Renault Grand Scenic : SCENIC, DONE IT

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Renault thinks its got all the family bases covered with its Grand Scenic. Steve Walker reports.

You might think your day to day family car journeys are mind-bogglingly dull but there are numerous cars on the market locked in ferocious competition for the right to come along for the ride. The school run, shopping trips, taking the dog to the vets or the kids to the dentist, this boring stuff is meat and drink to MPVs like Renault's Grand Scenic. If they can make the everyday lives of a large family that bit easier, they've fulfilled their purpose. The question is, will this extended Scenic be the best car to take the edge off your daily grind?

Renault has a lot of MPVs and faith in their future. The market for these vehicles has stagnated somewhat since 2005 as the rise of the 4x4 gave families a less frumpy way to get their hit of practicality. Sales have stagnated nice and high, however, and Renault is keen to mop up a big chunk of the total with its six-strong MPV line-up comprised of the Modus, Scenic, Espace and their respective Grand versions. It means customers can get a Renault that precisely fits their requirements with the spacious six spanning 3870mm to 4860mm in length. The Grand Scenic sits below the standard Espace and the nature of the densely packed range is that its abilities and size are very similar to that car. Renault sees it very much as a family vehicle and a vital one in promoting the brand's family-friendly image. It also expects the Grand to account for 30 per cent of overall Scenic sales. You approach a 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 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.

"Renault's strengths translate well to the compact MPV market"

There's a broad choice of engines. Petrol customers can take a 1.6-litre 16v unit with 110bhp, a 2.0-litre 16-valver with 140bhp and a CVT automatic gearbox or the more interesting 1.4 TCe turbo engine. Despite its modest capacity, this turbocharged engine has 130bhp and a silky smooth power delivery. It can take the bulky Scenic to 62mph in 10.7s and although it can get a little loud in the upper reaches of the rev-range, refinement is generally good. The diesels kick off with the 105bhp 1.5 dCi which turns in a glittering economic performance but may lack the fizz that some buyers will be looking for on the road. The 1.9-litre dCi 130 engine is stronger but the flagship 2.0-litre dCi 160 is the one to go for if you've got the budget. This is a remarkably refined diesel with 380Nm of torque that won't be phased even by a fully-loaded Grand Scenic. Being very nearly the size of an Espace, the Grand Scenic should be big inside and it is. The front seats are comfortable with plenty of room and a good view out. 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. These 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. 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 2063-litre space. Seat back trays, a deep glovebox and segmented door pockets add to the Grand Scenic's strong practicality score. Many of Renault's recent efforts have failed to set the world alight from a styling standpoint and the Grand Scenic is another fairly ordinary vehicle to behold. Some nice boomerang-shaped headlights and the wavey line that runs up the lower edge of the headlight clusters don't stop it looking exactly like you'd imagine a seven-sear Renault MPV would. Inside, the Scenic is massively more successful. The quality of the materials leaps out at you. There's been competition amongst manufacturers to see who can install the most soft-touch materials but the Grand Scenic takes this squishy arms race to another level with a fascia the texture of an elephant's underbelly. The minor controls are cleanly executed and feel solid to the touch while the general standard of construction is very tough to fault. The Grand Scenic is available in Extreme, Expression, Dynamique or Privilege trim. 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 Dynamique has alloy wheels, keyless entry, MP3 connectivity and lots of other electronic goodies: it's probably the pick of the range. Safety is strong throughout with the inclusion of stability control, front, side and curtain airbags and ISOFIX child seat mountings on all the middle seats. 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. The 1.5 dCi 105 and the 1.9 dCi 130 are predicted to be the best selling engines but the 1.4 TCe petrol is well worth a look. What the Grand Scenic's entry-level diesel engine lacks in outright pace, it makes up for by being one of the most fuel-efficient seven-seat vehicles you can buy. The 1.5 dCi 105 engine gives the car an average of 55.4mpg and 134g/km emissions, which is better than many of the eco-special models offered by rival marques. The 1.4-litre TCe engine deserves special mention for its 40mpg and 168g/km while even the powerful dCi 160 diesel gets 43mpg and 173g/km. Fourteen per cent of the plastics used on the car are derived from recycled material. Renault's Grand Scenic is targeted unashamedly at meeting the needs of a large family and there aren't too many vehicles that do a better job. It isn't the most thrilling thing to look at and although it handles well for its size, the bias rightly veers towards comfort rather than driver involvement. The seven-seat cabin is as spacious as the large exterior dimensions would suggest, while the build quality and the classy design inside set the benchmark in the sector. Renault's strengths translate well to the compact MPV market and although it isn't compact by any means, the Grand Scenic looks destined for success. Comfort, safety and practicality are what it's all about for this car's target customers and those are the areas where it excels. Good job Renault.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Renault Grand Scenic range
PRICES: £14,995-£23,695 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-10 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 134-184g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0 dCi 160] Max Speed 127mph / 0-60mph 9.3s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 dCi 160] (combined) 43mpg
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