Renault 20/30

Renault
Industry	Automotive
Founded	February 25, 1899; 127 years ago in France
Headquarters	France
Products	Automobiles

Renault 20/30

The Renault 20 (R20) and Renault 30 (R30) represent a range of executive vehicles manufactured by the French company Renault from 1975 through 1984. Positioned as the brand’s most luxurious and expensive offerings at the time, these two models shared almost identical bodywork and mechanical parts; however, the R30 was equipped with a larger engine and carried a higher price tag. The exterior differences were mainly seen in their lighting: the R20 was fitted with two single rectangular headlights, whereas the R30 displayed four round headlights. The interiors of all R30 variants were also more refined. Production figures reached over 622,000 units for the R20 and approximately 145,000 units for the R30, all assembled at Renault’s Sandouville facility near Le Havre, France.

In 1978, the Renault 20 received the prestigious What Car? "Car of the Year" accolade.

Despite its upscale market positioning, the Renault 30 experienced significant depreciation; for instance, a new 30 TX Automatic priced at £11,950 in May 1984 was valued at roughly £3,450 in trade by June 1986.

Introduction

Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1975, the Renault 30 TS marked Renault’s flagship model and was notable for featuring its first engine with more than four cylinders since the pre-war Renault Vivastella. It was among the earliest vehicles to utilize the newly developed 2664 cc PRV V6 powerplant—a collaborative effort between Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo—which delivered and allowed for a maximum speed of . The hatchback design took inspiration from the successful Renault 16.

The more budget-friendly Renault 20, launched at the Paris Salon in November 1975, shared the R30’s hatchback silhouette but differed by sporting two rectangular headlights instead of four round ones. Serving as a successor to the Renault 16, it featured a larger body and was powered by a smaller 1647 cc four-cylinder engine rated at . Other distinctions included rear drum brakes, 13-inch wheels, and a reduced fuel tank capacity of 60 litres. Available trims included L, TL, and GTL. Essentially, both models were badge-engineered versions of one another. In November 1979, Renault introduced its first diesel engine option—a new 2068 cc unit—to the R20 lineup.

Both vehicles incorporated advanced safety features such as front and rear crumple zones along with side impact protection. Early production models were equipped with door handles that folded downward but these were replaced by standard handles starting August 1976 for the 1977 model year.

In the market

Both models faced challenges related to reliability and expensive mechanical repairs, which contributed to rapid depreciation in markets like the United Kingdom alongside rivals such as the Peugeot 604 and Rover SD1. Rust problems were prevalent; in response, Renault improved corrosion protection measures and introduced a five-year anti-rust warranty beginning January 1982.

Renault’s brand recognition was limited in higher market segments outside France. Factors such as hatchback styling, relatively small engines designed to comply with French tax laws, and quality issues resulted in modest export sales—with over 63% of production sold domestically. Assembly from complete knock-down kits took place in select countries: Venezuela (R30 TS from 1979 to 1984), Australia (R20 TS between 1979 and 1981), and Thailand (1979–1980). Although not officially marketed in the United States, approximately 426 units of the R30 were imported into Canada.

In Argentina, Renault Argentina officially imported the Renault 30 as a premium alternative to competitors like the Ford Granada, Citroën CX, Mercedes-Benz W123, and Toyota Crown between 1979 and 1982, primarily offering TS V6 and TX versions.

A notable example includes a Renault 30 used as President François Mitterrand’s official state vehicle during his election campaigns starting in 1979 and early years in office until he transitioned to using a Renault 25 in 1984.

Modifications

Soon after its release, the Renault 20 was criticized for lacking sufficient power given its size, whereas the Renault 30 was deemed overly expensive compared to comparable models. To remedy this, the R20TS was launched featuring a new 1995 cc four-cylinder overhead camshaft engine delivering , which it shared with the Citroën CX and subsequently the Peugeot 505. This 2.0-litre powerplant was generally acknowledged as a notable enhancement. In October 1978, the R30 TX appeared as a more upscale, fuel-injected version of the R30 TS, followed by the introduction of the R20 Diesel in late 1979. By the end of 1981, production of all 1.6-litre R20 variants ceased, leaving the LS 2.0 as the base model.

In 1980, the NG1 five-speed gearbox was replaced by the longer-geared and smoother-operating 395 transmission. July of that year marked the debut of the 2.2-litre fuel-injected R20 TX, with the R30 Turbo Diesel arriving a year later. The R30 Diesel Turbo featured R30 TX trim with distinctive alloy wheels and an engine derived from the naturally aspirated diesel unit. Starting in early 1982, this diesel engine option became available in the R20 lineup as well. The entire range underwent a facelift for the 1981 model year. Production ceased on 16 October 1983 to allow for the introduction of the Renault 25.

Chronology

March 1975 – Debut of the Renault 30 TS, a large five-door hatchback equipped with a 2664 cc V6 PRV engine (developed jointly by Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo), offered with either a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission. Standard features included power-assisted steering, four round Quartz-Iodide headlights, electric front windows, and central locking.
October 1975 – Launch of the Renault 20 in L, TL, and GTL trims powered by a smaller four-cylinder 1647 cc engine producing , coupled with a four-speed manual gearbox. Unlike the R30 TS’s quad round headlamps, all R20 models featured two rectangular headlights. The L trim provided basic equipment without hubcaps; TL offered enhanced features; GTL matched TS specifications. Automatic transmission was optional on TL and GTL versions.
1976 – Power output of the R20’s 1647 cc engine was increased to .
August 1976 – Introduction of updated R1275 replacing original R30 TS (R1273), including minor engine revisions, grey headlight surrounds, new fuel filler cap, and conventional door handles; V6 output reduced from to .
July 1977 – Release of R20 TS equipped with a new 1995 cc engine rated at , available with either a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission; trim level comparable to R20 GTL.
Late 1977/Early 1978 – Discontinuation of slow-selling R20 L; all models received redesigned instrument panel visors and optional steel wheels fitted with Michelin TRX tires.
October 1978 – Introduction of R30 TX featuring Bosch K-Jetronic fuel-injected V6 engine producing , available with a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic gearbox; upgrades included alloy wheels, electric windows all around, sunroof, velour upholstery, and front/rear head restraints.
1979 – Updates comprised driver’s side rear fog lamp and rear seat belts; R20 TS gained new cooling fan, inertia reel rear belts, windscreen wiper switch, and optional five-speed gearbox; R30 TS engine output increased to ; introduction of R20 LS combining TS mechanicals with TL equipment.
November 1979 – Launch of R20 Diesel (TD and GTD) powered by new 2068 cc diesel engine rated , paired with five-speed gearbox and larger wheels; TD featured TL/LS trim level while GTD matched TS plus power steering.
1980 – All models received pantograph-style driver’s wiper and interior/dashboard restyling inspired by Renault Fuego; petrol variants gained new automatic transmission option; alternator improvements and new wheel rims introduced for TL/GTL; TS adopted wheel rims from R30 TS; chrome grille surround added to R30 TS/TX.
July 1980 – Introduction of R20 LS and R20 TX powered by new 2165 cc engine rated at .
1981 – All R20 variants upgraded with dual-circuit braking system and negative offset front suspension; discontinuation of GTL briefly left TL as sole model with 1.65-litre engine; R30 TX received updated bumpers and computer-controlled cruise control.
July 1981 – Launch of turbodiesel model R30 Turbo D.
September–Late 1981 – Phase-out of R20 TL followed by discontinuation of R30 TS.
16 October 1983 – Production ended for Renault 20 and Renault 30, succeeded by Renault 25.

Production statistics

R1270: 20/30 Turbo-D 8,706/18,895
R1271: 20 L/TL/GTL 187,001
R1272: 20 TS 201,401
R1273: early 30 TS 32,497
R1275: 30 TS 68,401
R1276: 20 TD/GTD 84,801
R1277: 20 LS/TS 100,401
R1278: 30 TX 40,401
R1279: 20 TX 33,801

International assembly

Starting in 1979, the Renault 30 TS was assembled in Venezuela. This version included the carbureted PRV V6 engine and was available with either a four-speed manual or automatic gearbox. Production totaled 748 units.

Dacia (Romania)

From 1979 to 1985, the Romanian state-owned company Dacia manufactured a restricted series of Renault 20 models under the Dacia 2000 designation. These cars were primarily allocated to government officials and secret police during Nicolae Ceauşescu's administration and were powered by the R20 TS’s 2-liter engine delivering 109 PS (80 kW).

Motorsport achievements

In the 1982 Paris-Alger-Dakar Rally, a specially adapted Renault 20 Turbo 4x4, piloted by Bernard Marreau, secured victory. This vehicle was equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine sourced from the Renault 18 Turbo and featured four-wheel drive.

References

External links