Renault Grand Scenic 1.5 DCI : GRAND DESIGNS

Expert Rating:

Renault's Grand Scenic looks awfully large to be powered by a 1.5-litre diesel. Steve Walker investigates.

Lots of power is a nice thing to have in a car but it isn't always absolutely necessary. Motorists who are willing to put up with acceleration that's on the sluggish side and pulling power of sub-epic proportions can save a lot on the upfront purchase price and in the running costs of their vehicle. The question is, how low is it sensible to go? Ordering the seven-seat, 1.5 tonne Renault Grand Scenic with a 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine looks like sailing a little too close to the wind but if all you're after is a roomy family runabout, the French marque's little diesel could pull it off.

The Grand Scenic operates in the space between the standard five-seat Scenic and the Renault Espace but that doesn't give it a whole lot of room for manoeuvre. It's available with seven seats or with five seats and a boot like an aircraft hangar and its primary focus is on facilitating a simple, hassle free life for a medium to large family. In light of this, it probably doesn't need an enormously powerful engine but there will still be a tendency amongst buyers to view the 1.5-litre dCi diesel unit as being on the diminutive side for such a sizable vehicle. You can find the 1.5 dCi engine in a number of Renault products from the Clio supermini to the Laguna medium range family car. None of them are as weighty a proposition as the Grand Scenic, however, or have the potential to gain weight with up to seven passengers and their luggage piled on board. Added to this, the engine's maximum power output is just 105bhp making it the least powerful of the Grand Scenic's engines. On the plus side, there's torque of 240Nm available at 2,000rpm which is substantially better than every one of the Grand's petrol engine options. It gives the car enough muscle to cope at low speeds even with a large payload on board but the emphasis is on coping. Performance is fairly pedestrian as a 0-60mph time of 13.4s demonstrates.

"The real reward comes in the shape of running costs that few seven-seat vehicles can hope to match"

You automatically approach any seven-seat MPV measuring four and a half meters from nose to tail with certain expectations about how it will drive but it's worth giving the Grand Scenic the benefit of the doubt. Comfort is the priority and rightly so but Renault has also managed to instil a high degree of poise and manoeuvrability. With its suspension system lifted from the Megane, the Grand Scenic resists cornering roll well and has plenty of grip at the front wheels. The ride quality is first class, the car tiptoeing over poor road surfaces and avoiding too much wobbliness on sudden undulations. The steering is sometimes too light and the manual gearbox isn't the slickest but in general, and considering the Grand Scenic's family remit, Renault has got the balance just about right. There's no shortage of space inside the Grand Scenic. The front seats are comfortable with plenty of room and a good view out courtesy of the large windscreen. In the second row, three adults can be accommodated without any difficulty and leg room is as generous as that of anything in the compact MPV class. Slide these second row seats forward a touch and it's also possible to seat a couple of six-foot adults in the rear. Their knees will be bunched up a little as the chairs are set close to the floor but it's far from uncomfortable and smaller occupants will have no problem. The third row seats fold into the flat boot floor in a one-touch motion increasing boot space from 208 to as much as 702 litres in the seven seat model. The middle row of seats can fold and tumble forwards, enabling reasonably dignified access to the third row, or be removed completely to create a massive 2,063-litre space. Seat back trays, a deep glovebox and segmented door pockets add to the Grand Scenic's strong practicality score. The fact that Renault is offering the 1.5-litre dCi engine across its Grand Scenic trim level range shows the faith the manufacturer has in the unit's ability to pull its weight. It's a hefty £1,500 more expensive than the 110bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine and £1,100 cheaper than the 1.9-litre dCi diesel option. The entry-level Extreme is rather utilitarian but gets ESP stability control as standard along with electric front windows, air-conditioning and a basic CD stereo. Most customers will want at least an Expression where more of the desirable extras are thrown in. The TFT dashboard display screen, trays on the front seat backs and second row sun blinds are included here. The pricier options are Dynamique and Privilege. The notable rivals for the Grand Scenic are the Vauxhall Zafira, Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, Volkswagen Touran and the other compact MPVs with capacity to seat more than five. The car is even big enough to make some customers question the need for a full-sized MPV, although Renault claims that its Espace won't suffer as a result. Buyers who find they can live with the unspectacular performance of the 1.5-litre dCi engine will be rewarded with some of the lowest running costs available in any seven-seat vehicle. This version of the Grand Scenic is the only one to wear Renault's eCO2 branding which is reserved for the most efficient vehicles in the range. CO2 emissions from the engine are measured at 134g/km while the combined cycle fuel economy is an excellent 55.4mpg. The old small engine, big car combination has never been one to excite the enthusiastic driver but in a practical family vehicle like Renault's Grand Scenic, it can work. Of course, it helps if the powerplant in question is Renault's consistently impressive 1.5-litre dCi unit. Its healthy torque output makes up for a lack of outright power on journeys around town and out on the open road, progress isn't too strained. The real reward comes in the shape of running costs that few seven-seat vehicles can hope to match. Renault has done a fine job with the Grand Scenic. It's still not the most involving car to drive in the MPV sector but that isn't really the point of a vehicle like this. Ride comfort is first class and refinement is also good so long as the 1.5 dCi engine isn't flogged too hard. The cabin is well designed and extremely well built with classy materials and decent space in all three rows. The smallest dCi engine won't be the choice for high mileage drivers but everyone else should give it the benefit of any doubt.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Renault Grand Scenic 1.5 dCi
PRICES: £16,495-£20,295 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 5
CO2 EMISSIONS: 134g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 112mph / 0-60mph 13.4
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 55.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags / ESP / ABS with emergency brake assist / ISOFIX child seat mountings.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4560/2077/1645mm