RENAULT SCENIC II 1.9 dCi 120
Renaults Scenic II Works Best With Common Rail 1.9-litre 120bhp Diesel Power. Jonathan Crouch Drives It
Perhaps its no surprise that the best car in Renaults Scenic II line-up is a diesel. More specifically, the 1.9-litre 120bhp dCi diesel. You have to be specific too, since no fewer than four diesel engines have been developed for this car.
These include 80 and 100bhp 1.5-litre units, borrowed from the Clio, plus there are plans for an even bigger unit borrowed from the larger Laguna. Diesel is clearly the driving force behind Scenic sales, and this despite the fact that in the first generation model,
Renault acknowledges, diesel power wasnt as reliable as it should have been. Still, thats water under the bridge, according at least to company executives who point to the 120bhp 1.
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9-litre dCi model featured here as evidence of just how far the company has come. These of course, were the same people who told us that the Scenic RX-4 was the future of affordable all-wheel driving. Thankfully this time and with this car, the nail has been hit more squarely on the head. Around 221 Ib/ft of torque at just 2,000 revs tells its own story, promising and delivering - instant pulling power in almost any gear at almost any speed.
This makes train driving as pleasurable an experience as its ever going to get. The standard six-speed gearbox helps here, aiding an average fuel consumption figure just shy of 40mpg. Emissions too are credible 159g/km for a car capable of rest to sixty in 12.1s (and much faster times through the gears) on the way to a top speed of 117mph.
Enough of the engine what about the car? There are only five seats in this Scenic, but a Grand Scenic model is available to take care of those buyers with larger broods. Even the standard Scenic however, has a surprising amount of space on offer and certainly significantly more than was offered by the original version. The wheelbase is up 105mm and the overall length stretched by 125mm. Its a hefty 127mm wider and even stands a good deal taller.
Height-wise its within a centimetre of the first generation Espace, but its a significant degree longer and wider and the cabin is massively more space efficient. How times change.
"For all-found competence, this Scenic takes a lot of beating ."
Whichever Scenic variant you decide upon, youll find that the passenger compartment is a versatile place to be. You can move the rear seats forward or back to increase legroom or luggage space, remove them completely (which is easier than before) or take the middle one out, then reposition the other two to increase shoulder room. Alternatively, the centre
seat folds to create an impromptu table. Parents can still move the rear centre seat forward to sit proud of the other two, so that a baby can be more easily fed (or admonished), and talking of feeding, there are even bigger floor boxes of the kind
Renault ads insist should be filled with boiled sweets.
In terms of storage boxes, the interior is packed with them, the most prominent of which sits between the front seats and has a 12-volt power socket. At the rear, the parcel shelf is still strong enough to allow your dog to sit above the weekly shop should you wish for him or her to do so, and the rear tailgate glass opens independently of the rear tailgate should you wish to place or access smaller items. With the rear seats in position, luggage capacity has risen by 70-litres to a respectable 410 litres and loading is made simple by a glass tailgate window that opens independently. Ride quality is possibly the best in class with the Scenic making short work of rutted A-roads and poorly surfaced motorways.
Even on the optional seventeen-inch wheels, bump and thump through the suspension remains very muted. There is a trade off when it comes to handling, but Renault have probably judged the ride/handling balance wisely. Those few drivers who feel they need a vaguely sporting
mini-MPV will find the Focus C-MAX and the
Honda Stream more to their liking. That said, the driving position is now much more car like.
Safety-wise, Renault confidently expect a full five star Euro-NCAP crash test result for the Scenic. Front, side and curtain airbags are fitted as standard to every variant and all berths are fitted with five-point seat belts. Three trim levels are on offer Expression, Dynamique and Privilege at prices ranging between £16,910 and £19,410. Plus the Grand Scenic versions are available at a £1,000 premium.
All are pretty well equipped, coming complete with automatic headlamps, front foglamps, rain sensitive automatic wipers, an electrochrome rear view mirror, one-touch front and rear electric windows, air conditioning with pollen filter (including a cooled glovebox), front door storage with lid, a 60 Watt single CD/radio with six speakers and fingertip remote control, front and rear reading lights, rear side window sun blinds, body-coloured door handles and door mirrors, lumbar adjustment for drivers seat, adjustable front headrests and Papyrus beige cloth upholstery. Go for the Dynamique version and you also get 16-inch Nervastell alloy wheels, satin chrome door handles, an insurance approved CAT1 alarm, a leather steering wheel and gear knob, and Laser charcoal grey cloth upholstery with grey piping. Finally, at Privilege level, you can expect automatic unlocking and ignition with the Hands-Free Renault Card system, a sliding centre storage unit, 16-inch Reinastella alloy wheels, a 60 Watt underseat mounted six-CD multichanger and RDS Radio with six speakers and fingertip remote control, Wicker Beige part leather/part cloth upholstery, electrically folding door mirrors, drivers sunglasses holder, illuminated vanity mirrors. The 120bhp dCi diesel is as we said at the start, a perfect mate for a practical and strongly class-competitive mini-MPV.
It may not have the handling finesse of a
Ford C-Max or the ultimate flexibility in one package of a
Volkswagen Touran but for all-round competence, this Scenic takes a lot of beating.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Renault Scenic dCi 120 range
PRICES: £16,910£19,410 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 7
CO2 EMISSIONS: 154g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 117mph / 0-60mph 11.9s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 38.2mpg / (extra urban) 56.5mpg / (combined) 48.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags / seatbelt pre-tensioners / ABS with emergency brake assist
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4259/2087/1621mm
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