Renault Safrane – Facelift Friday

At the time of the Renault Safrane, it was already clear that the large, luxurious French were not going to win against the German competition. Yet Renault would keep trying for years to come, in the end with the stubborn and high-profile Vel Satis. The Safrane was a lot more conservative than that car, although its large fifth door is of a typically French idiosyncrasy.

Launched in 1992, the Safrane was clearly an evolution of predecessor 25 from a design point of view, albeit a lot more rounded and modern. The nose was sleek and understated, with a small grille and a bonnet that extended far down. At the rear, we found black/red taillights from the very beginning, as they would also appear on the Laguna a few years later. In terms of design, the original Safrane also kept up nicely with the facelift version of the Renault 19, which would only be followed in 1996 by the Mégane.

1996 was also the year in which the top model received a major update. Renault did not stick with rear lights and a different grille, but provided the Safrane with a completely different nose and butt. On both sides the car was provided with an even more rounded design, without sharp folds and right angles. Darkened headlights, a slightly more prominent grille and a smoother-lined hood brought the model in line with the Mégane and the Laguna, albeit with the necessary distinction.

Original

face lift

The rear is downright striking after 1996, especially thanks to the shape of the taillights. The continuous, black/red whole makes way for two wide red lanes, supplemented by a BMW-like direction indicator placed on top. The license plate moves to the bumper, which is completely new, just like the front.

In this form, the Renault Safrane lasted until the end of 2000, with which the very last copy is now almost 21 years old. Is such a late copy also the most beautiful in your opinion, or do you prefer the original?