In 2005, Renault refreshed its largest luxury model, the VelSatis.
A model that had to mark the comeback on the premium segment with an MPV-like vehicle.

Renault used to build high-quality vehicles and its name was among the most important in the luxury car industry before WWII. Its products were well received by the premium customers across Europe and it even succeeded to enter the U.S. market with re-badged products such as the Eagle Premier.

In 2002, the VelSatis came to replace the older Safrane model in the luxury segment. The unusual, high-roof vehicle provided generous interior room for front and, most important, for the rear passengers. The 2005 model brought new modification for the front grille, to have the same signature as the rest of the range. A particular design cue of the vehicle was that some of the exterior design accents were also found on the dashboard.

The interior of the VelSatis was particularly large, with high seating position thanks to its high-roof concept. New features such as Adaptive Cruise Control was offered. But the engineering side was one of its soft spots.

Under the hood, Renault offered two gasoline and three diesel units. All of them were front-wheel drive and the automatic transmission was with four gears. For the rear suspension, it featured a beam-axle, a unique feature for the premium segment. All of the other competitors offered independent rear suspension.