Renault's family-friendly Grand Scenic (From The Northern Echo)

Renault's family-friendly Grand Scenic

6:38pm Friday 30th December 2011 in Reviews By Nigel Burton

THE motto “Who dares wins” may have been coined for the Special Air Service but it could just as easily apply to the Renault Scenic.

Before the wraps came off the original Megane Scenic in 1996, people carriers were big hulking things like the Espace and the Grand Voyager. Incredible as it may seem no one had thought to downsize the multi-purpose vehicle concept to the class below - even though it accounted for one in every four cars sold.

The Scenic was the right car at exactly the right time. Confounding Renault’s belief that it would only ever have niche appeal (the company figured it would only be able to sell 450 a day; in fact, it sold 2,500 a day) the Scenic became the 1997 European Car of the Year and quickly outgrew the rest of the Megane range. In 2003 it was spun off into a stand-alone brand.

Fast forward 15 years and Renault has sold more than 3.2 million Scenics and Grand Scenics. To the victor goes the spoils.

When the Scenic arrived in the UK in 1997 it had the medium-sized MPV market to themselves. It took rivals a full two years to catch up and they have been playing catch up ever since. That’s why the Scenic is still Europe’s most popular family MPV.

In 2004, Renault took things to the next level when the wraps came off the Grand Scenic - a stretched variant of the original that offered occasional seating for two extra passengers.

A cubic capacity increase of 100cc doesn’t sound much but it makes a world of difference.

Nigel Burton, Motoring Editor

This is the second generation Grand Scenic. It’s based on the latest Megane platform and follows its predecessor’s practical terms of reference but with the focus very much on improving the driving experience.

It still has seven seats and when the third row isn’t required the seats fold neatly down into the floor leaving a flat boot space. Drop the second row and you can stuff it with 2,063 litres of luggage. Renault reckons the Grand Scenic boasts class leading levels of legroom for passengers in rows two and three making it currently the roomiest medium-sized MPV money can buy.

There are other practical advantages to the stretched floorpan. Renaults designers have gone over the interior with a fine tooth comb, scooping out hidden cubbies and lockable compartments for all the rubbish a typical British family seem to carry around. Altogether there are 40 storage areas scattered around the cabin, including underfloor compartments, under-seat drawers, six seatback map pockets, a chilled glovebox and a nine-litre sliding centre console, which is more than enough for even the messiest family.

Indeed, my biggest fear would be forgetting where I’d put something ( a typical bloke’s affliction in my experience) so I’d stick to the predictable glovebox, door bins and central storage box unless I was desperate.

The driving position feels even more than a hatchback’s thanks to a more adaptable steering wheel and seat, while the larger windscreen enhances your field of vision (important in an MPV where the wide A pillars create serious blindspots).

Although it wasn’t exactly sunny during the test my daughter appreciated the pull up sunblinds on the days when the sun did shine - because it was low in the sky and she’s only a couple of feet tall the blinds came in handy for preventing dazzle.

The instruments use the latest generation thin film transistor (TFT) tech to do away with old-fashioned analogue clocks. I’m not usually a fan of this trend but the Grand Scenic’s big speedo digits are easy to see and the panel can display a variety of messages so it won me over. The Grand Scenic also includes something of an industry first: a factory fit sat nav developed by Tom, Tom the masters of in-car navigation. Available on the Dynamique spec, the 5.8 screen is neatly integrated into the dashboard and is a cinch to read in both 2D and 3D mode.The system incorporates traffic information, alternative routes, speed camera locations (unusual for a factory-fit system), speed limits, a large number of points of interest and a wide range of customisable functions. Usefully, the maps can be updated via the internet and an SD card.

The screen also pulls double duty as a multimedia display with info for the radio, MP3 tracks, Bluetooth devices and your phone’s telephone address book. Navigation instructions are broadcast via the vehicle's own loudspeakers which are in turn controlled by the steering wheel-mounted fingertip remote control.

The other big news for this latest generation Grand Scenic is the 1.6-litre dCi engine.

I’m no fan of its predecessor. The 1.5 dCi has seen service in everything across the Renault-Nissan range from Clios and Micras to the Qashqai and the Grand Scenic. While it’s okay, in a ho-hum way, in the smaller cars in something bigger and heavier it simply doesn’t have the power. However, if you’re a sadistic type who enjoys thrashing an engine to within an inch of its life then the 1.5 is still available.

A cubic capacity increase of 100cc doesn’t sound much but it makes a world of difference.

When Renault introduced this engine it claimed the advances in power made it a replacement for a 1.9-litre equivalent. A quick glance at the specs shows it to have 18 per cent more power than the 1.5 - which is a good start.

On the road it feels far friskier and I was never in any danger of getting left behind. There’s plenty of torque, too, so you don’t have to keep stirring the gearbox in search search of accelerator response. All this and it returned nearly 65mpg during the test.

To put it into perspective, compared to Renault’s old 2.2-litre diesel that used to be fitted to the Laguna this 1.6 has more power (115bhp vs 128bhp) and an incredible 66 per cent more efficient (39mpg vs 65mpg).

I’d say that’s progress for you.

SPEC CHECK: Price: £22,200 (£24,950 as tested).

Engine: 1,598cc Max power: 128bhp @ 4,000rpm Max torque: 320Nm @ 1,750rpm Top speed: 121mph 0-62mph: 11.1 seconds Combined fuel consumption: 64.2mpg You might also like: VW Touran: VW build quality and plenty of room but the Touran lacks soul. If you must buy a VW get a Golf instead.

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