Renault SCENIC II RANGE
The Scenic Was The Car That Kick Started The Whole
Mini-MPV Genre. Now
Renault Needs To Re-Establish It As The Default Choice. Andy Enright Reports
Perhaps the grin that played across the Renault PR mans face was understandable. When quizzed about the likely threat to the latest Scenics position from rivals such as Volkswagens Touran and Fords Focus C-MAX, the response was one of unassailable confidence. And with good reason. Despite no longer being the best seller in the mini-MPV sector in the UK, the Scenic has never relinquished top spot in Europe.
Nearly a decade and well over two million sales since it first appeared, the Scenic is still aiming to change the rules.
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The original Scenic was an inspired price of product design. Whilst it certainly wasnt the first car to offer this sort of versatility, it instantly captured the publics imagination. Renaults image as lateral thinking innovators was at its zenith following the success of the astonishing Espace and by scaling down the Espace proposition onto the existing Megane platform,
Renault developed an instant class leader at relatively low cost. Rivals were caught on the hop and needed some time to adjust their way of thinking to this new family-friendly format.
With two clear years of breathing space before
Vauxhall launched the Zafira and three before
Citroen developed the Xsara Picasso, the Scenic cleaned up.
Ford and
Volkswagen were caught uncharacteristically a-dither, especially when Vauxhalls seven seater threw them a curve ball. These markets are inherently dynamic, however, and when these two industrial powerhouses finally got their game together, Renault knew it had to respond. Luckily, its product development cycle was again one step ahead and the latest Scenic again steals a small but crucial march on its rivals.
Prices start from £13,770 and, just as in first generation guise, the Scenic rides on Megane running gear, offering five seats. A long wheelbase seven-
seat Grand Scenic is also available for a premium of around £1,000, but most will settle for the regular model, offering as it does a usefully larger cabin than its predecessor. The wheelbase is up 105mm and the overall length stretches 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.
"The latest Scenic again steals a small but crucial march on its rivals"
The interior feels roomy enough, the clean lines and low dashboard adding to the airy feel. Legroom is especially generous in the back, especially when the rear seats have slid into their rearmost position. The central seating position in the back can be removed and the remaining two seats repositioned to allow more elbowroom but its not quite as slick as Fords diagonally sliding system. Aside from that minor niggle though, theres very little to fault the Scenic interior.
There are storage cubbies in every conceivable nook and cranny as well as some you may need the user manual to find. Even the glovebox is cavernous. 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. Renault have achieved 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. The range of engines continues to be a major Renault advantage, the Scenic carrying over many of the excellent powerplants from its predecessor and adding a few more to boot. Petrol buyers get the choice of a 98bhp 1.4-litre entry-level unit, a 115bhp 1.
6-litre, a 136bhp 2.0-litre or a 165bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre. At present three diesel engines are available either 80 or Euro IV 86bhp 1.
5-litre, a 106bhp 1.5-litre or the pick of the entire bunch, the 130bhp 1.9-litre dCi. The 1.
9 and 2.0-litre models are fitted with six-speed manual gearboxes as standard while the smaller capacity models make do with a quintet of cogs. Only the 2.0-litre petrol engines are offered with the option of an automatic gearbox.
Of the petrol engines, the 1.6-litre is a sweeter prospect than the 2.0-litre models, while theres something to be said for all the diesels. A weight increase of around 132kg over its predecessor takes a little of the edge from performance, but the 1.
9dCi will accelerate to 60mph in 9.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 119mph. A combined fuel economy figure of 47mpg and emissions of just 159g/km make it an affordable long-term proposition. 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 SEAT Altea more to their liking. That said, the driving position is now much more car like.
With extra passenger and luggage space, superior versatility and styling thats a good deal more toned down in comparison with its Megane sibling, the Scenic has re-established Renault as one of the mini-MPV heavy hitters again. The design flair of the interior and the well judged exterior detailing lend the Scenic an enormous air of self-confidence. It now feels the quality product the old car always had pretensions of being. Small wonder Renault seem so smug.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Renault Scenic range
PRICES: £13,770£19,020 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 137-192g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.9dCi] Max Speed 119mph / 0-60mph 9.6s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.9dCi] (urban) 38.7mpg / (extra urban) 53.3mpg / (combined) 47.1mpg
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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