Name: Renault Scenic Review
Item: Renault Scenic
Author: Gumtree.com

First launched in 1996 as a variant on the Renault Megane, the Scenic proved to be so popular that the French manufacturer repositioned it into a separate model in its own right. As of 2016, it’s on its fourth generation. It’s a mid-budget, five-door compact MPV, smaller than a minivan but larger than mini MPVs and most SUVs. Designed for safety, reliability and practicality, it’s aimed primarily at buyers with families. The Scenic is a stylish vehicle that has presence on the road, and it has always offered a wide range of diesel and petrol engines, catering for different needs.

Check out the Renault Scenic model page to learn more.

What we think about the Renault Scenic

The Scenic is a big, practical people carrier with a bold aesthetic and solid performance.

Pros

Eye-catching design

Spacious, comfy interior

Extremely safe

Engines are a good balance of power and efficiency

Cons

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Not the cheapest option

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Ride can be a little dull

The Renault Scenic is a five-door, five-seater compact MPV. By default you get a turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol unit for an engine, offering up to 48 mpg. Trim levels are Play, Iconic and Signature. It’s also available as the Renault Grand Scenic, which has two extra seats.

Driving performance of the Renault Scenic

Our Driving Rating7 / 10

There’s nothing particularly wrong with the way the Scenic handles, but it’s not quite as enjoyable or as smooth as you might hope. It has pleasingly light and very precise steering, which is ideal for taking it around town, and there’s very little body roll in corners. The suspension is soft enough to offer a ride that’s pretty comfortable on tricky terrain, but the huge wheels can lead to a bit more of an unsettled feeling when you’re hitting higher speeds.

Safety and reliability of the Renault Scenic

Our Safety Rating8 / 10

When it was last crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2016, the Scenic achieved the full five-star rating. It scored 90% for how well it protected adult passengers, and the protection of small children was given an 81% score. With a rating of just 59%, its safety kit was found wanting, but newer models seem to have remedied this. You’ll get an active emergency braking system, detecting pedestrians in the car’s path, as well as lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance as standard.

Under the bonnet of the Renault Scenic

Our Engine Rating7 / 10

The Renault Scenic’s engine line-up offers a fair amount of choice and all units are pleasingly fast and well behaved, but there are no automatic transmissions available. The entry-level 1.2-litre petrol unit on the Scenic has a 0-62 time of around 11 seconds. Since 2018, there’s also a newer 1.3-litre engine that offers up to 138 bhp and can get you to 62 mph from standing in just over ten seconds. The turbocharged 1.5-litre diesel is decent value for money and has a 0-62 time of 11 seconds. There’s also a mild hybrid engine available if that’s your bag.

What you'll find in the Renault Scenic

Our Design Rating8 / 10

The Scenic has been at the forefront of MPV design since it was first introduced, and it’s still an impressive thing to behold today. The sloping roof gives its muscular body an elegance that is sure to turn heads when you take it around town, and newer versions have increased the car’s width to make it a truly imposing presence. The huge 20-inch alloy wheels are also difficult to ignore, and the unmistakable Renault badge on the grille gives its front end a distinctive visual appeal.

Comfort and interiors in the Renault Scenic

Our Comfort Rating8 / 10

The feel of the Renault Scenic’s interior cabin, particularly on the newer vehicles, approaches that of a luxury vehicle. The designs aren’t particularly notable, but the materials are all of a high quality. There’s a large, sophisticated dashboard layout and the big windscreen is also a welcoming feature. Most of all, passengers will love how comfortable it is inside Renault’s stylish road warrior. The ride is quiet, there’s plenty of legroom and headroom, and there’s also a huge boot to fit your cargo in on longer journeys.

What features you'll find in the Renault Scenic

Our Features Rating8 / 10

There’s a decent amount of extras available for the Scenic, and you might even be happy to settle with what comes as standard it’s that well kitted-out. With the basic Play trim, you’ll get a seven-inch touchscreen, climate control, and rear parking sensors, as well as compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can upgrade to the Iconic trim for the infotainment system and a sliding centre console with USB ports. At the top of the range, Signature offers you leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof and an additional 8.7-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen on the dashboard.

What fuel efficiency to expect from the Renault Scenic

Our Fuel Consumption Rating7 / 10

On the older versions of the Scenic, you can get up to 48 mpg out of the entry-level 1.2-litre petrol engine. Newer models offer around 41 mpg, with the 1.3-litre version, as well as emissions of around 126 g/km. If you can afford to shell out a little extra for the most recent version of the diesel, you’ll get up to 51 mpg. But the clear leader in terms of fuel efficiency is the 1.5-litre diesel-hybrid engine, which offers over 80 mpg.

Running costs of the Renault Scenic

Our Cost Rating7 / 10

The majority of engine options for the Scenic offer above-average efficiency, which allows for decent savings in the long-term. If you opt for the hybrid version, you’ll save even more on road tax, particularly if the car is part of a fleet. Despite the engines’ larger sizes, the Scenic shouldn’t be too expensive to insure, and you’ll avoid the premium car surcharge unless you go absolutely crazy with the bonus features. Renault’s standard warranty is five years, which is more generous than the average manufacturer’s coverage period.

Our verdict of the Renault Scenic

4 / 5 Gumtree rating

Buyers who want as much as space as possible without sacrificing style or performance will find this crowd-pleasing people carrier hard to resist.

Renault Scenic Review