Rafale, the E-tech full hybrid 200. A frugal powertrain that, as the name suggests, delivers 200 hp with a 1.2-liter turbo 3-cylinder engine producing 130 hp, assisted by two electric motors of 68 hp and 34 hp, with only the first being the primary driver. There is no serious range in 100% electric mode with the 2 kWh battery, but it provides very effective hybridization during accelerations and sprints, where it knows how to remain unobtrusive while playing a major role. Renault has mastered this type of powertrain perfectly.

Is electric not for high-mileage drivers?

In terms of Tesla Model Y equivalent, it will inevitably be the Long Range RWD version with 600 km range to compete with the Rafale and its claimed 5 L / 100 km for a 58-liter tank. Advantage goes to the Rafale, which promises 1,000 km of range, but our tests place it closer to 700 km with an average consumption of 8 L / 100 km. Since the Tesla will never achieve 600 km on a charge under normal usage, it ultimately doesn’t matter. Your children’s bladders will dictate your stops more than range.

The monthly rent is set at 490 euros per month for the Tesla, which allows us to choose a well-equipped Rafale Esprit Alpine priced at 482 euros per month. We won’t deny ourselves anything! If you prefer to pay upfront, after deducting the ecological bonus, the Tesla will cost you 42,990 euros compared to 45,000 euros for the Renault.

Range and finish seem to tilt the balance in favor of Renault, but the sensitive topic of performance remains. With a 0 to 100 km/h time of 5.9 seconds, the Tesla – let’s not be afraid to say it – leaves the Rafale in the dust, which takes 8.9 seconds for the same exercise. Three seconds is a chasm. The same goes for acceleration, and perhaps this last point is the most problematic. To adopt a spirited driving style without being sporty, you will have to demand much more from the internal combustion engine, which will inevitably increase consumption. With the electric motor’s torque, the Tesla accelerates effortlessly and without drain on energy. This is important considering that for equal trips, the cost ratio between gasoline and kWh is about 10 times more favorable to electric.

In the end, these are two opposing philosophies of vehicle consumption. If one knows how to use it by planning recharges, the Tesla Model Y is an exceptional travel tool. If you prefer to pay increasingly higher fuel prices to avoid this little effort, then the Renault is the way to go. It’s certainly a cliché, as there is also the factor of “buy French” to which we are very attached. So, a tie? Or perhaps we have intentionally overlooked the new 100% electric Scenic… We had to give the Tesla a chance!