Renault 21 (1986–1993) Overview: Estate Specs, Generations and Best Versions
Renault 21 specs at a glance: a 5-door estate built from 1986 to 1993 with outputs from 65 to 175 hp, covering diesel economy versions and a 175 hp 4x4 flagship.
The Renault 21 is a 5-door estate produced from 1986 to 1993, offered in a single generation with 44 modifications spanning 65 to 175 hp. If you are comparing Renault 21 specs, the range runs from frugal 2.1-litre diesels to a 175 hp 4x4 petrol flagship, so it suits both buyers who want a simple economical load-carrier and those after a quick all-wheel-drive estate.
Renault 21 generations
1 generation (1986–1993)
The first and only generation of the Renault 21 was built from 1986 to 1993 as a 5-door estate. Across its 44 modifications, power output ranges from 65 to 175 hp, with both Manual and Automatic gearboxes and a choice of front-wheel drive (FWD) or 4x4. The mainstream version is the 2.0 AT (105 hp), a 1995 cc automatic with front-wheel drive that accelerates to 100 km/h in 10.8 seconds. At the top sits the 2.0 MT (175 hp), a 1995 cc manual with 4x4: 0–100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and fuel consumption of 8.9 l/100 km. The diesel side of the range is represented by the 2068 cc units: the 2.1 MT (74 hp) uses just 5.9 l/100 km, while the 2.1 MT (88 hp) balances 7.3 l/100 km with a 12.5-second sprint to 100 km/h.
Which Renault 21 to buy
- 2.0 AT (105 hp) (1 generation): the mass-market choice — 105 hp with an automatic gearbox and a 10.8-second 0–100 km/h time, produced over the long 1986–1994 run.
- 2.0 MT (175 hp) (1 generation): the most powerful version — 175 hp, 4x4 and 0–100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, yet fuel consumption stays at 8.9 l/100 km.
- 2.1 MT (74 hp) (1 generation): the economy pick — a 2068 cc diesel consuming only 5.9 l/100 km, if you can live with a 15.1-second sprint.
- 2.1 MT (88 hp) (1 generation): the balanced diesel — 88 hp, 7.3 l/100 km and 12.5 seconds to 100 km/h, a clear step up in pace over the 74 hp unit for a modest consumption penalty.
Every Renault 21 on the used market today dates from 1986–1993 (petrol automatics ran to 1994), so all cars are over three decades old and there is no newer generation to trade up to. The single-generation lineup keeps the choice simple: you are picking an engine and drivetrain, not a model year redesign.
Which Renault 21 to avoid
The base end of the range starts at just 65 hp in an estate whose flagship offers 175 hp. The 2.1 MT (74 hp) diesel also sits close to being dominated: the 2.1 MT (88 hp) is 2.6 seconds quicker to 100 km/h (12.5 vs 15.1 seconds) for only 1.4 l/100 km more fuel (7.3 vs 5.9), so the 74 hp version makes sense only when consumption is the single priority.