The Renault 16 (R16) was first launched in April 1965. In the Renault range, it made up for the lack of a mid-sized saloon after the Frégate stopped being produced in 1960.

The R16 revolutionised the car standards of the time by offering a combination of a saloon and an estate, boasting an upright hatch, six large side windows and a boot with a volume ranging from 420 to nearly 1200 dm3 according to the configuration of the modular rear seat, both sliding and folding. The R16 was innovative in several ways: the roof gutters were replaced by rails, the rigidity of the car was increased thanks to bodywork panels stamped in one piece, and it was the first French car to replace the generator by an alternator. Like its smaller R4 counterpart and the future R5 and R6 cars, the R16 was characterised by the difference between the right and left wheelbases (a staggering 6.7 cm), due to its rear suspension of transverse torsion bars.

The R16 was voted European Car of the Year in 1966. It was built in 1,851,502 units between 1965 and 1979. Its appearance hardly changed during its 14 years of production. Renault never extended the R16 range to Coupé or Cabriolet versions.

The original 1470 cm3 (55 hp) engine (4 cylinder Solex or Zenith single carburettor) with which the R16 was fitted (code name R 1150, FIA Homologation No. 5090) as from 1965 increased to 1595 cm3 (83 hp) in 1968 with the arrival of the TS model (FIA Homologation No. 5227) and even to 1674 cm3 to fit the TA automatic gearbox model in 1969. But from 1970, the whole range went back to 1595 cm3.

In 1973, the R16 family expanded with the addition of the TX model (FIA Homologation No. 5579), more dynamic with its 1647 cm3 93 hp engine and 5-speed gearbox, as well as several sporty features such as the rims of the R12 Gordini, dual headlights and a small wing at the back of the roof.

From 1977, the choice was reduced to two models (TL and TX), with the R16 gradually having to make way for the new R20 and R30.