Ten Second Review

Renault's MK3 Scenic attempts to deliver more family-friendly practicality with a bit of a sporty twist. Styling and chassis technology lifted from the latest Megane hatchback give it a more athletic persona but the core of the car remains its spacious and versatile interior.

Background

The Scenic is of the compact MPV breed, a class of people-carrying products that are usually based on family hatchback underpinnings and sit between full-sized MPVs like Renault's own Espace and smaller supermini-sized models, like Renault's Modus. The Scenic is based on the Megane family hatch and if you look beneath its Citroen C4 Picasso, Vauxhall Zafira and Ford C-MAX rivals, you'll find similar components to those in the Citroen C4, Vauxhall Astra and Ford Focus respectively. A key development in the compact MPV sector has been the increase of seven-seat models which basically locate two additional seats in the boot of the five-seater. The Scenic is a five-seat version but the Grand Scenic has a seven-seat capacity enabled by its extended dimensions.

Driving Experience

Economy is obviously important for a functional family vehicle but the Scenic's engines also need the performance to move a fully-laden vehicle with a bit of spirit. The entry-level 1.6-litre 110bhp petrol engine is likely to find this difficult but with another 20bhp, the TCe 130 powerplant looks a far more compelling option. Renault's Turbo Control efficiency technology comes into play here using turbocharging to boost the petrol engine's performance while retaining strong economy. It's the diesels though, that are likely to attract more interest. Renault's 1.5 dCi engine pops up here in 110bhp guise but its real strength is low running costs. Buyers wanting a punchy oil-burner can choose the dCi 130. The taller, bulkier dimensions of compact MPV products don't lead you to expect the same kind of sporty driving experience offered by the family hatch that spawned them but Renault has applied much of the chassis technology found under its Megane to the Scenic. MacPherson strut front suspension is linked to an innovative horned sub frame that helps to reduce lateral movement and gives more precise steering responses. The rear set-up is based around a tough torsen beam and together, the two systems help the Scenic achieve a very low specific roll angle for a compact MPV. This is an important indication of its ability to corner in a composed manner without leaning too much. The electric power steering has also been refined to give sharper responses and greater accuracy.

Design and Build

There are major differences between the way the Scenic and Grand Scenic look that extend beyond the latter's larger dimensions. While the Scenic borrows the distinctive satin chrome air-intakes of the Megane coupe and a more squat, purposeful stance, the Grand Scenic has a larger glass area and a mesh grille covering its single frontal air-intake. The seven-seat model also features distinctive boomerang-shaped rear light clusters that curl around the bottom of its rear pillars and along its flanks. The interior is where the magic happens in any MPV and both Scenic models lay-on lots of space and versatility. The second row of seats can be folded flat or removed, while the Grand Scenic's third row can be dropped into the floor. Boot space is measured at 522 litres in the Scenic and 702 litres in the Grand Scenic with those rear-most seats folded. There's a massive array of storage options in the Scenic with a total of 92 litres available. Under-floor compartments, under-seat drawers, a chilled glovebox, centre console cubbies, door pockets and trays on the seat backs should help to keep the family's paraphernalia in check. There are also three 12-volt power sockets to keep the all-important games consoles and MP3 players topped up.

Market and Model

Safety is of paramount importance to family buyers and few manufacturers can match Renault's reputation in this area. Its models routinely achieve maximum five-star ratings from Euro NCAP and the Scenic is brim full of features designed to avoid collisions and protect occupants should one occur. The car can be specified with automatic headlamps and wipers, cruise control with a speed-limiting function, bi-xenon headlamps that swivel to illuminate round bends and a seat-belt reminder that sounds if a rear-seatbelt is unbuckled. There's also ABS with brake assist and brake force distribution and ESC stability control with CSV understeer control. The second row of seats all have ISOFIX child seat anchor points too. Trim levels are mainly Expression and Dynamique (or 'TomTom' if you want this trim with sat nav). On all, high standard equipment levels include a 4x15W radio RDS CD MP3, air conditioning, ESP, front and rear curtain airbags and TunePoint (for portable music players). A rear parking camera is an option too.

Cost of Ownership

The 1.5-litre dCi diesel engines are the Scenic's most environmentally-friendly options and returns 57.6mpg on the combined cycle while putting out just 128g/km of CO2. The 1.6-litre dCi 130 is also a good choice, managing 64.2mpg on the combined cycle and 115g/km of CO2. Renault has made it easier for customers to pick out its cleanest products by branding any car with CO2 emissions under 140g/km with its eco2 label. The Tce 130 petrol engine doesn't quite qualify with its 168g/km emissions but with economy of 38.8mpg, it's a handy compromise between cleanliness and performance.

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